New voice of Mickey Mouse to make appearance in Sacramento

Jim Hill

14 years ago

First it was Walt who did all the talking for Mickey. Then it was Jimmy MacDonald who put words in the Mouse’s mouth. Then in the early 1980s, Wayne Allwine became Disney’s main mousekeeper.

But then with Allwine’s untimely passing in May of last year, it was time for The Walt Disney Company to select someone new to speak up for Mickey. And that
man is Bret Iwan.

Bret Iwan

Out of respect to Wayne, Bret has kept a fairly low profile for the past year or so. And even though he’s recorded the Mouse’s dialogue for “Disney on Ice: Celebrations!,” “Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep” as well as Fisher-Price’s new Dance Star Mickey toy, Iwan has scrupulously avoided the spotlight. Until now, anyway.

All of that changes tomorrow. When Bret – albeit briefly – is stepping out of the shadows and making a personal appearance at the Stage Nine Entertainment Store. Which is located along Old Sacramento’s historic waterfront at the corner of Front and K Street.

Iwan – along with Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy – is appearing at Stage Nine on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. to help promote the unveiling of John Rowe’s latest Disney-themed canvas, “Disney’s Magical Inspiration.” Which celebrates Sacramento’s Carnival of Lights Parade from 1895. Which – according to some Disney insiders – actually served as the inspiration for Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade.

Anyway … As part of Saturday’s event, Bret & Bill will be signing purchased pieces of art. And if you happen to drop by the Stage Nine Entertainment Store and The Vault in Old Sacramento tomorrow … Well, this might be a great time to quiz Iwan. Find out how a 27 year-old graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design, a guy who actually drew Mickey while he was working for Hallmark, wound up being Disney’s go-to guy when it came to making the Mouse squeak … I mean, speak.

For further information on this Saturday’s event (as well as the “Get Animated! From the Classics to the Computer” that Troy Carlson [i.e. the CEO of Stage Nine Entertainment Inc.] is developing for the 2010 California State Fair), please click on this link.