“Magic Box” tells the story of a young woman in the audience who is mysteriously summoned to a simple white box on stage.
There's something timeless about Disney. Whether it's hearing the opening line of a song for the first time or hearing the adventures of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck for the first time, Disney has a way of staying with us. It's a connection to our childhood, the magic of stories, and the endless possibilities of imagination.
magic boxa new Disney musical is coming to Joburg this month and promises to bring all of Walt Disney's magic to the stage. The cast and crew are all South African.
Felipe Gamba, creative producer and co-screenwriter magic box People with a sweet tooth are as passionate about Disney as they are about candy. He is a key figure in bringing this work to life.
“The origins of this project are deeply connected to subsequent projects,” he said. “It's more ambitious than any other show, because we're trying to condense 100 years of Disney storytelling into one show and celebrate the creative process that brought those stories to life.” ,” he said. Contains 87 arranged songs that spin new stories.
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journey to imagination
Magic Box tells the story of a young woman who is mysteriously summoned by an audience member to a simple white box on stage. As the box transforms before the audience's eyes, Mara embarks on an imaginative journey. Her shadow separates from her adult self and ages into a mischievous shadow of her younger self. It's a path she explores with music and dance.
Gamba said it's a metaphor for reconnecting with your inner child.
“In the end, there is a reconciliation between the older self and the younger self,” Gamba said. “Don't lose sight of your younger self.”
Gamba has a deep connection with Disney. Growing up in Colombia, he was captivated by the magic of Disney from an early age. “The first book I read as a kid was a biography of Walt Disney,” he said.
“I was obsessed with movies, history, and theme parks. For a kid growing up in Colombia, this magical world seemed so far away.”
That's why it means so much to him to bring the greatness of the character to audiences around the world.
Bring the big screen to the stage
Maintaining animation is also not an easy task. Turning a big screen into live theater requires a lot of solution exploration and imagination.
Gamba said the show incorporates a variety of theatrical techniques, including puppetry, projection and elaborate costumes, to bridge the gap in the experience.
“We wanted to bring back the playfulness of early Disney animation,” Gamba explained.
“The choice to represent Mickey and his friends as puppets was one of the show's great creative victories, because it brought Mickey and his friends back to that playfulness and allowed them to do things that could only be done on stage. Because you can.”
The show debuted in Buenos Aires in January. South Africa is the second destination. “The response in Buenos Aires was amazing,” Gamba said. This show is designed to appeal to all ages. “The great thing about this show is, as I always say, it's like a building with an elevator,” Gamba said. “Whether your favorite Disney song is from the ’60s or 2010, you can get off on any floor.”
All cast members are from South Africa
Choosing an entirely South African cast and crew was deeply personal for Gamba. His long association with The Lion King while working at Disney Theaters played an important role in this decision.
“South Africa is very close to my heart,” he said. “We knew we would cast the show beautifully, and that was on us. We have a great cast of 26 people, but we knew they would do something in the audition that we couldn't have imagined. “I rewrote a section of the show around this talent because he showed me,” he shared.
Gamba said the power of storytelling is transformative and Disney has mastered the art. But it's also part of everyone's DNA, he said.
“Whether it's a family story, a story with friends, or a story you've created yourself. It's the power that strengthens us as a community and as individuals. I believe that people… We want people to leave the theater filled with joy and confident that storytelling, story creation, music, and characters are essential to our well-being.”
magic box opens on November 22nd at the Montecasino Teatro in Johannesburg, before embarking on an international tour.
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