Why London Rocks the Musical at Busch Gardens is worth a “go”!
The WilliamsburgFamilies.com team got a sneak peek last Friday at Busch Garden’s newest show, London Rocks. If you are heading to BG next weekend (show opens May 23), you are in a for treat!
First off, Busch Gardens gave the England area a makeover for London Rocks, so the area is covered in British flags flying overhead, and there is even a double-decker bus (where you can, of course, purchase London Rocks swag!)
The palace guards were there to stoically “welcome” us to the Globe Theatre — remember, the big theatre as you first walk in the park, where you usually go to take a break from the Williamsburg summer heat?
The Globe Theater has also been re-done for London Rocks. Where there used to be a movie screen, now there is a three-story raked stage. The show is a 27 minute, multi-media experience; not only will you see live musicians, singers and dancers, but also, through the magic of technology, Queen Elizabeth guides you through the show with funny little asides (think Monty Python).
And of course, you will still experience the fun 4-D features that you know and love — your chair will blow air at you, and bubbles will come down from the ceiling when they sing “I’d like to be under the Sea in the Octopus’s garden in the shade.” Kids will love when they go into the London Underground and you really feel like you are in a subway car.
London Rocks is the first live show in the Globe Theatre in twenty years, and it really offers something for everyone. From grandparents to young ones, there are great songs from the Beatles, David Bowie, Queen, and other British bands throughout the decades, puppets for the kiddos, even a wedding scene between the two main characters — who are named Lucy and Guy (and yes, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is part of the show, of course.)
Entertainment Vice President Scott Gasparich revealed that they have “never produced a show of this magnitude here at Busch Gardens, (and that the) state-of-the-art technology used for London Rocks offers production possibilities we never thought possible at the park.” The animated back drop is FANTASTIC and makes the stage itself a character in the musical. They use concert-style lighting and close to 2,000 audio speakers—79 audio speakers all around the audience including two speakers in every seat. The result is total sound immersion..it is not too loud but definitely the volume of at least an action movie theater trailer.
We got to meet with the cast we saw perform. They were from all over the States (though many from NYC). We even have a Richmond and a Virginia Beach performer in the cast. Many have Musical Theatre Degrees, and are triple threats (sing, dance and act)…and a few quadruple threats (sing, dance, act and play instruments in the show). They have an intense show schedule this summer of 8 shows a day (there are two casts each performing 4 shows) and it runs 7 days a week. So make sure to give them a hearty round of applause because they will be working HARD to entertain you this summer.
Our WilliamsburgFamilies.com team agreed that it is a show that all ages will enjoy. It is not scary or overly complicated for little kids — it tells the story of young girl’s journey to adulthood and the music that influenced her life along the way. Singing and dancing are great and the music…well…it ROCKS! It definitely will be a show worth seeing over an over again!
Show is included in your daily admission ticket to the park. Visit BuschGardens.com to get your park pass and to see what else they have going on in the park!
Learn more about how the show came about in this cool video
Just the facts:
WilliamsburgFamilies.com is a Thrill Chaser Ambassador Blogger for Busch Gardens and we were invited to this Media Preview of London Rocks on May 16, 2014
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