The Poteet Theatre is sure to be a place of enchantment at its upcoming Disney Magic production. This fresh take on Disney old and new casts a fairylike spell of music, dance and storytelling on its audiences.
“This show will appeal to both kids and adults, because characters from Disney’s beginning such as Snow White to the most current characters like Merida from Brave all show up during the production,” said Jay Prock, the theater’s executive director. “Disney is synonymous with childhood, and our show will either bring back great memories of being a kid or will create new memories for the children who come.”
He said the music is the foundation for the production.
“It shows the diverse but brilliant writing and song-crafting of the many musicians who wrote music for these timeless Disney stories,” Prock said.
To help in the production, former Edmond resident Cindi Steele-Harrod and her son Dalton returned home to lend their theatrical expertise. Steele- Harrod, a performer in New York City’s theater world, is directing. Dalton Harrod, an avid tap and ballet dancer and actor, is assisting with choreography.
“We bring our own style,” said Harrod, who will also perform in the show. “We have tried to come from a lot of different angles.”
One of the lengthier numbers in this show, “Haunts and Villains,” has the ghosts from the Haunted Mansion show up to give the audience a scare while introducing some of Disney’s most infamous baddies. Among those making an appearance are Ursula, the sea witch from The Little Mermaid, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty and Jafar from Aladdin.
Harrod said it was tricky but rewarding to intertwine the production’s various themes. As a result, a wide range of of music — boogie, swing, ballet, rock ’n’ roll, hip hop — comes alive.
“Some choreographers do their work and the baby is born,” he said. “We get to relive it [by performing] every night.”
Children can participate in an interactive event following each performance, as princes and princesses in the audience can get photos taken with select cast members in front of the show’s forest background. Short carriage rides will be available for youngsters who want to ride with a Disney Magic cast member.
