Disney magic comes to Brighton with Woody & Jessie leading the way

Cinderella isn’t so much going to a ball in Disney Live!’s latest show – she’s heading off to a talent contest instead.

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show is at The Brighton Centre on 13 and 14 August. It promises audiences a high-energy, fun-packed adventure – led by Mickey Mouse himself and featuring a host of much loved Disney friends.

The live stage spectacular, produced by Feld Entertainment, whisks audiences on a wacky, fun-filled journey with Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck and Goofy as they embark on an hilarious talent search adventure filled with unexpected, exciting encounters and his best buddies.

As this original storyline unfolds, families will find themselves singing, dancing and laughing along with the likes of Tigger, Cinderella, Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

We went behind the scenes of the show in the middle of rehearsals and caught up with the performer playing Cinderella plus the actors taking on the roles of Woody and Jessie from Toy Story.

“Part of the show is to find out what special talent each of us has inside of us,” explains Meredith Baldwin (Cinderella), from Fullerton, California.

“Cinderella’s talent is singing, so you get to see Cinderella singing some of your favourite songs. This is actually my sixth tour with Disney Live!.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled all over the world. I’m up to 23 countries now.

“I went for an audition which I thought was for multiple things and it was for Tokyo Disneyland and I called my mum and she said just try out anyway, and I got it and I was only 17 years old. I was lucky enough to have my family come visit me, then I went to work in Disneyland California, Walt Disney World in Florida, then Hong Kong Disneyland, then here to join Disney Live!

“We’re bringing these characters to people who haven’t been able to go to the parks.”

A large segment of the show features your favourite characters from Toy Story. As Chris Rutherford (Woody) explains: “In the show we are first introduced to Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy and they’re putting on a big talent show for all their friends.

“But they realise they don’t have quite enough talent so they set off on a road trip to find more talent for the talent show and along the way they meet a lot of classic Disney characters, including Tigger, Cinderella and the Toy Story characters.”

Chris started working with Disney back in 2002 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and honed his character performing skills there.

“About three years ago I went to a Disney Live! audition and was very fortunate to be offered this role and I’ve been touring with the company ever since.”

He had to hone new skills though to take up the part of Woody from Toy Story, after all they are pretty big cowboy boots to fill!

“I needed to be able to lasso,” explains Chris, who hails from Missouri in the US. “It wasn’t something I knew how to do before joining the show but I’ve had three years practise now and I’ve gotten pretty good – not quite a professional roper but I’ll show the audience a few tricks up there I’m sure they’ll enjoy.

“Our former Buzz Lightyear was a jack of all trades. In addition to being a great juggler he also had experience of ropes so he helped me to learn and then it was a lot of trial and error, lots of persistence and practising, like with anything, and practise makes perfect.

“Woody is known all around the world and beloved by children and adults alike, so I really have to ensure I portray him to the best of my ability. I study the films and pretend that I’ve lost all my bones and I’m a stuffed doll toy. I do my best to portray him as accurately as everybody remembers him from the films.”

On-screen chemistry between Woody and Jessie is vital – just as it is on stage too. Emily Ebert takes up the role of Jessie, and she and Chris are a great team in the show, and backstage too they are great friends.

“I saw this audition for Disney Live!, went to the audition, wasn’t really sure what it was about, got it, left three weeks later for South America for six months and it’s been a whirlwind ever since,” she smiles.

“I have been dancing since I was four, I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah and my background is mostly in ballet.

“For me, whenever I get into a character I watch the movie they are in so in this case I watched Toy Story 2 and 3. I studied her facial expressions, her mannerisms and I try and incorporate that in the show.

“I also try to incorporate specific moments from the movies that people might recognise so that people are really seeing Jessie on stage when they watch me.

“It’s just really fun, it’s not hard – it’s a challenge I guess as you are trying to channel that character, but it’s more fun than anything.

“The costume is pretty amazing, it’s like every little girl’s dream Halloween costume. It looks exactly like Jessie from the movies, so when I put on the costume I immediately just feel like Jessie and when I hear her voice and hear the music I just feel like I am Jessie, especially after
all that rehearsal.”

The pair can’t wait to take to the stage of the Brighton Centre. “It’s always fun when we make our first entrance as it’s the first time the kids are seeing each of their heroes,” says Chris.

“We also see a lot of children who dress up as their favourite characters. I love to look into the audience and see the little Woodys with their little hats and vests, and little Buzz Lightyears with their little backpacks.

“Of course I give them an extra little wave and a howdy!”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show, The Brighton Centre, Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 August 2013.