“Rogers: The Musical” Arrives in About a Week at Disney California Adventure

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 24, 2023

 

Oh, you lucky West Coasters! You will be able to assemble for the premiere of “Rogers: The Musical” at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure Park in about a week!

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

As part of the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland Resort, a limited-time run of the one-act show will kick-off June 30, and play through August 31, 2023.  “Rogers: The Musical” is scheduled for Tuesdays through Saturdays, several times each day (Check park guides or the Disneyland app for show times on the day of your visit.  On opening day, the show times happen to be 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.)

 
This event promises to be extremely popular, so Disney is recommending joining the virtual queue that will be set up for the show, though it isn’t strictly required (but grab it if you can!). Special viewing areas for “Rogers: The Musical” will be accessible through the virtual queue system via the Disneyland app.  Disney advises, “Distribution for the complimentary virtual queue will begin at 10:30 a.m. PT for the first two show times of the day and 2 p.m. PT for the remaining show times of the day.” Once the virtual queue reaches capacity, any remaining walk-up viewing options will be available by checking in at the Hyperion Theater.

If you absolutely have to make sure you get a seat for the show, you can also purchase a special “‘Rogers: The Musical’ Premium Viewing Experience” package. Available in limited quantities, the $29.00 package at the Studio Catering Co. in Hollywood Land includes a ‘Rogers: The Musical’ popcorn bucket with kettle corn and choice of bottled beverage, plus access to lounge seating before the show, priority choice of seating in the theater, a souvenir lanyard and access to a unique photo opportunity.”

For those who aren’t in-the-know, this somewhat tongue-in-cheek Broadway-style extravaganza is a retelling of the story of Captain America, supported by a super-sized cast of singers and dancers including appearances by Peggy Carter, Nick Fury and select members of the Avengers.

 
If you watched the Disney+ series Hawkeye, you caught a glimpse of the show in episode 1 of the series, where a somewhat embarrassed Hawkeye takes his kids to see the fictional Broadway musical featuring singing and dancing versions of his fellow Avengers.  The 2022 D23 convention also treated audiences to a full-on blast of the show, and now California Adventure guests can get in on the action.

 
The new musical includes original choreography, and five all-new songs with music by Grammy-winning composer Christopher Lennertz and lyrics by Jordan Peterson, Christopher Lennertz and Alex Karukas. Not to worry, “Save The City” from the Hawkeye version of the musical (written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), and “Star Spangled Man” from the Captain America: The First Avenger film (written by Alan Menken and David Zippel) will be there as well.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

And because any new Disney venture requires snacks and merch, there will be limited time food and beverage offerings, including the “Patriotic Punch,” a Sprite and white cranberry juice with blue raspberry and cherry syrups topped with whipped cream; or the “Red, White and Blue Shake,” a vanilla shake with wild cherry and blue raspberry slushes at select locations across Disney California Adventure Park. The “Cap'n Everything Dog” is a hot link wrapped in pizza dough, topped with everything bagel seasoning; and the “Apple Pizza Pie” is a cinnamon-sugar fried pizza crust, topped with apple and cranberry filling, streusel, and cream cheese frosting. Oh, and if your fandom leans toward Ironman, you might be interested in the “Shawarm-izza” at Shawarma Palace, an Italian sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and pepperoncini concoction in a garlic-parmesan wrap with marinara dipping sauce.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Popcorn bucket collectors take note: There will be a special “Rogers: The Musical” popcorn bucket available for sale outside the Hyperion Theater, and it comes with red, white and blue kettle corn.

  
The Super Store Featuring Avengers Campus shop in Hollywood Land will be your headquarters for Avengers merch and apparel, but t-shirts, magnets and ornaments for musical merch will be available near the Hyperion Theater.

And to further help you remember this moment for eons to come, PhotoPass photographers will be around to help you commemorate your visit to the show - two Magic Shots will be available for a limited time.  You’ll even be able to pose with Captain America’s shield in front of the Hyperion Theater marquee.

 
If a visit to the West Coast is in your summer plans, you can check for future show times on Disneyland.com or the Disneyland app. (And just a reminder, you will need park tickets/admission and park reservations to enter the park and get to the Hyperion Theater.)

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Disneyland Gets Splash Mountain Closing Date; Magic Keys Go Quickly; New Restaurants and New Show Dates

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 14, 2023

 

Lots of news out of California this week.

 

Disneyland’s Splash Mountain ride, which opened in 1989, will close for good on May 31, 2023, with its last day to plunge over the 52-foot falls at Chick-a-pin Hill with Br’er Bear, Br’er Fox and Br’er Rabbit taking place on May 30th. Disney World’s Splash Mountain closed in January, with construction chugging ahead toward a projected 2024 reopening.

Construction on Splash Mountain in Disney World

Both of the Tony Baxter-designed Splash Mountain locations are being re-themed as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on the animated Princess and the Frog movie. The attraction’s storyline takes place after the close of the film, with Tiana opening her own restaurant and setting up an employee-owned company called “Tiana’s Foods,” supported by a new salt mine for the company. Signs at the Florida construction site already advertise “Tiana’s Foods…coming soon!”

 

The new iteration of the log flume ride will use the same ride track, but offer up a continuing story in Tiana’s tale, and will showcase characters from the original film, including Prince Naveen, Mama Odie, Louis, Eudora, Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Maldonia, and Prince Ralphie as they celebrate Mardi Gras.  Many of the original actors and actresses will be bringing their voices to the adventure’s sound track, but even more exciting, Disney has said they will be adding the scent of beignets to the ride! The accompanying music for the attraction will feature favorites from the movie, as well as newly created tunes.

Interestingly, while some of the animatronic characters are expected to be repurposed (along with many higher tech ones creating new characters for the ride), this isn’t the first time the critters will be reused.  A number of the more than 100 Disneyland ride animatronics were brought in from the original “America Sings” attraction.  

 

If you want to catch one more log to your laughing place, you’d best “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” over there soon! Splash Mountain is also available in Tokyo Disneyland, but it has not been slated for closure or re-theming at this time.

 

In other Disneyland news this week, Magic Key Passes (Disneyland’s version of an annual pass) went on sale again on April 11, but not for long.  As of this morning (April 14), only the Inspire Key ($1,599) was still available for new purchase.  (You can still renew at other levels.). At Disney World, guests will get their chance to snap up annual passes on April 20, though Disney Vacation Club members had a shot at it yesterday, April 13, but it was not without its technical difficulties.

 

In more sad Disneyland “closings” news, Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar & Café are also shutting their doors.  But there is good news in there, too, as the eateries will be making way for the new Paseo and Centrico. It should be a welcome addition, as its Mexican cuisine is being brought to the reimagined Downtown Disney area by Michelin Star Chef Carlos Gaytan.

 

And can we have a drum roll, please? Disney also announced a start date for the highly-anticipated Rogers: The Musical at Disney California Adventure. A short, 30-minute, one-act musical, the limited time show will debut on June 30, 2023, at the Hyperion Theater.  Why is this so highly anticipated?  Well, if you aren’t familiar with this send-up of Captain America and his gang of heroic Avengers, the performance first caught audiences’ attention at the 2022 D23 convention, and also made an appearance in the Disney+ series, Hawkeye.  The show will reportedly include the “Save the City” song from Hawkeye, as well as several new original songs created just for the musical.

 

If you’re looking to “do this all day,” you can only grab a seat Tuesday-Saturday at the Hyperion. There will, of course, be appropriately themed merch released at a later date.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.