Originally Posted By TDLFAN Hi all, I had the pleasure of attending a very special sneak preview of this year's final season of TDS' ubber wonderful extravaganza stage show "Rhythms of the World". 2006 appears to be the FINAL season ever and this may be the last time to catch this exciting, colorful and ultra fabulous stage show. This year.. ROTW features a brand new musical beginning and finale, with the added excitment of the now legendary mid acts where the sounds of Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa take over in a most visually stunning pageantry of sights and sounds. If you had to see only ONE show at any Disney park... this is IT! The music is fun and thunderous, the Cast is excellent, the choreography is amazing, and the costuming stunning. Featuring a supper exciting audience participation dance.. this is the only show where TDLFAN has shed it's inhibitions and actually *danced* along! FYI..the show officially premieres on Feb 1st and run for about 2 months. GO SEE IT!! TDLFAN's rating: A++ Photos with captions here: <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32066936&f=" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32066936&f=</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Great pictures! I've always wondered why Disney shows didn't ever borrow anything from marching band color guards, as they are very portable and effective, but it seems like they finally discovered that they can do it. The rifles and flags are a direct lift from a band/corps show, and seem to really work in this setting. Hopefully this will become more common in other shows.
Originally Posted By Mr X Actually, the original plans for the show called for a "Blast! type show" like DCA had, from what I heard. Then, it expanded into something which featured the Blast! elements on the stage, but the world focus all around the theater. It really is a great show, and *I* got to see it last week from exclusive, hard to get your hands on...BALCONY seating! TDLFAN and MagicalNezumi, eat your hearts out.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I never cared for Blast so I am glad they didn't go this way with ROTW. As for the Marching band style corps...the boys with rifles is something that I find unnecesary in this particular presentation. Other than beefcake, the rifle twirlers add nothing to the show.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>I never cared for Blast so I am glad they didn't go this way with ROTW<<< You don't think they did? Seems to me that that whole New York section with the brass (notice they are using drum corps style bugles) and marching drums, not to mention the rifles, is very similar to Blast though not even close to the same performance level...the marching is actually quite simplistic... I agree though, once the New York "section" is over, ROTW expands into something much more immersive than Blast (even though Blast tries to do that in their Broadway show...not nearly as effectively imo).
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Seems to me that that whole New York section with the brass (notice they are using drum corps style bugles) and marching drums, not to mention the rifles, is very similar to Blast<< Oh is that what Blast is?? I guess I never saw it or maybe I am confusing it with Stomp! Maybe??
Originally Posted By Mr X Blast is what evolved from the Star of Indiana drum and bugle corps. Star competed in drum corps international from 1985-93, and was founded by multi-millionaire Bill Cook (Cook group inc.). He decided to morph the group into something "bigger", so they created "Brass Theater which ran a few years from 94 (I don't know how many years exactly) performing in arenas and concert halls with the famous Canadian Brass ensemble. After that, they came up with Blast which premiered in London, toured extensively and had a short Broadway run in the Broadway theater (they followed Miss Saigon there) which I got the chance to see when I was visiting NYC. So, Blast is basically a drum and bugle corps on a Broadway stage. Brass, lots of different kinds of percussion and drum set, and color guard (or, visual ensemble). Did you ever catch "Future Corps" at EPCOT, TDLFAN? They were another drum and bugle corps offshoot, and personified the big sound and "snap and polish" that drum corps is known for. In addition, most of the cast members you've seen performing in Disneyland's Trash Can Trio (the leader invented the group, and was a famous and very successful teacher of the Blue Devils drum corps), EPCOT and TDL's Jammitors, and DisneySea's Kitchen Beat, were trained in the drum and bugle corps activity. In fact, the current group of Kitchen Beat consists of two former Blue Devils and a former member of the Magic of Orlando drum corps. The last Kitchen Keat also consisted of all drum and bugle corps guys, including one from Blue Devils (same guy, actually), one from Magic of Orlando (different guy, the adorable black dude who is currently MC of the Jammitors in Rhythms of the World), and one from the Phantom Regiment drum and bugle corps. Stomp is quite different. It's percussion and dance, and originated in Europe...the rhythm style has nothing to do with the American drum corps style really (though as a percussionist, I enjoy that show as well).
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Then my apologies.. I was thinking of Stomp when making my comments. It's the show I saw. As for Future Corps...yes, I saw them perform many times... A bit too loud for my taste everytime they performed by Innoventions (CommuniCore) walkways...in between buildings. Reason why I hardly ever stopped to see them in these areas.. my ears were too sensitive to their acoustics in Innovention areas.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yup, they had a LOT of volume for such a small group. God, I miss those guys. My favorite Disney streetmosphere ever! Me and FGM were actually at EPCOT specifically to see them perform the day they were fired...We waited for their scheduled performance, no corps. Waited for the next one, nothing. So we went to guest relations only to hear "that group no longer performs here, sorry". Boy, did I fire off a nasty complaint (written) THAT day! They actually played TDL once, TDLFAN. I've seen the videos, the Japanese were enthralled!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>the Japanese were enthralled!<< I see that everytime I see the Jammitors-san.
Originally Posted By mickeymeg From the pictures I described this as Blast meets Pulse a Stomp Odyssey Meets Disney. Am I close ? It looks like an amazing show. But then I am a percussionist myself and could just watch the jamminators and trash can trio for hours =)
Originally Posted By Mr X MickeyMeg, Rhythms of the World is not really something you can describe... Sure, the first few minutes are reflective of Blast, but the whole thing is very much "TOKYO DISNEY RESORT", and you really just have to see it. By the way, what percussion do you play?
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "Sure, the first few minutes are reflective of Blast, but the whole thing is very much "TOKYO DISNEY RESORT", and you really just have to see it." It sure would make a whole lot of sense at EPCOT too, don't you think? Of all theme parks to stage this, EPCOT seems like the most logical...oh well, so much for US budget.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Who's to say it won't. This is the final year after all and WDP&R are beginning to realise they should share their toys with other parks more.
Originally Posted By mickeymeg Mr X, Thanks for the kinda description =) I love when a show is so unique that words dont really help =) I am part of a percussion ensemble in our community. This group sort of originated in our high school then was taken to the community when the class (of band geeks =p ) I was part of graduated. At this point it is about 50 % Jr and High school students and 50% Adults who want to play too. We play everything from Marimba (my favourite), steel drums, drum kit and tamborenes to tin cans, boomwhaps, garbage cans, basket balls and even the kitchen sink. We have a website, though it is in a transition period at the moment so isnt as informative as it has been or will be in the comming weeks, but go check it out anyway if you want and you have a second, there are still photos to see and whatnot. www.wecanbeatit.ca Do you play too ? -Meg ºoº
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>It sure would make a whole lot of sense at EPCOT too, don't you think? Of all theme parks to stage this, EPCOT seems like the most logical...oh well, so much for US budget.<<< Actually, I was thinking it would be a great replacement for Lion King at DAK, if they ever decide to switch out the show. But FGM just said I am stupid, and that EPCOT is a MUCH better location.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>Do you play too ? -Meg ºoº<<< Yup. If you email me I'll tell you all about it (based on one of your posts, I've got a secret you might find interesting). Jammindave@hotmail.com
