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WHOOPI GOLDBERG, MARK HAMILL, LEONARD MALTIN, JOHN STAMOS, LESLEY ANN WARREN, THE STARS OFHERCULES, AND MANY MORE JOIN D23 EXPO’S ROSTER OF EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT AND PRESENTATIONS
And, for the first time ever at D23 Expo, fans will get to enjoy a daily street party, featuring celebrities, Disney characters, and live music on the show floor.
BURBANK, Calif. (June 13, 2017) – The excitement is ramping up from “zero to hero” for D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. During the three-day spectacular, which takes place July 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, guests will have the chance to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hercules with members ofthe cast and creative team; hearfrom Disney Legends, including 2017 inductee Mark Hamill, during a panel hosted byLeonard Maltin; and enjoy themusic of Walt Disney’s classiclive-action musicals in a remarkable stage production featuring Lesley Ann Warren and hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. John Stamos will host a chat with Legends of Walt Disney Imagineering. Plus, theWaltDisney Archives will host threedays of presentations on itsown stage. And, for the firsttime, guests will be able to enjoya daily “Ultimate Fan Street Party” right on the show floor.
Just-announced panels:
Mousequerade
Friday, July 14, 11 a.m., Stage 28
Mousequerade, the fan-favorite costume competition thatinvitesparticipants to createtheir own Disney-inspireddesigns, returns to D23 Expo 2017. Join judges Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars Rebels), Kara Saun (costume designer for Descendants 2), Yvette Nicole Brown (ABC’s The Mayor), and the contest’s host, Disney’s Jim Babcock, to watch dozens of finalistscompete infive excitingcategories for the $2,300 grand prize!
The Golden Girls: A Celebrationof Friendship, Laughter, andCheesecake
Friday, July 14, 2:30 p.m., Stage 28
In the 25 years since the finalepisode of The GoldenGirls aired in 1992, the televisionseries has become an enduringfan favorite that continuesto bewatched throughout the world.Celebrate with us as we bringtogether the show’s creatorsand other special guests forthis unforgettable event.
Disney Legends 30th Anniversary
Friday, July 14, 4:15 p.m., Stage 28
Join film historian LeonardMaltin as he celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Disney Legends program with aremarkable lineup of individualswho have each left an indeliblemark on the Disney legacy, including Bill Farmer (the voice of Goofy and Pluto), Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr, Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith, and 2017 inductee Mark Hamill.
Melodies in Walt’s Time: TheMusic of Disney Live-ActionFilms
Friday, July 14, 6 p.m., D23 Expo Arena
In the 1960s, Walt Disney sought to expand his filmmaking style beyond animation and bring music to a variety of new live-action film projects. D23 Expo will celebrate these magical, musical movies in a live stage extravaganza—hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and featuringLesley Ann Warren, Karen Dotrice, and other renowned guest stars, joined by live musical performers and a 20-voice chorus—to showcase Summer Magic, Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, as well as others.
Zero to Hero: The Making of Hercules
Sunday, July 16, 12:30 p.m., D23 Expo Arena
From the heights of Mount Olympus to the depths of the Underworld, celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Disney classic that put the “glad” in gladiator! Join a group of legendary artists and filmmakers who brought Hercules to life, including directors John Muskerand Ron Clements, animators Eric Goldberg (“Phil”) and Ken Duncan (“Megara”), as well as Megara and Hercules themselves—Susan Egan and Tate Donovan—as they recount stories of making one of the most epic animated features of all time.
Snow White and the SevenDwarfs: 80th AnniversaryScreening
Sunday, July 16, 3:15 p.m., D23 Expo Arena
For eight decades, Disney fanshave whistled “Heigh Ho” whilethey worked. Now, in honor ofthe 80th anniversary of WaltDisney’s first-ever animatedfeature, D23 Expo is proud topresenta special screening ofthe film that startedit all: SnowWhite and the Seven Dwarfs.
Legends of Walt DisneyImagineering
Sunday, July 16, 6 p.m., D23 Expo Arena
Join a fascinating conversation, hosted by John Stamos, withthree Imagineering Legends—Marty Sklar, Tony Baxter, and 2017 Disney Legend inductee Wayne Jackson—as theyrecount true-life anecdotes and share personalstories about thecelebrated artists, designers, and technical wizards whoestablished the foundation andguidingprinciples forgroundbreaking Disneyexperiences around the globe.
Also coming to D23 Expo…
Walt Disney Archives Stage
The popular Walt Disney Archives Stage returns, more than doubling its capacity, as it hosts 17 panels and presentations throughout the weekend. Disney notables, such as director Pete Docter, Disney Legend Jim Cora, producer Don Hahn, Bret Iwan (the voice of Mickey Mouse), Imagineers Diana Brost, Jason Grandt, and Chris Merritt, plus many more, will participate in panels throughout the weekend. Fans will enjoy exploring many of Disney’s worlds, from the incredible work of Marc Davis and the original characters of the Disney Parks (such as Figment and the Country Bears) to the women of Disney animation and an incredible virtual walk-through of the Walt Disney Studios on Hyperon Avenue. Visit D23expo.com for the complete schedule.
Center Stage
Located in the center of the D23 Expo show floor, Center Stagewill be the heartbeat of the Expoand a hub of activitythroughoutthe weekend. AimeeCarrero, thevoice of Disney’s Elena ofAvalor, will perform live for thefirst time, and will be joined byspecial guests including LouDiamondPhillips who voicesseries’ villain, Victor Delgado. Also performingon Center Stage will be TemeculaRoad, Tomasina, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, nerd-rock group Kirby Krackle, andSusan Egan, who will sing favoritesfrom Beautyand the Beast. Disneyanimators, including Eric Goldberg andMark Henn, will show aspiringartists “how to draw” throughout the weekend.Marvel’s Brian Crosby will show fanshow to draw Spider-Man and Groot. And BillRogers, the “voice ofDisneyland,” will be on-hand each dayto record fans’ outgoing voicemailmessages in his signature dulcettones. The comletelineup will beavailablein the coming weeks on theD23 Expo app.
D23 Expo’s Ultimate Fan Street Party
For the first time at D23 Expo, guests can enjoy a one-of-a-kind street party—right on the D23 Expo show floor. Twice each day the cavalcade will travel down Mickey Avenue, with a live band, beloved Disney characters, high-energy dancers, and celebrity grand marshals! Stan Lee and Mark Hamill will grand marshal the first cavalcade on Friday, July 14, and members of the cast of Descendants 2 will lead the second that day. Additional talent and times to be announced in the coming weeks and will be available on the D23 Expo app.
Talent subject to change. Additionaldetails are available at D23expo.com.
Ticketsfor D23 Expo 2017 are availablefor $81 for one-day adult admissionand $59 for children 3–9. Members ofD23: The Official Disney Fan Club canpurchase tickets for $72 for a one-dayadult admission and $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are alsoavailable. For more information ontickets and D23 Expo 2017, visitD23expo.com.
About D23 Expo 2017
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2017 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to theexciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his firststudio in Hollywood. D23 is the firstofficial club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its membersa greater connection to the entire worldof Disney by placing them in the middleof the magic through its quarterlypublication, Disney twenty-three; a richwebsite at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusivediscounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold and GeneralMembership levels at D23.com and atDisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up withall the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
