More than $200 million (U.S.) was invested in the entertainment at Tokyo DisneySea, which opened Sept. 4, and infrastructure was built into the park's show areas to allow new shows long before they've even been dreamed up.
Half of that investment went into the brick-and-mortar facilities and the other half went into the shows themselves. "Live entertainment is extremely popular with the Japanese audience," said Steve Hedrick, senior show producer and project director for Tokyo DisneySea Entertainment. "It is as popular as attractions, as has been proven time and time again at Tokyo Disneyland."
One breakthrough live entertainment element is the Mermaid Lagoon Theater, Hedrick said. The 700-seat auditorium immerses the audience in the entertainment with a ceiling that appears to be the water's surface and live sea creatures moving around the room on a device that is like a ride system turned upside down. "It really came off beyond our expectations," Hedrick said.
The "Under the Sea" show has 14 actors plus puppeteers and can be performed 2.5 times per hour.
Another feature entertainment element is the 1,500-seat Broadway Theatre in the American Waterfront area of the park, Hedrick said. A medley of 21 Broadway show tunes is performed in the 30-minute show "Encore!" Special lifts and effects allow scenes to change seamlessly. This is performed five times each day.
Mediterranean Harbor is the set for two outdoor shows in front of 20,000 each day. At 2:30 p.m., Porto Paradiso Water Carnival showcases 200 Disney characters and other performers on watercraft ranging from intricately carved ships to jet skis decorated to look like dolphins. Ten kites and pyrotechnics are also used in the show. After sunset, the same venue plays host to DisneySea symphony, a magic-themed orchestral light and pyrotechnic show presided over by Mickey Mouse in the wizard costume from "Fantasia."
A pit large enough to hold a large mechanical device was built into the bottom of the harbor so that when the show is changed in about two years, additional elements (maybe "sea monsters") can be added, Hedrick said. Gas piping was also built in, in case a future show requires the harbor to be set afire.
The shows are presented in a hybrid of the English and Japanese languages. More than 200 foreign performers were imported for the shows because Japanese audiences like the American look for shows at an American-style theme park, Hedrick said.
The usual cast of Disney characters appear throughout the park, but in costumes appropriate to the park's seven themed "ports of call." For example, Goofy is dressed as Leonardo da Vinci. There are 23 "atmosphere groups" of actors playing roles throughout the park to pull patrons into the fantasy, including jugglers, belly dancers and singing gondoliers.
Hedrick said he thinks live shows will start to become popular in areas other than Japan.
"I think the live show attraction is a very viable option for theme parks all over the world," Hedrick said. "Instead of investing $80 million-$100 million in a ride, for a much smaller price, you can create a live show attraction. There's a higher operating cost, of course, but it keeps something fresh in front of the audience."
Half of that investment went into the brick-and-mortar facilities and the other half went into the shows themselves. "Live entertainment is extremely popular with the Japanese audience," said Steve Hedrick, senior show producer and project director for Tokyo DisneySea Entertainment. "It is as popular as attractions, as has been proven time and time again at Tokyo Disneyland."
One breakthrough live entertainment element is the Mermaid Lagoon Theater, Hedrick said. The 700-seat auditorium immerses the audience in the entertainment with a ceiling that appears to be the water's surface and live sea creatures moving around the room on a device that is like a ride system turned upside down. "It really came off beyond our expectations," Hedrick said.
The "Under the Sea" show has 14 actors plus puppeteers and can be performed 2.5 times per hour.
Another feature entertainment element is the 1,500-seat Broadway Theatre in the American Waterfront area of the park, Hedrick said. A medley of 21 Broadway show tunes is performed in the 30-minute show "Encore!" Special lifts and effects allow scenes to change seamlessly. This is performed five times each day.
Mediterranean Harbor is the set for two outdoor shows in front of 20,000 each day. At 2:30 p.m., Porto Paradiso Water Carnival showcases 200 Disney characters and other performers on watercraft ranging from intricately carved ships to jet skis decorated to look like dolphins. Ten kites and pyrotechnics are also used in the show. After sunset, the same venue plays host to DisneySea symphony, a magic-themed orchestral light and pyrotechnic show presided over by Mickey Mouse in the wizard costume from "Fantasia."
A pit large enough to hold a large mechanical device was built into the bottom of the harbor so that when the show is changed in about two years, additional elements (maybe "sea monsters") can be added, Hedrick said. Gas piping was also built in, in case a future show requires the harbor to be set afire.
The shows are presented in a hybrid of the English and Japanese languages. More than 200 foreign performers were imported for the shows because Japanese audiences like the American look for shows at an American-style theme park, Hedrick said.
The usual cast of Disney characters appear throughout the park, but in costumes appropriate to the park's seven themed "ports of call." For example, Goofy is dressed as Leonardo da Vinci. There are 23 "atmosphere groups" of actors playing roles throughout the park to pull patrons into the fantasy, including jugglers, belly dancers and singing gondoliers.
Hedrick said he thinks live shows will start to become popular in areas other than Japan.
"I think the live show attraction is a very viable option for theme parks all over the world," Hedrick said. "Instead of investing $80 million-$100 million in a ride, for a much smaller price, you can create a live show attraction. There's a higher operating cost, of course, but it keeps something fresh in front of the audience."
