When coming up with an idea for a live music project, the concept that I want to bring to

life would be a Disney Legend’s performance. This performance is where the audience sees the

magic come to life through song. In a show, I am envisioning there would be actors such as Jodi

Benson, Susan Egan, and Paige O’Hara, as well as other Disney singers who have voiced

beloved characters that are still iconic today. The company name in addition to the performers

will definitely attract a crowd, the only difference is that this performance will immerse the

audience into the movies that they love.

To open the show, it will be a medley of classic Disney songs with special effects

appearing in projections from behind the singers. The stage will extend out into the audience,

where it looks like a spider, in order to reach out and find the audience. The stage will move and

also have a lighting design, as well as equipment in place for bubbles, fire, smell, and many other

effects that trigger the senses. The stage will turn colors and also be a screen. This idea will work

so it looks like Jodi Benson (Ariel), is walking on water or Idina Menzel (Elsa) walking on snow

or ice. The stage actually is such an important piece of performance because it allows the singer

to interact with the audience and make them excited for the set that is prepared for them.

In the documentary, “U2 360° Tour - Chicago - North American Leg Opening,”

(KieranF1Kimi, 2010), the stage set up has the idea that I am trying to achieve. The circular

stage with lights reaching from the audience to the performers allows them to feel connected as

they are a part of the show and experience. In addition to the screen, which has live video, I

would want to also include special effects such as the colors and projection tricks. This design, I

believe, has so many opportunities to engage the audience and capture their excitement and

attention. The stage makes the audience feel connected and close to the performers and that is
ultimately what the fans want. By incorporating a stage that engages the audience, there will be

better energy for the singer and the fans no matter their seat number.

Another show and performer that has always been an inspiring person within the public

eye is Stefani Germanotta, who is better known as Lady Gaga. Her overall message is always to

be proud of who you are. If one listens to any of her songs, there is a deep meaning to them,

which she always tries to share with her fans, which makes her unique. Her stage presence is

something that all performers should try. Her energy and confidence as well as her being

genuinely sincere allow for a great show. In her tour documentary “Five Foot Two”, viewers go

in on her day-to-day life before she sets foot on stage to perform. One of her performances

included her singing and playing the piano to one of her songs, but with a completely different

take to it. Incorporating her personal details and the attitude of not being scared to take a risk is

something that is crucial in every show.

By adding the stage setup and personal touches to the performance, the audience feels

connected and truly cared for by the musician. After the opening number of a Disney Medley,

there would be a narrator such as one of those famous voices you hear when taking a ride on the

monorail or even at a ride queue at Disney parks from around the world. For those unfamiliar

with the person behind the voice, this will act as an intro before the singer appears. Once they

arrive on stage, they can talk a little about their character but ultimately they will sing their

iconic songs. To start, Paige O’Hara (Belle) will come out, and on the screen, behind her will be

her hometown of France, just like how the movies start. As she sings, the stage beneath her will

turn to bricks and grass to match the projections and where she is walking in town. She will be

able to walk out into the audience from the stage extending from the circle.
 As we transfer into another set, Jodi Benson will appear. The screen will turn to water

and have the same 360-degree screen that U2 brought about in their show. This will act to feel as

you are underwater as there will be characters featured from the movie. The stage will resemble

water and the audience starts to hear water, and then bubbles will be blown and a salty beach

smell will fill the air. Disney is particularly good at adding to the senses and by adding things for

sensory, excites the fans.

Throughout the entire show, the general concept of changing with the character remains.

The closing numbers will consist of all the singers joining together taking an extended part of the

stage. They will perform a medley of songs from the movies that they starred in and build it to be

the climax of the song. Whenever the song highlights a particular movie, the scenes will come up

upon the projections and no matter if it is fake snow, bubbles, or rose petals being blown into the

audience, they will gain excitement and feel as if they are too, part of the magic.

Most of the time performers take a break from singing and talk to their fans. They use

this not only for a break and to use time but to connect. The singers on stage will also slow their

singing and talk for a small amount of time. The venue also has a lot to do with the show as well.

First, the size of the audience determines the actual venue such as an arena or a smaller setting.

Will the venue be the right match for the performer such as putting Harry Styles in The Amway

Center or a performing arts theatre? In this case for a Disney performance, the arena isn’t the

first thought. I would pick a theatre or a smaller, more intimate venue.

Of course, with every show, some questions come about. How many tickets will we sell?

Will the venue be big enough and fit into the budget? Will things work out because of covid? To

solve the issues that might come up, I would look at previous shows and see the number of seats

sold, and then base the venue off of that. I would also research what we sold and how much
money we made to base off the finances and who we can hire. I would set a budget, find the

labor needed which is guided by management to add people for set-up and light technicians as

well as other crucial people such as stage managers or sound engineers. During Coronavirus,

there were so many people laid off so this is an opportunity to bring back talent and also find

alternate methods for the future of shows. With Disney, there are so many platforms that are used

to welcome everyone to the magic no matter the distance such as television, music, movies, toys,

parks, cruises, broadway, and hotels, so maybe taking on a live stream will be an idea. The step-

by-step problem-solving method can be worked out simply because everything falls into each

other such as the venue size, budget, labor, and, performers.

As the show comes to a close, there will be a screen running with old Disney films and

bright lights and the last song reaches a climax. The performers will wave and talk to the

audience with instrumental pieces playing in the back. My goal for this event would be to bring

the love of music, the love for Disney, and the passion for joy come to life through song.
 Works cited

Five Foot Two. (n.d.). Netflix.

YouTube. (2010). U2 360° Tour - Chicago - North American Leg Opening. YouTube.
Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lujevmAVUg&t=554s.