"TESTESTTESTSTESTST — An Enchanting Musical" Premieres February 23, 2004 at Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland® Park

Snow White – An Enchanting Musical,�? a new musical that brings to life the characters, the songs, and the story of one of the most beloved of all of Walt Disney’s animated features, will premiere February 23 at the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland park in Anaheim.

The production, a live 28-minute adaptation of the film, is the most elaborate stage show to be produced exclusively for the Fantasyland Theatre. It will delight families and immerse park guests in the fun, romance, humor, adventure and magic of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,�? which features some of the best known songs and characters of any Disney story, including Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful and Dopey, first introduced in 1937.

The score, with music and lyrics by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey, is one of the best known of any musical. “Whistle While You Work,�? “I’m Wishing,�? “One Song,�? “Heigh Ho,�? “The Washing Song (Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum),�? “The Silly Song�? and “Some Day My Prince Will Come�? will all be performed in this new production.

Matt Ouimet, President of Disneyland Resort said, “Fantasyland is the home to beloved characters like Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad and our theatre is next to Mickey’s Toontown, home of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. When the Fantasyland Theatre and ‘Snow White’ were picked for our next musical, we were keenly aware of the entertainment wishes of families who spend much of their day in that area of Disneyland.�?

“Snow White – An Enchanting Musical�? is being created by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment, headed by Executive Vice President Anne Hamburger, as a piece of theatre for families with younger children. The team assembled by Creative Entertainment for “Snow White�? is led by one of musical theatre’s most important new figures, Eric Schaeffer, who has directed over 20 musical productions.

Schaeffer is artistic director of the Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C., one of the country’s leading musical theatres. Last year Schaeffer also was the artistic director of the acclaimed Stephen Sondheim Celebration at The Kennedy Center. For that festival, he directed “Passion�? and “Sunday in the Park with George,�? among eight of Sondheim’s works he has directed during his career.

The choreographer is Karma Camp, who has both Broadway and off-Broadway credits, and as Schaeffer’s Artistic Associate at Signature Theatre, she has collaborated with him on more than ten productions. The libretto is by stage and television writer Darrah Cloud, winner of NEA and Rockefeller grants and the Frederick Loewe Musical Theatre Award. The costumes are by Broadway and regional designer Ellen McCartney.

The scenery is by Tom Butsch, who designed the spectacular and memorable “Fantasmic!�? and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools�? at Disneyland. Butsch has based the look of the production on the visual art of Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), whose work was very popular at the time of the release of the original film. Parrish created an immersive world of nature with his work, and his aesthetic helped define the visual style of the early half of the 20th century.

Ouimet said, “Our goal is to bring extraordinary talents – talents that have both made their reputations on Broadway and in the theatre, and talents that have created some of the most spectacular attractions here at Disneyland - to the making of a musical experience that brings to life one of our company’s most beloved stories for all families – and the child in all of us.�?

“Snow White�? is one of the earliest and most known American musicals to combine its score and choreography into the telling of the story and the characters, predating such classics as “The Wizard of Oz,�? “Oklahoma!,�? “Meet Me in St. Louis,�? and “Annie Get Your Gun.�?

When Anne Hamburger was approaching “Snow White,�? she took into account the changes in style and pace of theatrical entertainments in the 66 years since the original release of “Snow White,�? as well as the tremendous legacy and popularity that the film has created. Hamburger said, “In creating this production, we are aware of having to bring a storytelling style that current audiences have come to expect of stage musicals, as well as to fully create the world of ‘Snow White’ for the stage.�?

“The casting for “Snow White�? is as an important part of the storytelling process, as the lavishness of the sets, costumes and lighting,�? Hamburger said. “We are looking for the best available actors who can create the characters, especially for Snow White and the Dwarfs, and help tell the story.�?