Originally Posted By Malin URAYASU, CHIBA—Oriental Land Co., Ltd. announced that new entertainment will be introduced at Tokyo Disneyland® Park and Tokyo DisneySea® Park. “Once Upon a Time,” an entertainment program richly using projection mapping* technology, will premiere at Tokyo Disneyland in 2014. And at Tokyo DisneySea, a new musical production themed to Disney’s The Little Mermaid will open in 2015 at Mermaid Lagoon Theater. At Tokyo Disneyland “Once Upon a Time” A fantastic and heartwarming nighttime entertainment, “Once Upon a Time” richly uses projection mapping technology. Projection mapping makes it possible to project images in a way that fits the contours of buildings and other structures to produce a three-dimensional effect. This is the first time for this technology to be used in an entertainment program at Tokyo Disney Resort®. Many of the inspiring stories from the Disney films, including Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland will be vividly projected in 3D on the exterior of Cinderella Castle, the symbol of Tokyo Disneyland. This show will also include popular musical pieces from these films and special effects, such as on-stage pyrotechnics. Show Facts Duration: About 15 minutes Venue: Cinderella Castle Opening Date: Spring or summer 2014 (tentative) Investment Amount: About 2 billion yen (tentative) At Tokyo DisneySea New production at Mermaid Lagoon Theater The attraction, Mermaid Lagoon Theater, will be revamped, and a new musical production themed to Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be presented. Mermaid Lagoon Theater will be renovated with upgraded stage and lighting technology, as well as new display screens to be installed at the rear of the audience seating area. As King Triton hosts a musical concert, familiar Disney characters, such as Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian, will present a mesmerizing world under the sea, just as in the movie, with lively music, songs and dynamic performances. Show Facts Duration: About 15 minutes Opening Date: Spring 2015 (tentative) Investment Amount: Undecided Please note that the musical production “Under the Sea,” currently presented at Mermaid Lagoon Theater, will close permanently on April 6, 2014. Mermaid Lagoon Theater will be closed from April 7, 2014 to spring of 2015 (tentative).
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Interesting that they're replacing the Mermaid show with another show based in the same music. I know they're somewhat limited in the theme they can have there, but I wonder what the differences will be. Given that it will be closed for about a year, I assume there will be some major changes to the theater's infrastructure, but I have no idea what it could entail I'm also a little bummed that I won't have a chance to see the original show, since I've heard really good things about it. On my visit to TDS many years back, the Mermaid theater was closed for refurbishment, so I missed out
Originally Posted By leemac <<I'm also a little bummed that I won't have a chance to see the original show, since I've heard really good things about it. >> I'm always amazed that it is loved so much. It really is a mess of a show - more just a series of musical vignettes. No story at all and not much to look at for most of the show either. Plus the show just ended abruptly - always makes me chuckle when CMs have to usher guests out who think there is more! The Curry puppets are exceptional though. It is the problem with running continuous shows. The new show is a musical concert that will feature all of the numbers - so not specifically tied to the story but inspired by Under The Sea. There will be a lot more in-theater effects too.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Will there be live music in the new version? While that would obviously be a lot more expensive to run, I'd have a tough time seeing a "concert" featuring live performers singing to a recorded track.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Will there be live music in the new version?>> Definitely not - there isn't the space for an orchestra.
Originally Posted By Historian Does anyone know if the Michael Curry puppets will be incorporated into the new show?
Originally Posted By Megara We love the mermaid show. We always get a smile from Ariel when she notices us westerners.
Originally Posted By Brad That is one thing I love too as I walk around TDS and TDL - the face characters give you a big smile and wave. It makes you feel kinda special!
Originally Posted By leemac <<Does anyone know if the Michael Curry puppets will be incorporated into the new show?>> At the moment they are all off to Yesterland. The look of the new show will be a lot truer to the movie and therefore the Curry puppets are superfluous. However the show is still in development so you never know.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN <<Does anyone know if the Michael Curry puppets will be incorporated into the new show?>> Anything is possible, since the art work for the new show on the latest issue of Disney Fan magazine shows the same Sebastian puppet in use, but that doesn't mean it will be there when the actual show goes live.
Originally Posted By Historian Yes, I recently saw that same artwork. It's definitely the same Sebastian puppet. Not present in the art are the show's large, more elaborate and mechanically artistic suspended puppets, including Ursula. It doesn't seem to look good for them remaining. It would be a shame to lose those. I see them as an example of the more adult oriented esthetic that went into DisneySea's creation. Although much of that esthetic is still intact, it's been whittled away at over the past decade. (You're not the only example, but I'm looking at you, Duffy.)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Well.. most face character cast at TDR are aussies. They can spot their kind any time. ;-)
Originally Posted By Brad Ah, that explains why they're all SO HOT!!! ; ) Oh and if anybody's interested, do a google image search for a female contestant in our latest(and one of the BEST)seasons of Big Brother(Australia), for a young girl named Tahan. I SWEAR with the right hair up and costume she would make a BEAUTIFUL Jasmine!!!
