Candlelight Processional

[Allie in Wonderland]

I have seen this show about 3 times and was wondering who everyone liked for a reader. This year we saw Rita Moreno and I was very disappointed. The music was the best but her reading took away from the performance. She was far too dramatic for my taste and I felt as though she was self centered. She excused herself because she had a cold but made many mistakes (in the most famous bible reading). I was not very impressed.

My favorite person was Phylicia Rashad. She has a great voice and is very respectful in the way she reads the passage. If you have the chance to purchase the CD it is well worth it!

 

[rocperez]

She is my favorite too. I purchased the Candlelight Processional CD and she is the reader on it as well. Another reader I like is Gary Sinise.

 

[two-foxes]

I have only seen it twice. Last year we had Marlee Matlin who was AMAZING. At first, I was not sure how it would go...if she would do the reading or have her interperter do it. Well, her interperter read, who was amazing, and she signed. The emotion behind her signing was amazing. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. It was quite moving.

This year we had Edward James Olmos, who I enjoyed as well. His voice is very powerful, but calm and soothing. He has done it for many years, and it shows. My only complaint.....During the last segment that is read where they talk about how no army, leader....has ever equaled this one man, he would stop after a sentence or two, then say it in Spanish, then continue with another segment in English, then in Spanish. Please do not think my complaint was him speaking Spanish, my complaint is that he took away from the most powerful portion , IMO, by segmenting it out. Read it all in Spanish, then English (or vis versa) so we get the full effect of those words. It really took away from that. But all in all, good. I really want to see Gary Sinise. I really like him!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I was amazed that I liked Monique Coleman this year. She seemed so...young...and you know the young can NEVER do as good a job as an old geezer .

Last time I saw it before this year was 2 years ago...it was "Uncle Jesse" (John Stamos). I could have gone without seeing and hearing him...not such a great reader.

 

[WDW4ever]

We saw Neil Patrick Harris and thought he did a fine job. I did wonder if he was going to work in his character's most well known phrase from How I met your mother into his intro: "Legen - wait for it - dary!"

 

[Pakey]

We saw Jim Caveizel the year he starred in Passion of the Christ. He was very emotional, you could tell it was personal for him to read the story. I was blown away.

 

[Soot]

deleted

 

[karliebug]

We saw Gary Sinese on Christmas Day and I thought the whole show was just beautiful. It was our first time seeing it but I thought it was awesome.

 

[FoggyToad]

We also saw Neil Patrick Harris and enjoyed it have no one to compare him to as it was our first experience with the Candlelight Processional. Looking forward to experiencing it again but would like to hear someone else do the reading. Nothing against NPH, however!

 

[Talking Hands]

I normally try to see Marlee Matlin. She is awesome. Her signing is beautiful. I have also seen Steven Curtis Chapman, Jim Cavazal, and others I've forgotten.
I will say that I really enjoy the interpreters. They are so skilled and really into the message.

 

[Floridagram]

I had thought that Edward Jamed Olmos would be good, I think I will try to see him next time. I do agree it would be better to do the whole story in English and then Spanish so the message would not be interupted.

We saw Andie McDowell this year and I was disappointed. I wondered if she was familiar with the reading before hand. She did not read it with any passion. (IMHO) I had seen Neil Patrick Harris before and I liked him much better.

 

[PrincessAlways]

I respectfully & wholeheartedly disagree with the OP about Rita Moreno. I had the pleasure of enjoying her readings two years in a row & was completely blown away by her enthusiasm, dramatic presentation & her singing with the choir. I have also seen Edward James Olmos who was good. This year we had the opportunity to enjoy the shows with John O'Hurley & Neil Patrick Harris. I did enjoy John O'Hurley's presentation very much. His voice was just so soothing & beautiful. I like Neil Patrick Harris, but his voice just didn't seem to enhance the reading. Just my opinion. However, no matter who is performing the reading, this show is just the most beautiful & moving event at EPCOT for the Christmas season! It brings me to tears each time!

 

[Allie in Wonderland]

I was amazed that I liked Monique Coleman this year. She seemed so...young...and you know the young can NEVER do as good a job as an old geezer .

Last time I saw it before this year was 2 years ago...it was "Uncle Jesse" (John Stamos). I could have gone without seeing and hearing him...not such a great reader.

I am surprised that you did not like the perfomance by Uncle Jesse. We have friends who loved him and were truely impressed. Did he have an "off night" or was he disinterested in it?

 

[Allie in Wonderland]

"However, no matter who is performing the reading, this show is just the most beautiful & moving event at EPCOT for the Christmas season! It brings me to tears each time! "

I second that statement!

 

[Diznejen1]

This is going quite a ways back, but I remember the Candlelight Processional when it was preformed in the Magic Kindgom on Main street and the choir lined up in front of the train station. I was actually a choir member in the 1980's and the most memorable speaker to me was Walter Kronkite. I'd have to say my #2 was James Earl Jones. There is just something about the men telling that story.

 

[Mickey527]

I have seen it so many times but my favorite still to this day is LeVar Burton.
I loved the way he read, and the way he looked at the choir and interpeter as if in awe of what they were doing. It was beautiful.

I have seen Gary Sinese and the night I saw him he made numerous mistakes. But he is so georgeous I let them slip.
I saw Brian Dennehy a few years back. He is my ex-husband's cousin so I was a little swayed, but he did well even with a few mistakes.
the year I saw Jodi Benson (Ariel) was different. I couldn't get by the fact that Ariel was doing the readings despite the fact that I saw Jodi Benson. It was strange closing my eyes and picturing Ariel in her flipper doing the reading. I bet the men liked it though.
I have seen some others but those were my favorites.

 

[lwilliam]

we saw Gary Sinese on Christmas evening - he was great.

Two years ago we saw John Stamos and didn't like the show at all - he seemed to make a joke of everything, and to me, the Candlelight Processional is the most serious thing I have ever seen at Disney.

Four years ago we again saw Gary Sinese.

 

[Twende]

I enjoyed Monique Coleman this year. I thought she read well and put a lot of feeling into her readings. She made one minor mistake in a Bible verse but other than that she did great.

The interpreter was incredible the night we went. It was a woman and she was incredible. My parent is hearing impaired so we were able to sit by the interpreter and enjoy her words too!