Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Spielberg's Poppins
(News Interactive) – When Bert said "Goodbye, Mary Poppins, don't stay away too long" back in 1964, who would have thought it would take this long for a remake to surface. In an age when remakes are king – consider Dukes Of Hazzard, King Kong, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Bewitched, and House Of Wax among those reworked this year alone – it might worry some to hear that the Disney family classic Mary Poppins may be facing a celluloid makeover of its own. Contactmusic.com reckons Hollywood director Steven Spielberg is apparently planning to remake the 60's classic children's musical, which starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Sir Richard Eyre, director of the London stage show, has reportedly been approached by Spielberg to helm the project. Eyre's stage show is inspired both by the movie and the P.L. Travers books on which the film itself was based. Contactmusic.com quotes Eyre as saying: "Spielberg wants to make a new film of Mary Poppins and we've talked about it a lot. It will be hard to outdo the original but kids love the story and I'm sure that the remake will be a real success." There is no official word from from Dreamworks (or rather Paramount) as yet on the project. Mary Poppins won five Academy Awards out of 13 nominations in total and marked Walt Disney's single most successful night at the Oscars.
Christmas Tree Catches Fire at Disneyland Hotel
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – A 35-foot Christmas tree caught fire in the lobby of the Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel early Wednesday but nobody suffered serious injuries. The hotel's sprinkler system kept the 3 a.m. blaze in check and firefighters were able to quickly put it out, said Maria Sabol, a spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department. The 745-room hotel in the center of the Disneyland Resort was at full capacity with about 2,300 guests, said Rob Doughty, the resort's vice president of communications. They were evacuated to three locations in and around the park, and hotel officials hoped to get them back into their rooms by 7 a.m. Pacific Time, he said. Guest Lee Crice of Phoenix told KTLA-TV that he saw the top six feet of the tree were ablaze as he fled through the hotel lobby after being awakened by the fire alarm. Television footage showed firefighters spraying water on the artificial tree and gray smoke wafting through the cavernous lobby. About 18 firefighters responded to the alarm, Sabol said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, she said. Two guests were treated at the scene for minor injuries and released, Doughty said. One complained of a strained back and the other of stress symptoms from the evacuation.
Disney Parks Increase Market Share
(LA Times) – Propelled by the 50th-anniversary promotion of its flagship Disneyland theme park, Walt Disney Co. increased its share of the North American theme park market this year. All six US Disney theme parks logged gains in attendance, with Disneyland growing the most of any of the major North American attractions, according to estimates released Monday by trade journal Amusement Business and consulting firm Economics Research Associates.
- About 14.5 million visitors passed through Disneyland's gate, an 8.5% jump from 2004. Only its Orlando, Fla., cousin Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World had greater attendance, with 16.1 million visitors, a 6.5% gain.
- Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland's younger sibling in Anaheim, was the nation's seventh-busiest park, logging 5.8 million visitors, a 3.6% rise.
- Universal Studios Hollywood drew 4.7 million visitors, 6% fewer than last year. Its sister parks in Florida also lost attendance.
- Mostly because of Burbank-based Disney, attendance at North America's 50 most popular amusement parks rose 4.2% to an estimated 176 million visitors in 2005.
"Throughout the lean years following 9/11, Disney continued to invest at a heavy pace in its parks as it anticipated this turnaround in the market," said James Zoltak, editor of Amusement Business. In Anaheim, for example, Disneyland opened a completely rebuilt Space Mountain roller coaster, added a "Toy Story"-themed Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride and unveiled its most elaborate fireworks display. During the last month, a "Monsters, Inc."-themed ride quietly opened at California Adventure and will be heavily promoted in the new year. Disney also has opened or will open new rides at each of its Florida parks this year and next. Disney also juiced its attendance with heavy spending on both coasts for its 50th-anniversary celebration. Disney, however, declined to comment on the attendance estimates except to confirm that the numbers were up.
Disney, Pixar Reportedly Close to Renewal
LOS ANGELES (UPI) – Insiders say an announcement is imminent that Disney and Pixar have renewed their distribution pact, it was reported Sunday. Neither side would comment on the report, however, Daily Variety said. Sources point to a new, closer relationship between the former rivals with Pixar's top executives gaining unprecedented access to the "Circle 7," a secret division formed under for Disney Chief Michael Eisner to make sequels to Pixar films. Disney has already started production on "Toy Story 3" and the division will soon announce a second sequel from among several scripts in development. Variety predicted the choice will be between "Finding Nemo 2" or "Monsters, Inc. 2." A renewal would ensure Disney's distribution rights to Pixar films and also keep the sequel production rights in the House of the Mouse, Variety said.
Disney Launches Web Personalization with Zazzle
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Walt Disney Co.'s online shopping site on Wednesday launched its first "You design it" feature in a move aimed at riding the fast-growing trend toward giving choosy Internet shoppers exactly what they want. Disney partnered with online customization site Zazzle.com, which li-censes thousands of images from Warner Bros., Marvel Comics Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox, among others, and also allows users to sell their own art for use on personalized T-shirts, greeting cards and postage stamps. It took Disney, which aggressively protects its copyrights, about two years to figure out how to open its vast art archives, while controlling how consumers could use its characters. Zazzle's Disney boutique, which can be accessed via disneyshopping.com and disneyinkshop.com, allows con-sumers to select a Disney character, T-shirt style and color and to add a name or phrase from an ap-proved list. The 4,000-plus Disney images can also be used on stamps or greeting cards on Zazzle. Sales of Disney personalized products were expected to rise 25 percent to 35 percent over last year's holiday quarter. Personalized products made up 10 percent to 12 percent of Disney Shopping's overall business last year and were expected to grow to 15 percent. The partnership with Zazzle allows Disney to market its secondary characters, which usually are not licensed by traditional retailers and to tap into emerging, consumer-driven trends.
Is it my imagination, or hasn't Disney had a Zazzle shop for a while now?
Is it my imagination, or hasn't Disney had a Zazzle shop for a while now?
Monday, January 02, 2006
Fire Damages 'Big Bamboo'
KISSIMMEE (Orlando Sentinel) - The future of the Big Bamboo Lounge, a quirky bar on the West US Highway 192 tourist strip that closed late last year, is even more up in the air after a fire nearly destroyed the building last week. Osceola County fire officials are calling the bar a "total loss," though the walls didn't collapse. One of the owners, Nancy Duggan, said Tuesday that although she would still like to reopen the "Boo," she doesn't know what's going to happen. Duggan said she hadn't seen the lounge or a Fire Department report about the damage, although she plans to visit the bar this week. Housed in what was once a doctor's house, the Big Bamboo became a hangout for Walt Disney World employees and curious tourists. It was decorated with Disney employee name tags, business cards, newspaper clippings and foreign money and featured swing and jazz music and bartenders wearing Hawaiian shirts. Only cash was accepted, and there was no air conditioning. Out front sat a vintage military ambulance and a watchtower. Disney animators sometimes entertained other patrons by drawing Mickey Mouse and other characters on cocktail napkins. A fire report says homeless people trying to keep warm may have started the fire. Clothing was found inside, indicating people were living in the vacant building. It's unclear whether the building - which also was damaged during the 2004 hurricanes - can survive the most recent assault.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Elephant Family Grows Again at Disney's Animal Kingdom
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (PRNewswire) – The Walt Disney World Resort's animal care team welcomed a 233-pound bundle of joy to Disney's Animal Kingdom earlier this week. The female African elephant calf arrived early Monday morning, and joins her 21-year-old mother Donna after 21 months in the womb. The calf has not yet been named. Both the calf and her mother are doing well according to veterinarians and elephant managers, who are cautiously optimistic about the calf's likelihood for survival. The first-time mother experienced a very short labor, lasting approximately 16 minutes. With assistance from the animal care team, the newborn became comfortable using her "newly-discovered" legs and began nursing successfully from Mom soon after her birth. She is already feisty and very active. Going forward, the focus of the elephant managers and veterinarians at Disney's Animal Kingdom will be on the health and welfare of the calf and her mother. In the near future, Guests will be able to see the calf's progress on camera monitors at Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It will be several weeks before the calf and her mother will join other elephants on the savanna. Breeding African elephants is a challenging process, so it is especially exciting that this is the third African elephant to be born at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. A male calf, Tufani, was born in May 2003 and has gained nearly 1,500 pounds in his first two and a half years, and Kianga, a female born in July 2004, has gained more than 500 pounds in her first year. Because many of the elephants giving birth in zoos and wildlife parks are first-time mothers – just as several of the elephant cows at Disney's Animal Kingdom are – it is not unusual for the animals (both in the wild and in wildlife parks) to lose their first calf. Animal care experts at DAK are optimistic that observation and interaction with Tufani have helped the other elephants gain additional maternal knowledge, thus improving the success rate for the Animal Kingdom breeding program.
RUMOR : Pleasure Island May Get Makeover
(Orlando Sentinel) – Don't be surprised if the new year brings some changes to Disney's Pleasure Island. Rumor has it that Mouse officials are reviewing the nighttime entertainment complex with the idea of some updates. Given the competition from places like Universal's CityWalk, that's understandable. Among the things under consideration, I'm told, is opening a bowling alley and dropping the every-night-is-New-Year's-Eve theme, which has been around since 1990. And, for certain, the West End stage on the Island, where a deejay is often found, is going away to make entering the island easier. Earlier this year, Disney got rid of the admission charge to the Island, replacing the $20.50 gate charge with individual covers at the clubs.
This is long overdue. I've been lamenting the lack of a bowling alley at Walt Disney World for years. I thought they would build a standalone one near All-Star or Pop Century, however.
You'd think a bowling alley would have been there since 1970. The Rock N Roll Beach Club started life at PI as a roller-rink, fer cryin' out loud.
This is long overdue. I've been lamenting the lack of a bowling alley at Walt Disney World for years. I thought they would build a standalone one near All-Star or Pop Century, however.
You'd think a bowling alley would have been there since 1970. The Rock N Roll Beach Club started life at PI as a roller-rink, fer cryin' out loud.
RUMOR : Harry Potter Theme Park in the Works?
(Cinematical) – Does Disney have a Harry Potter theme park in the works? That's the whisper through the (animatronic) trees, thanks to a series of conversations that Jim Hill has been having with his readers. It all started with the announcement that the so-called Mouse House was planning to delve into "site-based entertainment", possibly starting with a $3.1 billion casino/indoor theme park in Singapore. "Back up!" you say. "What the hell is this 'site-based entertainment' of which you speak?" Good question. Hill explains that whilst it would be "far more ambitious" than the DisneyQuest concept, and "on a much grander scale", he likens the SBE to a "theme-park-in-a-box", likely involving "an ornate structure that occupies a full city block which is at least six or seven stories tall. With 15 different full-sized rides, shows and attrac-tions all intertwining inside that building." After posting about the general concept and receiving gobs of (mostly hateful) reader mail, Hill went on to post a follow-up, including a tip from a reader who claims to have some tangential familiarity with certain contracts currently floating around Warner Brothers – home, of course, to the Harry Potter film franchise. At the very least, he passed along an email from a friend in the WB department, who hints, "You didn't hear it from me. But there may be a certain wizard visiting the mouse kingdom in the future." Hill seems to buy the rumor, and is enthusiastic about the possibilities for its execution. But, he warns, the boy wizard may not represent the be-all and end-all of Disney's forays into SBE. "If this Harry Potter acquisition deal does fall apart," Hill writes, "I'm told that the Imagineers have another SBE concept that also might fly. One where each floor of this city-block-sized building would then celebrate a Pixar film."
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Comrade Mickey
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The ultimate symbol of centuries of Russian power, the Kremlin, was taken over at the weekend by Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella and hundreds of excited Russian children as Disney came to town.
Russian guards in dark woollen coats and fur hats looked on as crowds packed the Kremlin for a "Cinderella Ball" thrown by the Walt Disney Co. as part of its campaign to expand into Russia's booming entertainment market.
"The Russians are hungry for entertainment, and that's why we're here," said Rob Jongmans, executive vice president and managing director of Walt Disney International for northern, central and eastern Europe.
"We are surprised by the popularity of the Disney brands here only 15 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain," Jongmans told Reuters. "Look at these kids and their dresses. Even the boys are in prince costumes. I've never seen anything like it."
Outside, the Kremlin's golden domes and red stars shimmering under a gentle snowfall themselves looked part of a Disney fairy tale. But inside the Kremlin ballroom hosting the party, the scene was enough to make Lenin spin in his Red Square tomb nearby.
At the ballroom of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, a concrete and marble triumph of Soviet 1960s architecture, girls accompanied by mothers in designerwear sat at Disney beauty stands, having their hair sprayed with sparkles and adorned with Cinderella tiaras.
On the parquet dance floor a colourful mix of Disney characters danced with children in prince and princess outfits.
Champagne flowed for parents while children were served from tables piled high with pink cakes and candies served on glass stands -- all for free.
Jongmans said the event, attended by some 2,000 people, cost up to $1 million (564,000 pounds).
Disney characters -- which have generated some $3 billion in worldwide consumer retail sales since 2000 -- are familiar in the West. But they are relatively new in Russia, which discouraged them under 70 years of Soviet rule.
SLEEPING GIANT
Disney has achieved massive revenues from character and brand licensing as well as lucrative merchandising to extend its brands. Now, it is seeking to make a business out of entertaining 150 million Russians.
Jongmans said Russia's entertainment market was the fastest growing in the world. "We think Russia will overtake China in the next five years," he said.
A recent report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers said Russia's entertainment and media market is the fastest growing in Europe, surging 27.4 percent last year. That compares to flat growth in most Western developed countries.
The Russian market including film, video, Internet products, print media, sporting events and theme parks hit $12.45 billion last year, PwC said in a study of global entertainment industry.
That is just a fraction of the global $1.3 trillion market but growing fast, driven by the film and advertising industries and fuelled by higher disposable incomes on booming oil prices.
Jongmans said Walt Disney saw big opportunity in local entertainment and productions with a Russian cast.
"We shall look at the retail market too," he said. "The Russians are family-oriented and have a lot of spending power. We think this market is a sleeping giant."
Russian guards in dark woollen coats and fur hats looked on as crowds packed the Kremlin for a "Cinderella Ball" thrown by the Walt Disney Co. as part of its campaign to expand into Russia's booming entertainment market.
"The Russians are hungry for entertainment, and that's why we're here," said Rob Jongmans, executive vice president and managing director of Walt Disney International for northern, central and eastern Europe.
"We are surprised by the popularity of the Disney brands here only 15 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain," Jongmans told Reuters. "Look at these kids and their dresses. Even the boys are in prince costumes. I've never seen anything like it."
Outside, the Kremlin's golden domes and red stars shimmering under a gentle snowfall themselves looked part of a Disney fairy tale. But inside the Kremlin ballroom hosting the party, the scene was enough to make Lenin spin in his Red Square tomb nearby.
At the ballroom of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, a concrete and marble triumph of Soviet 1960s architecture, girls accompanied by mothers in designerwear sat at Disney beauty stands, having their hair sprayed with sparkles and adorned with Cinderella tiaras.
On the parquet dance floor a colourful mix of Disney characters danced with children in prince and princess outfits.
Champagne flowed for parents while children were served from tables piled high with pink cakes and candies served on glass stands -- all for free.
Jongmans said the event, attended by some 2,000 people, cost up to $1 million (564,000 pounds).
Disney characters -- which have generated some $3 billion in worldwide consumer retail sales since 2000 -- are familiar in the West. But they are relatively new in Russia, which discouraged them under 70 years of Soviet rule.
SLEEPING GIANT
Disney has achieved massive revenues from character and brand licensing as well as lucrative merchandising to extend its brands. Now, it is seeking to make a business out of entertaining 150 million Russians.
Jongmans said Russia's entertainment market was the fastest growing in the world. "We think Russia will overtake China in the next five years," he said.
A recent report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers said Russia's entertainment and media market is the fastest growing in Europe, surging 27.4 percent last year. That compares to flat growth in most Western developed countries.
The Russian market including film, video, Internet products, print media, sporting events and theme parks hit $12.45 billion last year, PwC said in a study of global entertainment industry.
That is just a fraction of the global $1.3 trillion market but growing fast, driven by the film and advertising industries and fuelled by higher disposable incomes on booming oil prices.
Jongmans said Walt Disney saw big opportunity in local entertainment and productions with a Russian cast.
"We shall look at the retail market too," he said. "The Russians are family-oriented and have a lot of spending power. We think this market is a sleeping giant."
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
Rumor Has It Prince Caspian Is a Go
(FilmForce) – Aslan and The Chronicles of Narnia roared into theaters in North America and numerous international markets last week, enjoying the year's third-largest opening-weekend box office haul. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe pulled in $65 million ($107 million worldwide) – an excellent start towards recouping the $180 million that Disney and Walden Media spent on the film. The movie also fared well among critics, earning a 76% approval rating among professional film reviewers, according to Rotten Tomatoes. There's no doubt that the studios will go ahead with the next film in the series if LWW continues its strong run. In fact, NarniaWeb already has a source claiming that Prince Caspian, the logical next book to adapt, has been greenlit for production. It's a good bet that Andrew Adamson will return to direct the second one, although this is not confirmed. Since much of the complicated technical preparations – such as the work put into Aslan – is already done, filming could get underway as early as this summer. A movie based on Prince Caspian would return all four Pevensie children back to Narnia in another age, and another time of need. Narnia is under the rule of the neighboring Telmarines, and the Pevensies can help Caspian, rightful heir to the throne, lead a revolt for Narnian independence. An official announcement on Prince Caspian could come at any time during the next month or so.
Airport Revises Rules in Response to Disney Shuttle
ORLANDO (Orlando Sentinel) – The chairman of the board that governs Orlando International Airport said Wednesday that the airport made "mistakes" when it agreed to support Disney's Magical Express. Jeffry Fuqua, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said the airport should have required Walt Disney World to operate the free shuttle and baggage service from both sides of the terminal instead of one. The airport also should have limited how many people could ride the service during the 18-month pilot period that began in May, he said. "Yes, we made some mistakes," Fuqua said. "Pilot means pilot. It [Magical Express] should have been capped." The comments came after months of criticism from other ground transportation companies at the airport that say their businesses have been damaged by Magical Express' success. The free Disney shuttle averages about 10,000 people each day, according to Disney figures. On Wednesday, the airport board voted to revise some of the rules for ground transportation companies, including changes that some board members indicated could be unfair to Disney.
- The new rules say that Disney cannot post "greeters" on the second level of the airport, where most transportation companies meet their customers near baggage claim. Instead, the rules say, Mears Transportation Group – the company that operates the shuttle for Disney – can post its employees there to meet Magical Express riders. "To say to them [Disney] you can't have your two employees there, but you can have two employees of the company you hired to do this work, is really splitting hairs in my mind," said board member and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.
- The new rules create a new category of ground transportation companies called "resort transportation service." Only Disney currently meets the definition of that new category. But, Fuqua said, it won't be long before more companies begin to follow Disney's lead. Already two more groups, including Universal Orlando, have expressed interest in creating a baggage and shuttle service.
Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company does feel "singled out" and would prefer a Disney employee greet its guests, but it "will follow the rules" as discussions continue on the future of the program.
Disney Exec Named President of Studio
LOS ANGELES (LA Times) – Alan Bergman, Walt Disney Studios' top business strategist and operations executive, has been promoted to president. Bergman will add business and legal affairs, as well as human resources, to responsibilities that now include finance and technology. He will continue reporting to Dick Cook, the studio's chairman. Bergman joined the studio in 1996. He helped structure Disney's settlement with Bob and Harvey Weinstein when they left Miramax Film Corp. and designed a new business plan for the specialty movie unit.
Prime-Time Nielsen Ratings
(AP) – Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Dec. 5-11. Listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation.
1. (1) "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 30.9 million viewers.
2. (3) "Without a Trace," CBS, 21.8 million viewers.
3. (X) "Survivor: Guatemala-Finale," CBS, 21.2 million viewers.
4. (8) "Survivor: Guatemala," CBS, 20.2 million viewers.
5. (12) "60 Minutes," CBS, 19.7 million viewers.
6. (10) "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC, 16.3 million viewers.
7. (4) "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 15.7 million viewers.
8. (X) "A Charlie Brown Christmas," ABC, 15.3 million viewers.
9. (16) "E.R.," NBC, 15.3 million viewers.
10. (5) "CSI: Miami," CBS, 15.3 million viewers.
11. (X) "Survivor: Guatemala-Reunion," CBS, 15.2 million viewers.
12. (6) "NFL Monday Night Football: Seattle at Philadelphia," ABC, 15.1 million viewers.
13. (13) "Two And a Half Men," CBS, 14.1 million viewers.
14. (9) "NCIS," CBS, 14 million viewers.
15. (26) "My Name Is Earl," NBC, 14 million viewers.
16. (18) "NFL Monday Showcase," ABC, 13.6 million viewers.
17. (17) "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC, 13.0 million viewers.
18. (30) "Close to Home," CBS, 12.8 million viewers.
19. (24) "Las Vegas," NBC, 12.6 million viewers.
20. (28) "Numb3rs," CBS, 12.5 million viewers.
1. (1) "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 30.9 million viewers.
2. (3) "Without a Trace," CBS, 21.8 million viewers.
3. (X) "Survivor: Guatemala-Finale," CBS, 21.2 million viewers.
4. (8) "Survivor: Guatemala," CBS, 20.2 million viewers.
5. (12) "60 Minutes," CBS, 19.7 million viewers.
6. (10) "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC, 16.3 million viewers.
7. (4) "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 15.7 million viewers.
8. (X) "A Charlie Brown Christmas," ABC, 15.3 million viewers.
9. (16) "E.R.," NBC, 15.3 million viewers.
10. (5) "CSI: Miami," CBS, 15.3 million viewers.
11. (X) "Survivor: Guatemala-Reunion," CBS, 15.2 million viewers.
12. (6) "NFL Monday Night Football: Seattle at Philadelphia," ABC, 15.1 million viewers.
13. (13) "Two And a Half Men," CBS, 14.1 million viewers.
14. (9) "NCIS," CBS, 14 million viewers.
15. (26) "My Name Is Earl," NBC, 14 million viewers.
16. (18) "NFL Monday Showcase," ABC, 13.6 million viewers.
17. (17) "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC, 13.0 million viewers.
18. (30) "Close to Home," CBS, 12.8 million viewers.
19. (24) "Las Vegas," NBC, 12.6 million viewers.
20. (28) "Numb3rs," CBS, 12.5 million viewers.
Disney Defends Its Shuttle Bus Service
ORLANDO (Orlando Sentinel) – Walt Disney World executives say their free shuttle-and-luggage service between the resort and Orlando International Airport has boosted airport revenue by $1.6 million and helps move passengers so efficiently that it could delay the airport's need for a second terminal. The analysis prepared by Disney came in response to criticism of the 18-month pilot project, Disney's Magical Express, which began in May. Critics – mostly other ground-transportation companies at the airport – have said the service has cut deep into their business and that portions of Disney's original contract with the airport gave the entertainment giant an unfair advantage. Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chairman Jeffry Fuqua declined to comment Tuesday on the figures provided by Disney. He said airport officials are working to prepare their own analysis of the shuttle service's effect on airport finances and operations. The recent back and forth between the airport and Disney is a rare public power struggle between two dominant forces in Central Florida tourism that typically work out their disagreements behind closed doors. Since Disney's Magical Express began seven months ago, the airport has changed several key parts of the service – over Disney's objections.
Today, the airport authority will consider proposals that would keep Disney from greeting customers near the baggage claim, where transportation companies typically find their passengers. Airport officials want Mears employees, not Disney workers, to perform that role for Disney's Magical Express. Both Disney and Mears have objected to that change. Meanwhile, Disney officials are trying to come to terms with airport officials on how the service will operate after the pilot program ends in December 2006. Because it plans its vacation packages a year in advance, the company wants to know by early next year what the service will look like in 2007.
- In August, the airport reduced the number of parking spaces available to the shuttle service's buses from six to four.
- And in November, it banned Disney greeters – employees who wore oversize Mickey Mouse gloves – from the main level of the terminal because no other companies were allowed to meet customers there.
Today, the airport authority will consider proposals that would keep Disney from greeting customers near the baggage claim, where transportation companies typically find their passengers. Airport officials want Mears employees, not Disney workers, to perform that role for Disney's Magical Express. Both Disney and Mears have objected to that change. Meanwhile, Disney officials are trying to come to terms with airport officials on how the service will operate after the pilot program ends in December 2006. Because it plans its vacation packages a year in advance, the company wants to know by early next year what the service will look like in 2007.
Disneyland Hong Kong Surpasses One Million Guests
HONG KONG (Ultimate Roller Coaster) – More than one million guests have visited Disney's newest theme park in Hong Kong since its opening in September according to a statement released from Disney. "When we build a resort, we do so with the expectation that it's a long-term asset lasting well beyond 50 years," says Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. "The bottom-line is this: attendance is ramping up well, which continues to give us confidence that we are on track to achieve our long-term at-tendance goals." The company also reports that guests are giving the new Hong Kong Disneyland high marks for cleanliness, cast member friendliness, hotel experiences and entertainment on surveys con-ducted at the theme park. Relying on positive guest feedback, Hong Kong Disneyland is already expand-ing and enhancing the park experience beyond today's top attractions. The first major new attraction to be added to the park since its opening will be the long-time guest favorite Autopia, debuting in summer 2006 and featuring battery-powered vehicles traveling a whimsical highway.
TARZAN BIOGRAPHIES
JOSH STRICKLAND (Tarzan) is a native of Charleston, S.C.. Josh recently completed the national tour of Rent where he performed the roles of Mark and Roger. Other credits include Guest Vocalist with Shania Twain. He has also been named Carolina Idol 2002, was a national finalist in Fox television’s “American Idol” and appeared on ABC’s season premiere of “Star Search 2004.” Josh has also performed with national jazz musician Kevin Mahogany at the International Spoleto Arts Festival USA and appeared as “Spirit of the Child” in the festival’s Opera Curly River.
JENN GAMBATESE (Jane) most recently starred on Broadway in All Shook Up as both ‘Natalie’ and ‘Ed’. Other Broadway: ‘Penny Pingleton’ in Hairspray, ‘Mouse’ et al in A Year with Frog and Toad, and ‘Urleen’ in Footloose. Off-Broadway: ‘The Statue of Liberty’ in Reefer Madness. Tours (Europe and North America): ‘Serena Katz’ in Fame. TV: “All My Children”. Film: upcoming in The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert DeNiro.
MERLE DANDRIDGE (Kala). Broadway credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, Rent. Tours: Aida (First National: Aida/Nehebka), Ain't Misbehavin' (Europe), Smokey Joe's Cafe (U.S.). Chicago: The Kentucky Cycle (Midwest Premiere, Joseph Jefferson Award), Passion, As You Like It (Rosalind), Balm in Gilead (Ann). Television: “Third Watch,” “NCIS,” “Angel,” “The Edge” (UPN Pilot), “Pros and Cons” (ABC Pilot), “All My Children,” “Guiding Light”. Voice over: The PC/XBox game Half Life 2 (Alyx Vance/G-Phoria award for Best Female Voice Performance), Half Life2: Aftermath (Alyx Vance).
SHULER HENSLEY (Kerchak). Broadway: Jud Fry in Oklahoma! (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier Awards), Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, and Javert in Les Miserables. Off-Broadway: The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Regional: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Most Happy Fella. Opera: Regina, Don Giovanni, La Boheme, and Carmen. TV: “Ed,” “Deadline,” “Gary Powers,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Criminal Intent,” “The Jury”. Film: Van Helsing, Monday Night Mayhem, Someone Like You, The Bread, My Sweet, The Legend of Zorro and the upcoming Opa. www.shulerhensley.com.
CHESTER GREGORY II (Terk) made his Broadway debut as Seaweed in Hairspray. This Gary, IN, native received numerous awards for his portrayal of Jackie Wilson in The Jackie Wilson Story. Other credits include Soul of Black Music (Black Ensemble, London), Scapin' (Court Theatre), Drowning Crow (Goodman) and Disney's Lion King Master Classes. Chester has performed for Michael Jackson and is working on a recording deal. His music is featured on ChesterGregory.net and Ahdae.com.
TIMOTHY JEROME (Professor Porter) most recently appeared in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera. Nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Me and My Girl, he was also featured in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Grand Hotel, The Magic Show, Cats, Lost in Yonkers, The Rothschilds, Man of La Mancha, La Boheme and dozens of original plays and musicals in regional theatre companies. His films include Thirteen Days, Cradle will Rock, Billy Bathgate, Spiderman II, Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives, Celebrity, and Everyone Says I Love You. Tim is the Founding President of National Music Theater Network and The NY Musical Theatre Festival.
DONNIE KESHAWARZ (Clayton). Broadway: Taboo. Off-Broadway: Drifting Elegant (The Director's Company), Big Ole Washing Machine (Atlantic Theatre Studio). Regional: Homebody Kabul (Trinity Rep) The Memorandum (Guthrie), Fall (Berkeley Rep, Baltimore CenterStage) TV: “Lost,” “24” (recurring role), “The Sopranos” (recurring role), “Sex & the City,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Hack,” “As the World Turns” (recurring role). Film: Drifting Elegant, Growing Down in Brooklyn, Tony 'n Tina's Wedding (the movie).
DANIEL MANCHE (Young Tarzan at certain performances). Broadway: Nine (Young Guido); TV: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” & “SVU,” “All My Children,” “Guiding Light,” “What's the Scoop?” Film: Headspace.
ALEX RUTHERFORD (Young Tarzan at certain performances) made his Broadway debut as Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast after traveling with the national tour. His favorite pastimes are reading, wrestling with his Dad and brother, playing Playstation 2 and riding his bike
BOB CROWLEY (Director/Scenic and Costume Design) is an Associate of the National Theatre, for which he has designed The History Boys, Mourning Becomes Electra, His Girl Friday, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ghetto, Hedda Gabler, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Racing Demon, Murmuring Judges, The Absence of War, The Prince’s Play, Richard III, White Chameleon, The Sea, Night of the Iguana, Carousel, The Designated Mourner, The Cripple of Inishmaan, King Lear and Amy’s View. Royal Shakespeare Company: Designed over 25 productions, including: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Tony nomination), The Plantagenetes, Henry IV, Parts 1 & II, King Lear, Hamlet. Field Day Theatre Company: Saint Oscar, The Cure at Troy (co-directed with Stephen Rea). Other set and costume designs: Donmar Warehouse: Into the Woods, Orpheus Descending. Almeida Theatre: Pinter’s Moonlight, No Man’s Land, The Iceman Cometh (Tony nomination), Cressida, The Judas Kiss. Royal Ballet Covent Garden: Pavane, Anastasia. Royal Opera House Covent Garden: The King Goes Forth to France, The Knot Garden, La Traviata. English National Opera: The Magic Flute. Chatelet Paris: The Cunning Little Vixen. Bavarian State Opera Munich: Don Giovanni. Lincoln Center Theater: Carousel (Tony Award), Hapgood, The Invention of Love (Tony nomination), Twelfth Night (Tony nomination). Public Theatre: The Seagull. Other Broadway: Paul Simon’s The Capeman (Tony nomination), Sweet Smell of Success, Disney’s Aida (Tony Award). Most recently: Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre). Royal Designer for Industry Award.
PHIL COLLINS (Music/Lyrics) is one of today's most popular vocalists, songwriters and performers, and has been hailed as one of the best drummers in the world. Collins has won seven GRAMMY Awards and released solo albums with sales totaling more than 70 million copies. Among his accomplishments in film, he contributed songs to the GRAMMY-winning soundtrack of Disney's Tarzan, including “You'll Be In My Heart,” which was nominated for a GRAMMY and won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Song. Most recently, Collins wrote six songs and made his film score composing debut (in collaboration with Mark Mancina) on Disney's Brother Bear and also composed the score for Tarzan II. Factoring in his work with Genesis, Brand X, and a gallery of star groups and performers (including Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, John Cale, Quincy Jones, and Tony Bennett), Collins has left his mark on some 200 million records worldwide. His hit songs include “In the Air Tonight,” “One More Night,” “Sussudio,” “Take Me Home,” “Two Hearts” and “Another Day in Paradise.” Among his other accomplishments, Collins fulfilled a lifetime ambition by touring with his own 20-piece big band, which made its debut in London's Royal Albert Hall in the company of conductor Quincy Jones and vocalist Tony Bennett. Collins embarked on a solo career after taking a break from being front man and drummer for the band Genesis, with whom he played for 25 years. His solo albums include Face Value, Hello, I Must Be Going, No Jacket Required, …But Seriously, Serious Hits…Live!, Both Sides, Dance Into the Light, Hits, Hot Night in Paris and Testify. Collins most recently completed his successful Final Farewell Tour.
DAVID HENRY HWANG (Book) was awarded the 1988 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and John Gassner Awards for his Broadway debut, M. Butterfly, which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. For his play Golden Child, he received a 1998 Tony nomination and a 1997 Obie Award. His new book for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song earned him his third Tony nomination in 2003. He was also a book writer on Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Hwang’s other plays include FOB (1981 Obie Award), The Dance and the Railroad, Family Devotions, The Sound of a Voice and Bondage. His opera libretti include three works for composer Philip Glass, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, The Voyage and The Sound of a Voice, as well as The Silver River with music by Bright Sheng and Ainadamar with Osvaldo Golijov. Hwang penned the feature films M. Butterfly, Golden Gate and Possession (co-writer) and co-wrote the song “Solo” with composer/performer Prince. His new play, Yellow Face, will premiere next season. Hwang serves on the Dramatists Guild Council.
MERYL TANKARD (Choreography) began her career as a classical dancer with the Australian Ballet. She later joined Pina Bausch's Wuppertaler Tanztheater as a soloist and became renowned for her performances in Kontakhof, Cafe Muller, 1980, Keuscheitslegende, Arien, Walzer and Bandoneon. Between 1989 - 1999 she directed her own dance companies in Australia creating over 15 full-length works including: Furioso, Possessed, Aurora, Songs with Mara and Inuk, which she toured internationally to New York (BAM), London, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Sydney. Since 2000, Tankard has worked freelance, creating works for Lyon Ballet (Bolero), Netherlands Dance Theatre (Merryland and Petrushka), Berlin Ballet (@ North), choreographing for Tiffany and Co. New York (Pearl) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (Beautiful Game); and creating/directing Deep Sea Dreaming for the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony. In 2003 she conceived and choreographed a full-length ballet Wild Swans for the Australian Ballet. In 2004 she was awarded an Australia Council Creative Development Fellowship, and is currently developing a film script and a musical.
PICHÓN BALDINU (Aerial Design) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His professional career began in 1984, when, while studying at the Conservatorio de Arte Dramático, he co-founded La Organización Negra, the first underground theatre company in Buenos Aires. The quest for striking language coupled with the impact of post-dictatorship Argentina led to the creation of the theater group, UORC - Teatro de Operaciones (1986). Baldinu’s constant curiosity for new ways of expression encouraged him to experiment in non-conventional areas, including buildings and monuments throughout the city of Buenos Aires. La Tirolesa (1989) was created in this fashion. After dissolving La Organización Negra in 1993, Baldinu co-founded the De La Guarda Company, focusing on the search of a theatrical language that allowed him to move and excite audiences. Later on, De La Guarda presented five shows in an experiment called Doma (1998). This mega-show, performed in the open-air, was the greatest aerial show and production of the company.
NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Design). Recent Broadway: Aida (Tony Award 2000), Beauty and the Beast, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sweet Smell of Success, Twelfth Night, Flower Drum Song, Dance of Death, The Capeman and Barrymore. National Theatre, London: Buried Child. Extensive designs Off-Broadway and for American regional theatres. Opera/dance: Cyrano (Metropolitan Opera), Die Soldatan (NYC Opera), Carnival of the Animals (NYC Ballet), Tryst (Royal Ballet), and Don Quixote (American Ballet Theatre). Concert acts: Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret and Tommy Tune. Permanent lighting installations: Niketown NYC and London and the Big Bang at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.
JOHN SHIVERS (Sound Design). Sound design credits include: In My Life, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, Julia Sweeney’s God Said ‘Ha’ and various productions of Savion Glover, Dionne Warwick and Gregory Hines. He is also credited as the associate sound designer/production sound engineer for Broadway and worldwide productions of Hairspray, The Producers, The Lion King, Aida, Titanic, Big, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Who’s Tommy, Guys and Dolls and The Buddy Holly Story.
PAUL BOGAEV (Music Producer/Vocal Arrangements). Executive producer of the 2004 GRAMMY-winning soundtrack and music director of the 2003 film, Chicago. Broadway: Music supervisor and orchestrator, Bombay Dreams (2004 Tony nominee); music producer and arranger, Aida (2000 GRAMMY Award); music director, Sunset Boulevard, Joseph, Aspects of Love, Chess, Les Miserables, Starlight Express and Cats. Film: Connie and Carla with Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette. Currently: Julie Taymor's new movie with songs by The Beatles, and Dreamgirls with Jamie Foxx, Beyonce and Eddie Murphy. ABC television musicals: “Cinderella,” “South Pacific,” and “Annie” (2000 Emmy Award). Conductor: Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Michael Crawford and the silent film masterpiece Napoleon, presented by Francis Coppola. Disney films: Mulan (Music Director), song arrangements for Disney’sTarzan and The Lion King.
DOUG BESTERMAN (Orchestrations) A three-time Tony Award winner, Doug's Broadway orchestration credits include: Dracula, Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award and Drama Desk Awards) The Producers (2001 Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Fosse (1999 Tony Award), The Music Man (Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations), Seussical, Big (Drama Desk Award nomination), Damn Yankees (Drama Desk Award nomination), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Off-Broadway: Weird Romance, Jack's Holiday, Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller, The Gifts of the Magi, Godspell; also in New York: King David, A Christmas Carol, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Film/television: The Producers, Chicago, Mulan, Anastasia, Pocahontas, Lincoln, Cinderella, Annie, Geppetto, South Pacific, and Superstar. Doug has also arranged for: Christine Andreas, Toni Braxton, Beyonce Knowles, Barry Manilow, Mandy Patinkin, Barbra Streisand, the LA Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
JENN GAMBATESE (Jane) most recently starred on Broadway in All Shook Up as both ‘Natalie’ and ‘Ed’. Other Broadway: ‘Penny Pingleton’ in Hairspray, ‘Mouse’ et al in A Year with Frog and Toad, and ‘Urleen’ in Footloose. Off-Broadway: ‘The Statue of Liberty’ in Reefer Madness. Tours (Europe and North America): ‘Serena Katz’ in Fame. TV: “All My Children”. Film: upcoming in The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert DeNiro.
MERLE DANDRIDGE (Kala). Broadway credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, Rent. Tours: Aida (First National: Aida/Nehebka), Ain't Misbehavin' (Europe), Smokey Joe's Cafe (U.S.). Chicago: The Kentucky Cycle (Midwest Premiere, Joseph Jefferson Award), Passion, As You Like It (Rosalind), Balm in Gilead (Ann). Television: “Third Watch,” “NCIS,” “Angel,” “The Edge” (UPN Pilot), “Pros and Cons” (ABC Pilot), “All My Children,” “Guiding Light”. Voice over: The PC/XBox game Half Life 2 (Alyx Vance/G-Phoria award for Best Female Voice Performance), Half Life2: Aftermath (Alyx Vance).
SHULER HENSLEY (Kerchak). Broadway: Jud Fry in Oklahoma! (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier Awards), Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, and Javert in Les Miserables. Off-Broadway: The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Regional: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Most Happy Fella. Opera: Regina, Don Giovanni, La Boheme, and Carmen. TV: “Ed,” “Deadline,” “Gary Powers,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Criminal Intent,” “The Jury”. Film: Van Helsing, Monday Night Mayhem, Someone Like You, The Bread, My Sweet, The Legend of Zorro and the upcoming Opa. www.shulerhensley.com.
CHESTER GREGORY II (Terk) made his Broadway debut as Seaweed in Hairspray. This Gary, IN, native received numerous awards for his portrayal of Jackie Wilson in The Jackie Wilson Story. Other credits include Soul of Black Music (Black Ensemble, London), Scapin' (Court Theatre), Drowning Crow (Goodman) and Disney's Lion King Master Classes. Chester has performed for Michael Jackson and is working on a recording deal. His music is featured on ChesterGregory.net and Ahdae.com.
TIMOTHY JEROME (Professor Porter) most recently appeared in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera. Nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Me and My Girl, he was also featured in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Grand Hotel, The Magic Show, Cats, Lost in Yonkers, The Rothschilds, Man of La Mancha, La Boheme and dozens of original plays and musicals in regional theatre companies. His films include Thirteen Days, Cradle will Rock, Billy Bathgate, Spiderman II, Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives, Celebrity, and Everyone Says I Love You. Tim is the Founding President of National Music Theater Network and The NY Musical Theatre Festival.
DONNIE KESHAWARZ (Clayton). Broadway: Taboo. Off-Broadway: Drifting Elegant (The Director's Company), Big Ole Washing Machine (Atlantic Theatre Studio). Regional: Homebody Kabul (Trinity Rep) The Memorandum (Guthrie), Fall (Berkeley Rep, Baltimore CenterStage) TV: “Lost,” “24” (recurring role), “The Sopranos” (recurring role), “Sex & the City,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Hack,” “As the World Turns” (recurring role). Film: Drifting Elegant, Growing Down in Brooklyn, Tony 'n Tina's Wedding (the movie).
DANIEL MANCHE (Young Tarzan at certain performances). Broadway: Nine (Young Guido); TV: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” & “SVU,” “All My Children,” “Guiding Light,” “What's the Scoop?” Film: Headspace.
ALEX RUTHERFORD (Young Tarzan at certain performances) made his Broadway debut as Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast after traveling with the national tour. His favorite pastimes are reading, wrestling with his Dad and brother, playing Playstation 2 and riding his bike
BOB CROWLEY (Director/Scenic and Costume Design) is an Associate of the National Theatre, for which he has designed The History Boys, Mourning Becomes Electra, His Girl Friday, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ghetto, Hedda Gabler, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Racing Demon, Murmuring Judges, The Absence of War, The Prince’s Play, Richard III, White Chameleon, The Sea, Night of the Iguana, Carousel, The Designated Mourner, The Cripple of Inishmaan, King Lear and Amy’s View. Royal Shakespeare Company: Designed over 25 productions, including: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Tony nomination), The Plantagenetes, Henry IV, Parts 1 & II, King Lear, Hamlet. Field Day Theatre Company: Saint Oscar, The Cure at Troy (co-directed with Stephen Rea). Other set and costume designs: Donmar Warehouse: Into the Woods, Orpheus Descending. Almeida Theatre: Pinter’s Moonlight, No Man’s Land, The Iceman Cometh (Tony nomination), Cressida, The Judas Kiss. Royal Ballet Covent Garden: Pavane, Anastasia. Royal Opera House Covent Garden: The King Goes Forth to France, The Knot Garden, La Traviata. English National Opera: The Magic Flute. Chatelet Paris: The Cunning Little Vixen. Bavarian State Opera Munich: Don Giovanni. Lincoln Center Theater: Carousel (Tony Award), Hapgood, The Invention of Love (Tony nomination), Twelfth Night (Tony nomination). Public Theatre: The Seagull. Other Broadway: Paul Simon’s The Capeman (Tony nomination), Sweet Smell of Success, Disney’s Aida (Tony Award). Most recently: Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre). Royal Designer for Industry Award.
PHIL COLLINS (Music/Lyrics) is one of today's most popular vocalists, songwriters and performers, and has been hailed as one of the best drummers in the world. Collins has won seven GRAMMY Awards and released solo albums with sales totaling more than 70 million copies. Among his accomplishments in film, he contributed songs to the GRAMMY-winning soundtrack of Disney's Tarzan, including “You'll Be In My Heart,” which was nominated for a GRAMMY and won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Song. Most recently, Collins wrote six songs and made his film score composing debut (in collaboration with Mark Mancina) on Disney's Brother Bear and also composed the score for Tarzan II. Factoring in his work with Genesis, Brand X, and a gallery of star groups and performers (including Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, John Cale, Quincy Jones, and Tony Bennett), Collins has left his mark on some 200 million records worldwide. His hit songs include “In the Air Tonight,” “One More Night,” “Sussudio,” “Take Me Home,” “Two Hearts” and “Another Day in Paradise.” Among his other accomplishments, Collins fulfilled a lifetime ambition by touring with his own 20-piece big band, which made its debut in London's Royal Albert Hall in the company of conductor Quincy Jones and vocalist Tony Bennett. Collins embarked on a solo career after taking a break from being front man and drummer for the band Genesis, with whom he played for 25 years. His solo albums include Face Value, Hello, I Must Be Going, No Jacket Required, …But Seriously, Serious Hits…Live!, Both Sides, Dance Into the Light, Hits, Hot Night in Paris and Testify. Collins most recently completed his successful Final Farewell Tour.
DAVID HENRY HWANG (Book) was awarded the 1988 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and John Gassner Awards for his Broadway debut, M. Butterfly, which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. For his play Golden Child, he received a 1998 Tony nomination and a 1997 Obie Award. His new book for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song earned him his third Tony nomination in 2003. He was also a book writer on Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Hwang’s other plays include FOB (1981 Obie Award), The Dance and the Railroad, Family Devotions, The Sound of a Voice and Bondage. His opera libretti include three works for composer Philip Glass, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, The Voyage and The Sound of a Voice, as well as The Silver River with music by Bright Sheng and Ainadamar with Osvaldo Golijov. Hwang penned the feature films M. Butterfly, Golden Gate and Possession (co-writer) and co-wrote the song “Solo” with composer/performer Prince. His new play, Yellow Face, will premiere next season. Hwang serves on the Dramatists Guild Council.
MERYL TANKARD (Choreography) began her career as a classical dancer with the Australian Ballet. She later joined Pina Bausch's Wuppertaler Tanztheater as a soloist and became renowned for her performances in Kontakhof, Cafe Muller, 1980, Keuscheitslegende, Arien, Walzer and Bandoneon. Between 1989 - 1999 she directed her own dance companies in Australia creating over 15 full-length works including: Furioso, Possessed, Aurora, Songs with Mara and Inuk, which she toured internationally to New York (BAM), London, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Sydney. Since 2000, Tankard has worked freelance, creating works for Lyon Ballet (Bolero), Netherlands Dance Theatre (Merryland and Petrushka), Berlin Ballet (@ North), choreographing for Tiffany and Co. New York (Pearl) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (Beautiful Game); and creating/directing Deep Sea Dreaming for the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony. In 2003 she conceived and choreographed a full-length ballet Wild Swans for the Australian Ballet. In 2004 she was awarded an Australia Council Creative Development Fellowship, and is currently developing a film script and a musical.
PICHÓN BALDINU (Aerial Design) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His professional career began in 1984, when, while studying at the Conservatorio de Arte Dramático, he co-founded La Organización Negra, the first underground theatre company in Buenos Aires. The quest for striking language coupled with the impact of post-dictatorship Argentina led to the creation of the theater group, UORC - Teatro de Operaciones (1986). Baldinu’s constant curiosity for new ways of expression encouraged him to experiment in non-conventional areas, including buildings and monuments throughout the city of Buenos Aires. La Tirolesa (1989) was created in this fashion. After dissolving La Organización Negra in 1993, Baldinu co-founded the De La Guarda Company, focusing on the search of a theatrical language that allowed him to move and excite audiences. Later on, De La Guarda presented five shows in an experiment called Doma (1998). This mega-show, performed in the open-air, was the greatest aerial show and production of the company.
NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Design). Recent Broadway: Aida (Tony Award 2000), Beauty and the Beast, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sweet Smell of Success, Twelfth Night, Flower Drum Song, Dance of Death, The Capeman and Barrymore. National Theatre, London: Buried Child. Extensive designs Off-Broadway and for American regional theatres. Opera/dance: Cyrano (Metropolitan Opera), Die Soldatan (NYC Opera), Carnival of the Animals (NYC Ballet), Tryst (Royal Ballet), and Don Quixote (American Ballet Theatre). Concert acts: Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret and Tommy Tune. Permanent lighting installations: Niketown NYC and London and the Big Bang at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.
JOHN SHIVERS (Sound Design). Sound design credits include: In My Life, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, Julia Sweeney’s God Said ‘Ha’ and various productions of Savion Glover, Dionne Warwick and Gregory Hines. He is also credited as the associate sound designer/production sound engineer for Broadway and worldwide productions of Hairspray, The Producers, The Lion King, Aida, Titanic, Big, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Who’s Tommy, Guys and Dolls and The Buddy Holly Story.
PAUL BOGAEV (Music Producer/Vocal Arrangements). Executive producer of the 2004 GRAMMY-winning soundtrack and music director of the 2003 film, Chicago. Broadway: Music supervisor and orchestrator, Bombay Dreams (2004 Tony nominee); music producer and arranger, Aida (2000 GRAMMY Award); music director, Sunset Boulevard, Joseph, Aspects of Love, Chess, Les Miserables, Starlight Express and Cats. Film: Connie and Carla with Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette. Currently: Julie Taymor's new movie with songs by The Beatles, and Dreamgirls with Jamie Foxx, Beyonce and Eddie Murphy. ABC television musicals: “Cinderella,” “South Pacific,” and “Annie” (2000 Emmy Award). Conductor: Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Michael Crawford and the silent film masterpiece Napoleon, presented by Francis Coppola. Disney films: Mulan (Music Director), song arrangements for Disney’sTarzan and The Lion King.
DOUG BESTERMAN (Orchestrations) A three-time Tony Award winner, Doug's Broadway orchestration credits include: Dracula, Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award and Drama Desk Awards) The Producers (2001 Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Fosse (1999 Tony Award), The Music Man (Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations), Seussical, Big (Drama Desk Award nomination), Damn Yankees (Drama Desk Award nomination), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Off-Broadway: Weird Romance, Jack's Holiday, Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller, The Gifts of the Magi, Godspell; also in New York: King David, A Christmas Carol, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Film/television: The Producers, Chicago, Mulan, Anastasia, Pocahontas, Lincoln, Cinderella, Annie, Geppetto, South Pacific, and Superstar. Doug has also arranged for: Christine Andreas, Toni Braxton, Beyonce Knowles, Barry Manilow, Mandy Patinkin, Barbra Streisand, the LA Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
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