E-Ticket to Broadway

"Create memories where you couldn't have ever planned it" is the perfect quote from Helen J Shen (Maybe Happy Ending), this episode's guest on 'E-Ticket to Broadway.' On this episode Helen shares their deep love of Baymax (who in plushie-form lives with Helen) and how Disney impacted her childhood--from watching the Disney movies as a kid (big fan of "The Lion King") to going to Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, Helen understands the gateway of Disney to Musical Theatre--specifically their reaction to "The Festival of the Lion King." Listen as Helen professors her excitement for Animal Kingdom--from the attractions like "Flight of Passage" and the "Kilimanjaro Safaris," to the "Tree of Life," to the food (Helen has been deemed "The Head of Sitting & Eating"), the way in which Helen shares her love is as good as any Disney commercial. Did we mention Helen's love of the food of the Disney Parks? Beignets, & Dole Whips, & Pickles...oh my! Helen's love of Shanghai Disneyland's "Pirates of the Carribean" and her soft spot for Carousel of Progress is also discussed, with some questions from the listeners, including which characters Helen is most excited to meet at the Disney Parks. Which attraction does Helen refuse to ride at Walt Disney World? Listen to find out!

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Tony Nominee Liz Larsen (BEAUTIFUL, HAIRSPRAY, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, STARMITES) joins David to share her love of the Disney Parks, specifically "Soarin'," "it's a small world," and the movie MULAN.

When Liz was 19 she finally got to go to Disneyland for the first time and shares her memories from that trip, including going on "it's a small world" which she describes as "life changing." Many of Liz's Disney stories revolve around family, watching the movies with them and falling more in love with the characters, and an epic trip in 2005 for five days to Walt Disney World, battling the Florida weather and two small kids (and what happened after a family meal at Cinderella Castle).

Liz's love for Disney is infectious, especially when she talks about the attractions and movies in the Disney universe that speaks to her. No "E-Ticket to Broadway" episode would be complete without mentioning Dopey, but this time it's the guest who brings up the Seven Dwarfs, specifically how she wants to be just like them when she's older.

Together Liz and David play "The Sherman Brothers' Songbook," playing trivia about music written by the magical Sherman Brothers. Which song from MULAN does this Tony Nominated-actror sing directly to the movie's lyricists' face? Listen to find out!

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Recorded LIVE at the Museum of Broadway in the center of Times Square, where the Broadway Podcast Network hosted PodFest 2024, including a special episode featuring The Book of Mormon star Nic Rouleau, and host of E-Ticket to Broadway, David Alpert. Together they play a Disney Parks Mad Lib, and a friendly round of the Match Game.

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This PARK HOPPER episode of E-Ticket to Broadway features Tony Award-Nominee and Disney Icon Susan Egan! These short Park Hoppers are meant to get you from one episode to the next, and this star of Broadway's Beauty and the Beast is always a delight to have on the podcast to share her love of Goofy, The Disney Parks, as well as share more about Disney Princess the Concert! (And be sure to listen to Episode #1 of "E-Ticket to Broadway" to hear more from Susan!)

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A big fan of the Disney Parks and Star Wars, Drama Desk Award-nominee Andrew Samonsky (Lempika, South Pacific, Come From Away, Bridges of Madison County) joins David to share his favorites stories and memories of going to Disney. Andrew is from California, so went to Disneyland as a kid, including a fun early birthday trip where he stayed at the Disneyland Hotel but wasn't able to sleep because he was too excited. Listen as he shares what made Disneyland magical for him as a kid, and what he finds charming as a "young at heart" when he returns to the Magic Kingdom today. Andrew and David discuss the quintessential Disneyland, and how the Anaheim park was their "true Disney." Andrew's love for the Disney Parks is contagious, especially his love of seeing Mickey Mouse in the Parks (and a fun story of seeing the Princesses), going on "Rise of the Resistance" (and his deep wish to meet Darth Vader), eating churros, and visiting "Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway." Andrew explains how he and Kate Reinders (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Wicked, Gypsy, Something Rotten) ended up getting married at Walt Disney World, and how their trips to the Parks have shifted since having their wonderful kid, Luke. Not a stranger to Disney onstage, Andrew starred in the National Tour of "On The Record," a Broadway-style musical revue of the Disney musical catalogue (prompting this episode's game "On the Samonsky Record"), as well as the US premiere of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" starring as Phoebus. What is Andrew's favorite Disney song? Listen to this episode of "E-Ticket to Broadway" to find out!

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A live recording from the 2023 BroadwayCon with host David Alpert and special guests Grey Henson (Mean Girls, Shucked), Alli Mauzey (Kimberly Akimbo, Wicked), & James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Hamilton). Recording on July 22, 2023, the panel completes a "Ride Rumble" bracket to determine which Disney Parks attraction will come out victorious! Be sure to check out our instagram page to see both the blank and completed bracket to play along!

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The one and only Vanessa Williams joins David for this episode of "E-Ticket to Broadway" to share her love of all things Disney. This Tony, Emmy, & Grammy-Award Nominee explains how her connection with Disney began while she was still in the womb, and why her Disney+ avatar is Thumper. Vanessa grew up watching Disney films, especially "Bambi," and tuned in every Sunday night to watch "The Wonderful World of Disney" on TV. Like her friend David, she discusses her love of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," as well as movies from the Renaissance of Disney like "The Lion King" & "The Little Mermaid"--and just like her parents passed along their love of The Mouse, Vanessa has passed along the magic to her children, even allowing her kids to be "Disney spoiled" (she also sings Disney songs to her grandson). When it comes to the Disney Theme Parks, Vanessa is a big fan--she admits that she has always loved rides, production, and fantasy, so her trips to the Parks are incredibly special, and she wisely states: "If you get bored at Disney, something's wrong with you." An entertainment icon, Vanessa shares her experience of first being passed over by Disney, to then being valued as an artist and recording "Colors of the Wind," performing at Walt Disney World, and voicing many Disney characters. "Turning Red" is now one of Vanessa's favorite movies, and on "E-Ticket to Broadway" shares her enthusiasm for EPCOT, the food and the hotels at the Parks, and which attractions she most enjoys. David & Vanessa share a lot of laughs on this episode chatting about their mutual love of Disneyland, and together play "Save the Colors of the Wind," discuss David's casting idea of Vanessa as Snow White's Evil Queen on Broadway, and determine the track list for Vanessa's Disney Album. Which job at Walt Disney World would she most like to apply for? Listen to find out!

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To say Broadway's Alli Mauzey (Kimberly Akimbo, Wicked, Cry-Baby, Hello Dolly) is a fan of Disneyland is a great understatement, and on this episode of "E-Ticket to Broadway," she and David discuss their mutual love of the OG Theme Park. Alli's family lived on the future site of Disneyland and shares incredible stories of her family meeting Walt Disney himself, and how her mother watched Disneyland being built. Disneyland was such a huge part of Alli's childhood--from meeting her friends after school at Snow White's Grotto and swing dancing at Carnation Plaza, to watching her sister perform in 'Fantasmic,' to tasting caviar for the very first time...at Club 33. A true Disney fan, Alli credits signing along to Jodi Benson on "The Little Mermaid" soundtrack with helping her find her voice, and still feels strongly connected to her family when she visits the Park. Besides her dream of singing "Part of Your World" at Disneyland, Alli shares her love of Peter Pan's Flight, "Frozen 2," & "Bambi," and how she must always get a giant pickle on Main Street USA (and sometimes a clam chowder bread bowl). She and David discuss the magic of the Disney Theme Parks, and also the final moment in "Kimberly Akimbo" which is such a testament to the power of the Disney Parks. Before they play "Screw Loose for Disney," Alli discusses who she would most like to go to Disneyland with: Glinda from "Wicked," Lenora from "Cry-Baby," or Pattie from "Kimberly Akimbo." Which part of the staging of "Kimberly Akimbo" reminds Alli of "Pirates of the Carribean?" Listen to find out!

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This PARK HOPPER episode of E-Ticket to Broadway features Olivier Award-winner, Broadway star, and Goofy's #1 Anti-Fan, Lesli Margherita! These short Park Hoppers are meant to get you from one episode to the next, and this star of Broadway's Matlida & Dames at Sea is always a delight to have on the podcast to share her love of Roger Rabbit, Star Wars, and Disneyland. Which conversation starter will be pulled from the magical Dopey backpack for this Park Hopper episode? Listen to find out! (And be sure to listen to Episode #4 of "E-Ticket to Broadway" to hear more from Lesli!)

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The first ever PARK HOPPER episode of E-Ticket to Broadway reunites host David with his childhood friend/fancy Broadway and Disney+ star Kate Reinders! These short Park Hoppers are meant to get you from one episode to the next, and who better to start this series than Miss Jenn of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," and star of Something Rotten, Wicked, and Gypsy?! Which conversation starter will be pulled from the magical Dopey backpack for this Park Hopper episode? Listen to find out! (And be sure to listen to Episode #6 of "E-Ticket to Broadway" to hear more from Kate!)

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