Talk to top theme park designers for a good cause – plus rare items auction

If you’re interested in how the creative ideas for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Halloween Horror Nights and other theme park attractions are created, you’ll want to attend the Entertainment Designer Forum this Friday night. And you’ll be helping a good cause as well.

Billed as an evening with top designers in the entertainment industry, two sessions will be held at the Mad Cow Theatre in downtown Orlando to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in honor of Stephanie Girard. The panel will discuss their styles and philosophy in designing theme park and film sets. The panel members will take questions after each presentation. In addition to the talks, a silent auction will offer some one-of-a-kind theme park memorabilia, including rare Halloween Horror Nights collectables.

Stephanie Girard has worked as an art director and set designer for films such as Ray, Dreamer, Leatherheads, Dear John and more. She was also a designer for Halloween Horror Nights, Grinchmas and Universal Dubai. Just 49-years-old, Stephanie has been battling colon cancer for five years. This past December, doctors told her she had three months to live. So far she’s beating those odds. And since that time she’s made it her goal to raise at least $25,000 for the American Cancer Society. Last year she raised an unheard of $14,000 during the Relay For Life in Celebration, Fla. Since December she’s raised more than $22,000 of her goal.

The Entertainment Designer Forum is being held at 6:30 and 9 p.m. this Friday, April 23 at the Mad Cow Theatre. Tickets are $25 each and all of the proceeds from ticket sales and the auction items go toward Stephanie’s goal. To purchase tickets, visit madcowtheatre.com or call 407-297-8788.

Participants Include:
Alan Gilmore: Art director for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the films Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and The Bourne Ultimatum.
Stephanie Girard: Set designer for the films Ray, Dreamer, Leatherheads, Dear John and more. Designer for Halloween Horror Nights, Grinchmas and Universal Dubai.
TJ Mannarino: Director for Universal Studios Entertainment (Halloween Horror Nights, Grinchmas, Mardi Gras), Nickelodeon Studios and Mickey Mouse Club.
David Hughes: Universal Studios designer. Halloween Horror Nights lead designer for houses, art director for Terminator 3D, art director The Little Mermaid, Disney Studios, and Mickey Mouse Club.
Kim Gromoll: Designer for Universal Studios (Halloween Horror Nights Streets and Shows), Disney’s Animal Kingdom shows, Margaritaville merchandising,
Rick Spencer: Manager for Universal Studios. Writer for Halloween Horror Nights website, producer of special events, producer/director for Shining Time Station PBS.
Michael Burnett: Manager of prosthetics for Universal Studios, many feature film and television shows and all prosthetics for Halloween Horror Nights.
Rich West: Designer for Halloween Horror Nights houses, The Simpson’s Ride and Universal Dubai.
Manuel Cordero: Designer for Halloween Horror Nights houses and Disney parades.
Nick Farrentello: Designer for Halloween Horror Nights. Set designer for the films Ali and The Trouble with Mary. Designer for the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster.
J. Michael Roddy: Creative Director/Producer for The Shark is Still Working, MonsterKIDS and Halloween Horror Nights.
Jason Surrell, Author, screenwriter and Walt Disney Imagineer. Author of Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies and The Disney Mountains: Imagineering At Its Peak.
Ray Keim: Web designer for Halloween Horror Nights and Haunted Dimensions.
Michael Aiello: Writer and show producer for the Bill & Ted show and houses and streets for Halloween Horror Nights.

Some of the auction items:

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