“SNOW WHITE – AN ENCHANTING NEW MUSICAL”
CAPTIVATING AUDIENCES AT DISNEYLAND® PARK
“Snow White – An Enchanting New Musical,” plays at the Fantasyland Theatre
inside the Disneyland Park. This delightful stage production opened earlier this
year. It brings the animated film to life. This was one of my favorite films of all
time when I was a young person. I loved the music and the story. Now it is on
stage and so children of all ages can enjoy a live performance of this enjoyable
show with the amusing seven dwarfs, the romance between Snow White and the
Prince and of course the wicked Queen who wants to get rid of Snow White.
Matt Ouimet, President of the Disneyland Resort said, “Our Snow White theatrical
production is the most elaborate musical ever produced at Disneyland, continuing
to build on Walt Disney's vision of offering innovative and magical entertainment
for our guests.”
The show has all the wonderful songs that were in the original 1937 animated
feature “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The seven dwarfs are just as funny
as they were in the film. Can you name them all? Well, if not here are there
names Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful and Dopey. I don’t think
there is anyone that has not either seen the film or heard these classic tunes by
Frank Churchill and Larry Morey. My favorite songs are: “Whistle While You
Work,” “I'm Wishing,” “Heigh Ho,” “The Silly Song” and “Some Day My Prince
Will Come.” The talented cast performs these songs in a beautiful setting. If the
“Magic Mirror’s” voice sounds familiar it is because it belongs to actor Patrick
Stewart (of “Star Trek” fame).
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment, headed by Executive Vice
President Anne Hamburger, created this production. Eric Schaeffer, the director
has worked on over 20 musical productions, on Broadway and in the West End.
Schaeffer is artistic director of the Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 2003
Schaeffer worked as artistic director of the Stephen Sondheim Celebration at The
Kennedy Center. For the Sondheim celebration he directed “Passion” and
“Sunday in the Park with George,” among eight of Sondheim's works he has
directed during his career.
Disney is becoming a leading name in theatre around the word with such favorites
as “Beauty & the Beast” and “Lion King” in theatres on Broadway and around the
world.
Karma Camp choreographed the dance numbers. Camp has credits for productions
on Broadway and off-Broadway. Camp also is Schaeffer's Artistic Associate at
Signature Theatre. The book is by Darrah Cloud, winner of NEA and Rockefeller
grants and the Frederick Loewe Musical Theatre Award, and Norman Allen, the
recipient of a Charles MacArthur award for outstanding New Play and two regional
Emmy Awards.
Broadway and regional designer Ellen McCartney did the costumes, the lighting is
by Paulie Jenkins, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and the musical composer
and arranger is Timothy Mark Williams. Michael Curry, who is the co-designer of
the masks and puppets of “The Lion King” on Broadway, designed the Magic
Mirror.
The sets designed by Tom Butsch, who also designed “Fantasmic!” and “The
Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools” at Disneyland. Butsch has based the
look of the production on the visual art of Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), whose
work was very popular at the time of the release of the original film. Parrish
created an immersive world of nature with his work, and his aesthetic helped
define the visual style of the early half of the 20th century.
The show is done several times a day and is free to with paid admission to
Disneyland. Check the times when you enter the park so you don’t miss this
most enjoyable show!
FAIREST OF THEM ALL? -
The Wicked Queen summons
“the slave of the Magic
Mirror.”
Photographer: Ken Howard
‘THE WASHING SONG’ - The Seven
Dwarfs wash up before dinner .
Photographer: Ken Howard
‘SOME DAY’ HAS COME - As the
Magic Mirror and one of the Seven
Dwarfs look on, Snow White is
reunited with her prince.
Photographer: Ken Howard
