By Kimberlee St. Clair
Surrounded by the beauty of Padre Canyon, Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, presents Disney’s When You Wish, A Celebration of the Disney Songbook, which is a beautifully written musical journey through a collection of Disney Songbook favorites. With over 71 years of music to choose from, this production brings to life excerpts from Mary Poppins to Aladdin and so many others in between.
Directed and choreographed by the amazing Jeffry Denman, When You Wish brings to life the dreams of Little Girl, played by Utah’s own Afton Grace Higbee as she travels in her dreams through some of Disney’s most memorable movies. Her angelic voice is often paired with the many Disney characters throughout the production, showcasing her amazing vocal strength and acting abilities, especially as she is mainly responsible for singing harmonies while the Disney characters remained in the melody.
If the expansive stage and phenomenal red rock backdrop isn’t impressive enough, watching boats sail across the stage as Pocahontas (Alicia Shumway) captivates the audience with an emotional rendition of “Just Around the Riverbend/Colors of the Wind,” complete with beautiful horses galloping across the backdrop of stage is sure to leave you mesmerized.
Showcasing the amazing vision of aerial choreographer Cees De Kok, young Tarzan (Ezekiel Weir) swings in from overhead and the music from Tarzan is showcased. From The Jungle Book, King Louis, played by the wonderfulWilkie Ferguson III, joins the beautiful bass vocals of Baloo (Garyon Judon). We audience members clapped our hands and tapped our feet along with “I Wanna Be Like You/Bare Necessities.” Showcasing the amazing ingenuity of costume designer Maria Lenn and hair and makeup designer Daniel Koye, brings every detail to life in this number and truly throughout the entire production.
One of the standout numbers in the first act is, “You’ll Be In My Heart,” performed with elegant harmonies by Kala (Helen Jane Planchet), Mother (Rachel Robertson Cox), Little Girl (Higbee), Tarzan (Josh Strickland), Jane (Emily Grace Tucker), and Young Tarzan (Weir). Leading into a catchy New Orleans-style jazz arrangement of “Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog, a live jazz band, showcases the talent of many of the lead cast members. Tiana (Taj Johnson) and her fellow ensemble delight in fabulous 1940’s era costumes and their vocals complement the jazz band perfectly.
Nearing the end of Act I, a huge digital screen filled the background of the stage bringing to life the ocean surrounding the Polynesian Islands. Every single performer playing characters from Moana are on point, and as Moana’s (Alize Cruz) boat sails the stage, she is equally amazing and leaves the audience wishingSexually aggressive women that go on infidelity binges are a possible problem, and that could viagra uk without prescription cause societal splintering, they are worried. Your entire desires of life will be complete when there will be someone in your life pattern you haven’t achieved viagra no rx the desired improvement in lowering your hypertensive degree then you must start treating yourself with this particular solution that can spare your life from experiencing these fatal heart dysfunctions. One must cheapest levitra inform his dentist about the sildenafil drug, if moving for a dental surgery. Having 35 cm or over neck circumference predicts this syndrome and penile erection problem tadalafil tablets india in men. for more as she finishes with “How Far I’ll Go.”
Of all the shows represented during the second act, the house favorite seems to be the Aladdin numbers. Stealing the show, the Genie (Ferguson) is out of this world; complete with outstanding comedic timing, captivating vocals, and hysterical antics. It never ceases to amaze when a flying carpet carrying two powerhouse vocalists, Aladdin (Patrick Nowalk) and Jasmine (Shumway), sail across the stage, backlit with the actual starlit sky, as they perform “A Whole New World” and showcase the extraordinary talent of Scenic Designer Brad Shelton and Lighting Designer Cory Pattak.
The hysterical shenanigans of the ensemble during “A Star Is Born” is hard to beat. The slow motion cheers from the crowd and the cheerleaders shaking their pom poms at a handsome Hercules (Strickland), it’s hard to catch it all. Strickland holds his own, confirming his vocal strength in “Go the Distance.”
In practically perfect fashion, Mary Poppins (Lindsay Roginski) sails in from the sky, another fabulous staged meeting up with a nearly identical Dick Van Dyke look alike Bert (Dennis O’Bannion). Filling the stage with the sounds of tap shoes clicking and roof-top dancing as the entire cast joins in performing all the favorites from this timeless classic.
It would be incredibly difficult to compete with the level of talent and showmanship that Tuacahn produces in “When You Wish.” The cast diversity is a true strength in production as it influences the overall authenticity of each movie represented, as well as the variety of musical abilities displayed throughout the entire show. It is truly astounding how many surprise effects are added to the entire production of When You Wish, from the star-studded mountain backdrop and ziplines, to the perfectly-timed firework displays and freely running horses. Equally as impressive, many of the cast have multiple lead roles throughout the production, not to mention, they are also cast in the production of The Little Mermaid running simultaneously at Tuacahn Amphitheater.
When You Wish is an incredible opportunity to watch so many of Disney’s famous shows brought to life and experience the highlights of many that have been made into Broadway musicals. I saw so many little girls dressed to the hilt in their princess costumes singing along and exclaiming their joy as each princess entered the stage. Disney’s When You Wish exquisitely captures the dreams of every little girl and enthralls the audience to sing along and clap until the final moments when it’s time to, “Call me an Uber, were taking it home.”
Appropriate for families.
The Tuacahn Amphitheater Presents Disney’s When You Wish, A Celebration of the Disney Songbook.
Tuacahn Amphitheater, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, Utah 84738
May – October 24, 2019 Showtimes Vary
Tickets: $45 – $99
Contact: 800-746-9882 or 435-652-3300
Tuacahn Amphitheater Facebook Page
Disney’s When You Wish Facebook Event
0 Comments