Kenversations™
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On with the Show

Carol Mumford assumes a prominent seat. You might recognize the fella in this shot, too.

As a presentation of the Themed Entertainment Association, the Thea Awards Gala simply must have a theme, and "The Art of Storytelling" was it. Corey Burton was our Master Storyteller for the evening, and he sat to the side of the stage and performed live. It was a real treat, because Burton is a fellow "theme park nerd" who does voice work for Disney and Universal. He is the man who mimicked the original Paul Frees narration of The Haunted Mansion when performing the narration for Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Throughout the evening, vignettes featuring the Goddess Thea and her offspring were the thread that tied the whole ceremony together and helped it to be grouped as follows:

CHAPTER I: CULTURE - Host: Nick Farmer

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: CREATING AN ICON
British Airways London Eye, London, England

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: MUSEUM ATTRACTION
The Star of Destiny, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, Austin, Texas

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Touring EXHIBIT
Chicano Now: American Expressions, Clear Channel Entertainment/Exhibitions

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Breakthrough Technology
Media Pro 4000Ô, Anitech Systems, Inc.

CHAPTER II: ADVENTURE - Host: Jack Rouse

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Attraction
Soarin’ Over California, Disney’s California Adventure, Anaheim, California

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: RETHEMING TO CREATE A NEW LAND
Ireland, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: WATERPARK
Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark, South Padre Island, Texas

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: THEMED HOTEL
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando, Florida

THEA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Jon Jerde, The Jerde Partnership, Venice Beach, California

CHAPTER III: DISCOVERY - Host: Joe Wisne

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: AQUARIUM
Les Mysteres de la Mer, St. Malo, France

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: ZOO
Fort Worth Zoo’s Texas Wild!, Fort Worth, Texas

THEA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE ON A LIMITED BUDGET
FDNY Fire Zone, New York, New York

THEA CLASSIC AWARD
Studio Tour, Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood, California

CHAPTER IV: FANTASY - Host: Roberta Perry

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Attraction
Disney Animation, Disney’s California Adventure, Anaheim, California

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: ATTRACTION
Animation Celebration, Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan

THEA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: THEME PARK AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM
Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo, Japan

THEA SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Songwriters