Author: Michelle

Michelle holds a Masters degree in Theatre Studies and has written "America's Kingdom: Disneyland as a Performance of American Family Identity in the 1950s." Her scholarly interests are in theme parks as sites of integrating the public in performance. Additionally, she studies the convergence of live performance, cinema, and television, particularly during the mid-century.
Adventures By Disney, Travelogue

ABD Backstage Magic: Planning

Watching the in-room TV during your last trip to Walt Disney World you might have seen families exploring Inca ruins, Italian villas, and African safaris. Adventures by Disney (ABD) markets itself as a way to experience the world with the comforts of Disney. Through serendipitous events I went on the Disney (and film) theorist dream tour, Backstage Magic.

One of the first draws was the location, having worked many years at Walt Disney World, California and Disneyland possess a touch of the exotic. Second, the tour grants access into exclusive venues, which with the right connection you might get into a selection, but without the efficiency or totality of the tour. Finally, I wasn’t able to get into the archives for my research, and was willing to pay even to just get in.  It was also February and a great time to head to So Cal.

So, come join me on my trip.

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Uncategorized

In Which ‘Theatre, Theory, Theatre’ is Already Taken

There are a lot of misconceptions about what constitutes Story and how that differentiates Theme, and that both are entirely different from Plot. Typically, I try not to be contrary but as this is my documented area of study it is hard not to want to clear a few things up. Consider this your crash course in Theatre Theory studies, keeping in mind that what … Continue reading In Which ‘Theatre, Theory, Theatre’ is Already Taken

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Mouseterclass, Theatre Shows

Grandmother Willow and Sprig: How Porcupines Became my Forest Friend

Once upon a time in a far away land of Disney’s Animal Kingdom there was desire for entertainment. The designers of the kingdom called upon all their scribes to create three stories that would combine information with imagination.  This is the tale of one of those shows, Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends. Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends told the adventures of Pocahontas, Grandmother Willow, and … Continue reading Grandmother Willow and Sprig: How Porcupines Became my Forest Friend

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Imagineers, Mouseterclass

Why Theming Works: How Carsland is like a Castle

As the crowds race into the newly re-dedicated Disney California Adventure (last pun) it brings to mind the excitement Guests have for experiencing a story in three dimensions. While the setting of most major motion pictures serves as little more then a casualty of the hero and villain’s battle, one large conglomerate providing repetitious awestriking views, Radiator Springs of Cars pluses with a lifeblood granted … Continue reading Why Theming Works: How Carsland is like a Castle

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Imagineers, Mouseterclass

SoCal today, Carsland Tomorrow

Today marks a momentous occasion in this history of Disney parks. Not only does Carsland premiere, but Disney California Adventure completes a 5 year overhaul of the park’s themeing. It is on one hand an admittance of failure of the late Eisner era and the singularity of thought persisting from the early 90s that all America needed to be cool was sun-soaked Southern California. Yet, … Continue reading SoCal today, Carsland Tomorrow

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