After more than a year of anticipation, Cirque du Soleil Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products are pleased to announce that the new Drawn to Life show will premiere on November 18, 2021.
This highly anticipated new family show will be presented at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering will call Disney Springs home.
We are very excited to be able to unveil this long-awaited new creation to the public,” said Daniel Lamarre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cirque du Soleil Group. We were just a few weeks away from opening night in March 2020 when we had to put our operations on pause. The intermission is now over, and we can’t wait for our fans and Disney fans to experience this love letter to the art of Walt Disney animation.”
“Combining the art of Disney animation with dazzling acrobatic performances, Drawn to Life is a great addition to the Disney Springs entertainment lineup, and is sure to impress audiences and touch the hearts of adults and children alike,” added Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort. I look forward to a new generation of guests experiencing this unique show as part of their Walt Disney World holiday.”
Drawn to Life, a new production written and directed by Michel Laprise with Fabrice Becker as Creative Director, is an acrobatic journey that tells the story of Julie, a determined young girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her Disney animator father: an unfinished work of animation.
As she delves into the depths of the animation world, Julie, guided by an amazing pencil, embarks on an inspiring quest peppered with her childhood memories of Disney. Developed in partnership with Michael Jung, Vice President, Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering, the story is built around ten unique acrobatic acts, and features animation from popular Disney films as well as new animation created especially for the show by Disney artists under the direction of Eric Goldberg, renowned animator for several iconic characters, such as the Genie from the Disney classic “Aladdin.”
“Having the opportunity to interpret works from Disney’s spectacular animation catalogue in a show was an honour for Cirque du Soleil and we couldn’t be prouder of this production,” said Diane Quinn, Chief Creative Officer for Cirque du Soleil Group. “In collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, we have created a dazzling show that will leave audiences wanting to dream and aim for the impossible.”
“Cirque du Soleil’s world-renowned creative and production team worked closely with us to get to know and understand every aspect of Disney’s animation artistry,” said Natalie Woodward, Vice President of Production, Disney Live Entertainment. Our incredible collaboration on Drawn to Life has created a show that celebrates Disney’s animation heritage and artistry in a unique and distinctive style that only Cirque du Soleil can do.”
“I think audiences will be impressed to see how the original performances and dazzling acrobatic effects of Cirque du Soleil and the artistry of Walt Disney Animation Studios have come together to bring classic and current characters like Baloo, Baymax and Cinderella to life, but presented in a way that is unprecedented and unforgettable,” said animator Eric Goldberg.
Drawn to Life is Cirque du Soleil’s 50th production and the grand premiere ties in with Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Featuring an international cast of 64 performers, Drawn to Life will run Tuesday through Saturday at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort.