'Disney Princess: The Concert' cast promises magical night filled with ‘nostalgia and fun’
The princesses of Disney have long been a cherished part of the childhood of countless individuals, not only because of their inspiring characters and stories but also because of their enchanting songs that remain embedded in our memories even after the films have ended.
Now, kids and kids at heart will be able to relive their favorite Disney songs through the upcoming “Disney Princess – The Concert,” to be held on various dates in the Philippines this November.
The live show will take the audience to a whole new world of music and animation through powerful performances from acclaimed Broadway actors, including Anneliese Van Der Pol, Aisha Jackson, Krysta Rodriguez, Steffanie Leigh, Adam J. Levy, and Benjamin Rauhala.
In a press conference held on Nov. 14, Anneliese, Aisha, Krysta, and Benjamin talked about their preparations and what you can expect from the concert that will surely bring out your inner child.
How magical will the concert be?
According to Benjamin, Filipino fans can expect the performers to serenade them with songs from all the 13 Disney Princesses, namely, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana and Raya, as well as Anna and Elsa.
“We’re going to make some of them new, but some of them are going to be delivered in just the way that we all love, which is just as we heard in our childhoods, but with the unique perspective of these incredible artists on stage bringing their personality to it,” Benjamin said.
“You can expect a [nostalgic] feeling and a good time, and joy. You can expect a fun show at a time when maybe we really need it in a serious time in our world,” Anneliese added.
The concert will have the Broadway stars belting out the songs in front of LED screens playing the original animation. Through this, viewers can enjoy the familiar and the new mixing together.
There will also be “a little magic” happening at the end of the show if the crowd sings along with the stars loud enough.
@philstarlife Here's a teaser of what you can expect at the upcoming #DisneyPrincessTheConcert here in the Philippines in November! #Disney #concert #DisneyPrincess #LetItGo#PhilSTARLife @wilbroslive ♬ original sound - philstarlife
Channeling their inner princess
As the Disney Princesses are an icon in the hearts of many, the performers, as talented as they are, will have a lot to live up to.
Krysta shared that the challenge comes from how they will sing not one, but several songs that are all treasured by most people.
“We come from the theater world and usually, if you're playing a leading lady, you get one, maybe two great songs–we’re singing like nine amazing songs. To do them all justice is [difficult],” Krysta said.
“You want to do a great job and you also [have to] learn them all and have your own unique path for each character that you're doing. I knew a lot of the classics, but some of the newer songs I was just familiar with so we had to learn,” she added.
She went on to explain that the songs were written in a “four-part harmony,” which refers to music written for four voices, so they had a difficult time rising to the challenge. Nevertheless, they all had ample time to rehearse to get them prepared.
Lessons to take away
At the end of the show, the cast members hope that the concert will help audiences reflect on the impact of Disney Princesses in the world today.
“Disney Princesses really teach us to believe in ourselves and our dreams. They remind us that all of our dreams are possible and they teach us about having courage and being ourselves and not being afraid to take on something that might seem hard,” Aisha said.
“I hope that people are encouraged to keep going after what they want,” she continued.
Anneliese meanwhile highlighted that it’s a “female-forward show” that aims to teach what it means to be a hero.
“It's about feminism in a large way. And the power of being a hero through courage and kindness, empathy, and love and not using your sword,” she emphasized.
"Disney Princess – The Concert" is slated in Manila on Nov. 18 and 19 at 3 pm and 8 pm at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.
It is also scheduled in Cebu on Nov. 22, 8 pm at the Waterfront Hotel Cebu City, and Davao on Nov. 21, 8 pm at the SMX Convention Center Davao. You can get your tickets at Ticketworld for Manila and SM Tickets for Cebu and Davao.