Archive for the 'Universal Studios Hollywood' Category
First look: ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ musical at Universal Studios Hollywood
June 25, 2009 2:29pm
Universal Studios Hollywood has begun public technical rehearsals of “The Creature From the Black Lagoon — A Raging Rockin’ Show” in advance of an official debut on July 1.
“Creature” blends a Broadway-style musical with a romantic-comedy-adventure elements that promises to be unlike any other theme park experience.
Another photo after the jump.
Theme park news: Underwear models on coasters, Legoland considers Florida, Disney World dumps Stitch show
June 20, 2009 1:20pm
A round-up of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
* Underwear models test “thrills without spills” bras on Alton Towers coasters in UK (SFW video and photo gallery). (The Sun)
* Photos of tightrope walker on a wire stretching from Detonator thrill ride at Worlds of Fun in Missouri. (Coaster Community)
* Building permits indicate Busch Gardens Tampa is getting a new roller coaster. What could it be? (Florida Thrills)
* New York Daily News Top 10 roller coasters of all time. I sense a New York/New Jersey/East Coast bias. (Ride Renegades)
* Bankruptcy filing indicates Six Flags plans to spend $105 million in 2010 and $110 million in 2011 on new rides and attractions. (Screamscape)
Best summer deals: Southern California theme park discounts
May 23, 2009 7:49am
With the Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, here’s a look at the best deals at Southern California amusement and theme parks:
Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure (Anaheim) — Three-day summer fun pass for $99 after June 1. Check out Mouse Planet for the most complete list of Disneyland discounts.
Universal Studios Hollywood — Six-month pass for $60 starting June 15.
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park) — All-you-can-eat barbecue, plus admission for $37.99 for adults and $28.99 for children and seniors. Weekends only.
More Southern California theme park deals after the jump.
‘King Kong’ attraction to rise from ashes at Universal Studios Hollywood
May 20, 2009 2:24pm
For all those fans who mourned the fiery death of the “King Kong” attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, take heart: The big ape will rise again in 2010.
The new “King Kong” attraction will derive its storyline from the 2005 Peter Jackson blockbuster, with visitors traveling through Skull Island, dodging a swarm of giant bats and bearing witness to an ape versus dinosaur finale.
Tram riders will don 3-D glasses just before entering the new “King Kong” soundstage for a digital 4-D multisensory experience that includes rolling, jolting and shuddering special effects. The new Kong soundstage will be built near the old attraction, but not in the same location.
‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ actors to fly above stage at Universal Studios Hollywood
May 16, 2009 10:13am
When Universal Studios Hollywood adapts “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” for the stage starting on July 1, much of the underwater action will take place high above the stage.
Using a technique known as “dry for wet,” the creative team behind the audacious Broadway-style musical will transform the theme park stage using fog, lighting and aerial effects.
During the 25-minute show, an 18-foot-long boat rolling along the stage suddenly soars into the air via suspension cables, appearing to float on water high above the audience. A stage crew hiding inside the hull navigates the 2-ton boat while the cast acts on deck.
During the romantic and acrobatic high point of the production, the creature and his love interest fly through the air in a synchronized swim sequence with the aid of harnesses attached via cables to tandem overhead tracks.
Cult classic horror film + Broadway musical = campy ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ at Universal Studios Hollywood
May 13, 2009 12:13pm
“The Creature From the Black Lagoon — A Raging Rockin’ Show” debuting at Universal Studios Hollywood on July 1 blends a Broadway-style musical with a romantic-comedy-adventure that promises to be unlike any other theme park experience.
The 25-minute show tells the twisted love story of beauty and beast through song, dance, aerial acrobatics, puppetry, special effects and an original score.
The question, of course, is will your average theme-park audience unfamiliar with the 1954 cult classic story grasp the high-camp concept.
The story centers around a menacing but tormented reptilian-man (Gill, a.k.a. the Creature) who falls in love with Kay, a beautiful and brilliant scientist. Kay’s emotionally detached scientist-fiancé (David) and an obnoxious rich kid (Mark) obsessed with capturing the creature provide the requisite complications. An exotic voodoo queen (Miranda) serves as the ship’s captain.
The show includes four original songs:
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2009 shaping up as a low-key year for California theme parks
May 4, 2009 8:03am
Disneyland sets the pace for theme parks in California. And with the Happiest Place on Earth taking a breather on major new attractions in 2009, the rest of the state’s amusement parks are following suit, opting for smaller fare this year over multimillion-dollar additions.
The lone exception: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia adds the $11-million Terminator Salvation, a 2,850-foot-long wooden roller coaster which opens Memorial Day weekend with movie tie-in visual effects and a loading station fly-through. (Watch POV video)
A roundup of 2009 additions at California amusement and theme parks:
* Disneyland rehabbed the “It’s a Small World” boat ride in February, adding 29 Disney characters and a new “Spirit of America” scene to the mix. The Anaheim theme park also debuted the Celebrate parade in March and bundled a series of nighttime shows under the Summer Nightastic banner (running from June 12 through August 23).
* Across the way at Disney’s Construction Adventure, the five-year-long $1.1-billion overhaul has begun in earnest, with the Ferris wheel getting a new Mickey Mouse theme (opens in May).
* Universal Studios Hollywood brings “Creature From the Black Lagoon” to the stage in July as a campy Broadway-style musical (I kid you not) with special effects, dance choreography and romance (still not kidding).
* Legoland California unveiled a new “Bob the Builder” 4-D movie in March. The 30-foot-tall Dune Raiders racing slides opens at the Carlsbad kiddie park in time for the Fourth of July weekend.
* Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park offers absolutely nothing new of note for 2009. Here’s hoping they’re saving up for next year.
Universal Studios Hollywood showcases new ‘Fast & Furious’ cars
March 12, 2009 12:23pm
Two of the muscle cars from the upcoming “Fast & Furious” street-racing movie are now on display at Universal Studios Hollywood, joining a fleet of exotic movie vehicles at the theme park.
Vin Diesel’s 1987 Buick Grand National and a 2009 Subaru WRX STI driven by Paul Walker in the movie are currently parked inside the theme park near the House of Horrors attraction (separate from the Fast & the Furious Extreme Close-Up experience on the behind-the-scenes Studio Tour)).
See the souped-up Subaru after the jump.
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‘Slumdog Millionaire’ kids visit Disneyland (without their new friend Oscar)
February 24, 2009 11:40am
It’s been a busy few days for the “Slumdog Millionaire” kids.
After taking in Universal Studios Hollywood theme park on Saturday and picking up the best picture Oscar at the Academy Awards on Sunday, the young kids from the cast met Mickey Mouse on Monday at Disneyland.
Pictured: Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (Young Jamal), Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail Sheikh (young Salim), Rubina Ali Rafiq Qureshi (young Latika), Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar (middle Latika), Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala (middle Salim), Tanay Hemant Chheda (middle Jamal) and Madhur Mittal (older Salim).
See the Slumdog kids on the It’s a Small World ride after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ kids hit Universal Studios Hollywood
February 23, 2009 1:15pm
On the day before hitting the Academy Awards red carpet and picking up a best picture Oscar, the young stars of “Slumdog Millionaire” spent Saturday afternoon taking in rides and attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood, including the Simpsons Ride.
Pictured from left to right: Tanay Hemant Chheda (middle Jamal), Madhur Mittal (older Salim), Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala (middle Salim), Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (Young Jamal), Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar (middle Latika).
Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood
