Is a Halloween stage show coming to Disney California Adventure?!? – DePaoli on DeParks
I would like to begin this article by stating that this is pure speculation. I have zero insider knowledge about this particular subject matter. But my gut is telling me that something’s brewing. Halloween is a big deal in Disney California Adventure, and perhaps this is the year a full-blown stage production will enter the park.
Although I’ve been wishing for this possibility for years, the thought of a Halloween stage production coming to Disney California Adventure’s Hyperion Theater didn’t seem plausible until a recent announcement about Rogers: The Musical.
Disneyland Resort has been stating for a long time that Rogers: The Musical will be a limited-run production. But when they recently announced an end date of August 31, 2023, that date jumped out at me.
During the Halfway to Halloween Disneyland Resort news, it was announced that the fireworks spectacular Halloween Screams would be returning as part of this year’s festivities. It also noted that the Disney100 fireworks show Wondrous Journeys would be ending its run (for now) in order to make way for Halloween Screams. And when is Wondrous Journeys ending? You’ve probably guessed it by now. It’s ending on August 31st.
Given that Wondrous Journeys is ending on August 31st to make way for a Halloween production, it isn’t a huge leap to think that perhaps Rogers: The Musical is closing on the same date for the same reason.
The Hyperion Theater is a beautiful venue with lots of theatrical capabilities. The Hocus Pocus Villian Spelltacular is a magnificent production on the Cinderella Castle stage in Magic Kingdom, but the idea of a Halloween production inside of a controlled theater with rigging, trap doors, and a full-blow proscenium stage makes my very excited.
Given the talented folks in Disneyland Resort’s Disney Live Entertainment division, I’d be surprised if the proposed stage show were simply a copy from Florida. After all, we’re talking about the folks who brought us the entirely unique, and tremendously breathtaking, Villains Grove. I would love to see what they could come up with for the Hyperion Theater.
But it begs the question, would this stage show be for the hard-ticketed Oogie Boogie Bash, or might it be available during regular park hours? Although it would likely be for the party, I would love to see it available during the daytime. Simply for the reasons that it would be great for more people to have access, plus Oogie Boogie Bash is already a jam-packed night of partying.
While I’m making some wild predictions here, let me take this moment to make another. I’m wishfully predicting that we’ll be finding a face character Ursula on one of the Oogie Boogie Bash Treat Trails based on the live-action movie “The Little Mermaid.”
I’ve made quite a few predictions here. Do you think any of them are likely to come true? Do you hope that any of them come true? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Jeff DePaoli is a producer and voiceover artist living in Los Angeles. He can be heard as the voice of Disney Trivia on Alexa as well as the host of “Dizney Coast to Coast,” the ultimate, unofficial Disney fan podcast. Get your FREE gifts of “America’s Hidden Mickeys,” “On the Rohde Again,” “Theme Park Comfort Kit” and more at DizneyCoastToCoast.com. DePaoli’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent Attractions Magazine.
