It’s Disney show-and-tell time on the Magical Definition podcast

Jim Hill

14 years ago

It’s been a very interesting week in the world of Disney
entertainment. What with news coming out of Seattle that a brand-new stage version
of “Aladdin” will be premiering at the 5^th Avenue Theatre July 7th –
31st.

This two-act musical will feature the Academy Award-winning
songs from the 1992 animated film. But where this new stage version of “Aladdin”
gets interesting is that this stage show will attempt to honor Howard Ashman‘s
original vision for this material. Which drew its inspiration from the breezy, irreverent
tone of those Bing Crosby / Bob Hope “Road” pictures
of the 1940s.

This news – coupled with Disney Theatrical Productions‘
announcement that it will be offering 2-for-1
tickets to its signature blockbuster musicals, “The Lion King” and “Mary
Poppins,” during NYC’s first-ever “Broadway Week” (which will be held
January 24th – February 10^th) – seemed reason enough for Nathan Rose
and I to build this week’s Magical Definition podcast around what’s been going
on the stage side of the Mouse House.

As an extra-added bonus, I’ve folded in a few videos that
Mark Eades of the Orange County Register took last Sunday at the Disneyana Fan
Club‘s Show & Sale at the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort.

If you watch these, you’ll be able to learn about how the
Imagineers cast Mark Silverman as the voice of Rod Serling for Disney’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
attraction.

Mark Silverman poses in front of
the infamous elevator inside
of this acclaimed Disney thrill ride

You’ll also hear Margaret Kerry talk about what it was like
to play Tinker Bell in that live-action reference footage which Disney Studios
shot back in the early 1950s. Back when they were still trying to get a handle
on what Peter Pan‘s pixie pal would look & move like.

Here’s hoping that you enjoy this week’s Magical Definition
podcast as well as these videos from the Orange County Register.

Your thoughts?