Coming Soon: Cavalia’s Odysseo Orange County | @Cavalia #OdysseoOC #WhiteBigTop

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Erin

Coming Soon: Cavalia’s Odysseo Orange County!

By Erin

In just over a week now, Cavalia’s Odysseo, a most spectacular equestrian show is coming to Orange County, California February 3rd through February 14, 2016 and tickets are now available! I had the pleasure and joy of seeing Cavalia’s Odysseo a couple years ago when the show was performing in Burbank. The show is without question, the most spectacular display of equestrian riders in the world that you will ever see! Most of these talented riders are actually from all around the world. You can see my Rendez-Vous experience here!

If you’ve driven in Irvine along the 405 Freeway, you might have seen the large white tent that has gone up! This is for the Odysseo show. You can watch the time lapse for the tent raising above. It’s pretty neat to see how the tent goes up! Odysseo is unlike any show you will ever see.

What exactly is Odysseo ?

A live equestrian performance that tells tales from around the globe. Beginning in a misty, enchanted forest where horses graze and frolic under a sky of rolling clouds and a setting sun, Odysseo takes the audience on a fantastical journey to some of nature’s greatest wonders, from the Mongolian steppes to Monument Valley, from the African savannah to Nordic glaciers, from the Sahara to Easter Island, and even to a lunar landscape, illuminated by shooting stars and brilliant nebulas.

*Photo: Cavalia’s Odysseo*

Producers for Odysseo, by the internationally acclaimed entertainment company Cavalia, are thrilled to announce Irvine as the host city for the Orange County debut of the largest touring production on earth. Odysseo will be presented under the White Big Top at the junction of the I-405 & the SR-133 with performances beginning Wednesday, February 3, 2016 under the White Big Top in Irvine.

Odysseo is a $30 million extravaganza! Expanding the definition of performance into an epic and soulful experience that is astonishing audiences and wowing critics across North America. Double the size of Cavalia’s eponymous creation which enjoyed a very successful run in Irvine back in 2007, Odysseo is a show unlike any other featuring 65 horses and 48 riders, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians in a soulful and touching journey around the globe, celebrating the bond between the two species.

*Photo: Cavalia’s Odysseo*

The horses are the stars of the show. They are the heart and soul of every Odysseo performance. These magnificent animals play in complicity and with freedom, in a symbiotic and respectful relationship with their human co-stars, charming and fascinating everyone who has the chance to witness this moving artistic and emotive partnership. One of my favorite numbers is the liberty number, when purebred Arabian horses are directed only by the soft murmurs of their trainer, and the fabulous caravan act that comprises people and horses too numerous to count, will leave every spectator captivated and touched by the splendour created in front of their eyes.

Acrobats present an amazing mix of force and sensitivity, interacting with the spellbound audience, while the live musicians and vocalist perform in the most enthralling way to immerse spectators of all ages in a beautiful sensorial experience they will remember forever. Whether it is the dexterity of the African acrobats, the enchanting sound of the Kora, or the majestic life-size merry-go-around, the cast and set of Odysseo are inspired and inspiring, delivering crowd-pleasing wonders and stunts.

*Photo: Cavalia’s Odysseo*

The theatrical effects are mindboggling! A state-of-the-art video screen three times the size of the world’s largest cinema screens, a three-story mountain for dazzling perspectives, and a real lake made of 40,000 gallons of recycled water which magically appears for a splashing finale. The layers of mesmerizing decor make the audience part of the action while the gigantic stage takes everyone’s breath away. Odysseo’s technological and scenographical effects create places no one has ever seen before; places where one can feel the deep connection between horse and man.

*Photo: Cavalia’s Odysseo*

Meet the Residents of Zootopia!| #Zootopia

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Erin

Meet the Residents of Zootopia!

By Erin

*I was invited as a guest of Disney to the early press day of Zootopia for purposes of this post*

Last month I introduced you to the World of Zootopia, a city filled with different neighborhoods that celebrate the various animal cultures. So who lives here then, you’re probably thinking? Zootopia is a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. Let’s take a look then at some of the critters we will find running around in Zootopia!

: Judy Hopps

Zootopia’s first bunny officer Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) is the first bunny ever to join Zootopia’s police department, but is sidelined into a boring career as a meter maid as she is not as big and tough as other members on the force. Judy is determined to prove herself and she jumps at the chance to crack a case, even if it means teaming up with a con-artist fox.

Nick Wilde

Con-artist fox Nick Wilde is voiced by Jason Bateman and is a charming, small-time, con artist fox with a big mouth and a lot of opinions. But when he gets outsmarted by a rabbit cop, he suddenly finds himself helping her solve a mystery.

: Gazelle

International superstar Shakira is the voice of Gazelle, and performs an all-new original song, “Try Everything.” Gazelle is very popular in the world of Zootopia, and has many adoring fans, including Judy Hopps and Clawhauser. She is very socially-minded and is all about acceptance and equality for all.

Kate Hudson Stars in Kung Fu Panda 3 as Mei Mei! #KungFuPanda

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Erin

Kate Hudson Stars in Kung Fu Panda 3!

By Patrick & Erin

*We were invited as media to attend a sneak peek of Kung Fu Panda 3 and interview with the lovely Kate Hudson.*

Dreamworks has done it again! Returning with its biggest comedy adventure yet, Kung Fu Panda 3 returns, staring Kate Hudson as the voice of Mei Mei. The film will tell the story of Po’s (Jack Black) discovery of a secret panda village, including his long-lost father Li (Bryan Cranston). Kate voices Mei Mei who is an aspiring ribbon dancer. On January 29th, Kung Fu Panda 3 is coming to theaters across the country. Whether you want to see it with your kids or were a fan of the previous films, there are a ton of reasons to be excited about this movie. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at Jack Black’s latest romp during a trip to Dreamworks Studios. After the screening, we caught up with Kate Hudson (who does the voice of Mei Mei, a new character) in a round table interview to talk about the movie.

“Mei Mei” the character that Kate Hudson is the voice for.

This was Hudson’s first time doing an animated film, and she was excited about the opportunity to try something different. “Anybody who’s an actor or performer, you know, that’s what we love,” she said. “The whole point is trying new things.” She said a large difference between live and voice acting is the amount of hyperbole you’re allowed to put into the character, especially since you read lines alone in a room: “We just had to be so big and so huge. And it was so much fun to do in a booth where you just to go there, and you go so far that you end up cracking yourself up.”

Her character, Mei Mei is a fellow panda who shows up in the movie when Po final finds his native town. She is vibrant with a big personality that screams girl power. “It’s sort of like I had that kind of confidence sometimes,” she said about Mei Mei.

This latest installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise promises to offer a larger, grander experience than the previous two movies. We get to meet Po’s biological father, and see a new panda village full of new, vibrant characters. It will bring a whole new dimension to Jack Black’s lovable character. This also means a bunch of A-list actors that will be added to the cast for this movie. “The cast is insane,” said Hudson. “Bryan Cranston, J.K. Simmons, it’s amazing! It’s such a cool thing to be a part of.” The cast also boasts Seth Rogan, Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman.