Hey there, Hi there, Ho there,
Friday the new spectacular live show "The Legend of the Lion King" opened at the totally transformed Videopolis at the Disneyland Resort Paris.
A first batch of 77 high quality photos can be found at http://www.dlp.info/ShowsAndParades/DL/Sho...dOfLionKing.htm and more photos will be added in the next days as well as a complete report.
The show features a prerecorded score using the songs and instrumental material from the movie, recorded with a huge symphony orchestra. While some chorus parts got recorded new, the african chants have been used that were recorded for the original soundtrack and got just re-edited. The show included a short excerpt of the new song "Welcome to Our World" by Lebo M.
Combining spectacular special effects with a huge dancing cast, two large and one smaller puppets and four live singers (Nala, Simba, Rafiki, Scar) the show is a blast with guests lining up as early as 2 hours in advance this weekend to get a seat ... but more on this in the promised report at abov? mentioned page in the coming days ... just not tonight as we have a large chat where we talk about the show (9.30 pm CET, so 3.30 pm at the east coast).
The music is spectacular as the live singing perfectly blends with the prerecorded material and the voices are really outstanding - which can be expected as the casting is a real surprise. There are currently two casts of live singers (performing 5 shows a day, 7 days a week). Both Simbas are rather well known: one is Roger Wright who opened the West End production of the Disney musical as Simba the other one is Gino who opened the German production of the Disney musical. Gino has a lighter voice and is a bit more acrobatic and light feeted, while Roger has a wonderful warm, deep voice which transports the feelings wonderful. Both present a unique performance which seems near perfect ... but again more on this later.
The new song by Lebo M is fitting in perfect but is hard to judge as it is only rather short. A longer version may be included in the first ever solo album by Lebo M which he has recorded / is recording and will release worldwide this fall (also to include a charity single for the 10th anniversary of the democracy in South Africa featuring an all star cast - he performed it in a short concert for press and VIP in DLRP on the opening night of the show, more on it in another, now also promised report).
What else to say in the few short minutes I have to write this short head up?
Well, the show is ONLY performed with english songs but the dialogue is either in French or in English (done live by the four live actors and prerecorded for the puppets and Timon). The language is announced prior to the show, but most guests will be able to follow it even without understanding the dialogue also some finer points and some gags may be lost then.
What else?? The resort released a soundtrack CD on time for the opening (for a track listing and cover scan see http://www.mousekingdom.com/scripts/dc/dcb...=full&page= )
It does not include the dialogue but all songs in English - plus some instrumentals used during the preshow and while guests exit the theater.
Unfortunately the CD was recorded in March when casting had not yet ended so it does feature STUDIO singers and NOT the actual cast. The solo voices are OK but not as outstanding and stellar as the live cast. Still it is up to the quality of other Lion King releases and a great way to relive the show ... more details on it in the promised report.
That's it so far....
Yours
Dirk
Friday the new spectacular live show "The Legend of the Lion King" opened at the totally transformed Videopolis at the Disneyland Resort Paris.
A first batch of 77 high quality photos can be found at http://www.dlp.info/ShowsAndParades/DL/Sho...dOfLionKing.htm and more photos will be added in the next days as well as a complete report.
The show features a prerecorded score using the songs and instrumental material from the movie, recorded with a huge symphony orchestra. While some chorus parts got recorded new, the african chants have been used that were recorded for the original soundtrack and got just re-edited. The show included a short excerpt of the new song "Welcome to Our World" by Lebo M.
Combining spectacular special effects with a huge dancing cast, two large and one smaller puppets and four live singers (Nala, Simba, Rafiki, Scar) the show is a blast with guests lining up as early as 2 hours in advance this weekend to get a seat ... but more on this in the promised report at abov? mentioned page in the coming days ... just not tonight as we have a large chat where we talk about the show (9.30 pm CET, so 3.30 pm at the east coast).
The music is spectacular as the live singing perfectly blends with the prerecorded material and the voices are really outstanding - which can be expected as the casting is a real surprise. There are currently two casts of live singers (performing 5 shows a day, 7 days a week). Both Simbas are rather well known: one is Roger Wright who opened the West End production of the Disney musical as Simba the other one is Gino who opened the German production of the Disney musical. Gino has a lighter voice and is a bit more acrobatic and light feeted, while Roger has a wonderful warm, deep voice which transports the feelings wonderful. Both present a unique performance which seems near perfect ... but again more on this later.
The new song by Lebo M is fitting in perfect but is hard to judge as it is only rather short. A longer version may be included in the first ever solo album by Lebo M which he has recorded / is recording and will release worldwide this fall (also to include a charity single for the 10th anniversary of the democracy in South Africa featuring an all star cast - he performed it in a short concert for press and VIP in DLRP on the opening night of the show, more on it in another, now also promised report).
What else to say in the few short minutes I have to write this short head up?
Well, the show is ONLY performed with english songs but the dialogue is either in French or in English (done live by the four live actors and prerecorded for the puppets and Timon). The language is announced prior to the show, but most guests will be able to follow it even without understanding the dialogue also some finer points and some gags may be lost then.
What else?? The resort released a soundtrack CD on time for the opening (for a track listing and cover scan see http://www.mousekingdom.com/scripts/dc/dcb...=full&page= )
It does not include the dialogue but all songs in English - plus some instrumentals used during the preshow and while guests exit the theater.
Unfortunately the CD was recorded in March when casting had not yet ended so it does feature STUDIO singers and NOT the actual cast. The solo voices are OK but not as outstanding and stellar as the live cast. Still it is up to the quality of other Lion King releases and a great way to relive the show ... more details on it in the promised report.
That's it so far....
Yours
Dirk