LPWire: Guest Stars for the 19th Annual WDW Christmas Day Parade
More Stars Added to the Dazzling Lineup of the 19th Annual "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade"
More top stars from TV, pop music, country music and Broadway will join the lineup on Christmas Day, as Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa (“Live with Regis & Kelly”) co-host the 19th annual “Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade,” set to air WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, Christmas Day (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Star Jones (“The View”), Sara Rue (“Less Than Perfect”) and Robin Roberts (“Good Morning America”) join the show, as do the following musical performers: John Rzeznik, the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls, who sings the title track to Disney’s “Treasure Planet,” “I’m Still Here”; Andrea McCardle, Broadway star of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Annie,” with her daughter Alexis; Lee Ann Womack, Grammy Award-winning country star; Heather Headley, Tony Award-winner for the title role in the Broadway hit, “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida”; and Jump 5, the hit teen group that performs the title track on the recently-released “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” DVD. Roy E. Disney, the vice chairman of the Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company and head of the studio’s Animation Department, will make a special appearance too.
The previously-announced talent roster includes: comedian Wayne Brady of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and “The Wayne Brady Show”; John Ritter (“8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter”); Meredith Vieira, co-host of “The View” and host of the syndicated “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”; Hilary Duff (ABC and Disney Channel’s no. 1 “tweens” hit, “Lizzie McGuire”); Eric Roberts (“Less Than Perfect”); and from the Disney Channel, the superstar children’s entertainment group, The Wiggles.
Plus, the ”Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade” will showcase all the fun and fantasy of the globally renowned theme parks at Walt Disney World – from the enchanting Magic Kingdom and spectacular Epcot to the thrill-filled Disney-MGM Studios and majestic Animal Kingdom. The program will also feature show-stopping Walt Disney World entertainment, including Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage! with Bear in the Big Blue House, Rolie Polie Olie, Stanley and unforgettable performances from the cast of Beauty and the Beast and the inspiring Festival of the Lion King.
At the heart of the telecast – and a television tradition nearly two decades strong – is the annual parade in which everyone’s favorite Disney characters take center stage, as it makes its merry way down Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom.
The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade is produced by Lightship Entertainment in association with Harborlight Entertainment. The executive producer is Andy Perrot. Jeff Palmer and John Best are co-producers. The director is Ron DeMoraes and the writer is Tom Horn.
--Posted December 12, 2002
Source: ABC