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Photo by Chris Bales, 1996 |
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You might expect a stage show based on the brand new movie Pocahontas to be in Frontierland, but it’s in Fantasyland. In a way, Pocahontas is fantasy, because it’s so loosely based on actual history. Still, it’s a good movie and a good stage show. |
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The real reason it’s in Fantasyland is that’s where the Fantasyland Theatre is. Have a seat in the open-air theater, which used to be called the Videopolis Stage. Strips of blue-green fabric limit the audience’s exposure to direct sun. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 1996 Fire burning before the performance begins |
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Take a moment to admire the stage. It represents sacred ceremonial grounds in a Virginia forest. There’s a flash of fire, and the show begins. Instead of just presenting a condensed, live version of Disney’s animated Pocahontas, the show creatively retells the story from the perspective of the storyteller Werowance and the Powhatan tribe. They bring to life the legend of Pocahontas. When Pocahontas is summoned, Werowance takes on the role of her father, Chief Powhatan. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 1996 Large and elaborate set |
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Throughout the show’s half hour, you’ll be dazzled by talented performers, clever special effects (including fire and wind), and the memorable score and songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. The songs include the Oscar winner for Best Original Song of 1995, “Colors of the Wind.” |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 1996 Pocahontas, carried around the stage |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 1996 Talented dancers and elaborate choreography |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 1996 Flash of fire from which John Smith will emerge |
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To represent the English settlers, members of the tribe don silver ceremonial masks. But the part of English adventurer John Smith calls for more than a silver mask. Werowance makes John Smith materialize from a burning campfire. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 1996 Guidance from Grandmother Willow |
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In a particularly effective scene, the puppet face of Grandmother Willow appears on a huge willow tree to offer guidance to Pocahontas and John Smith. Don’t expect to see Meeko and Flit, who provided much of the film’s humor and its appeal to children. They’re not in the show. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 1996 Paper leaves as confetti |
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Disney likes to end theme park shows with confetti. This one is no exception… except this here paper autumn leaves are the confetti. You just seen a great show. What are you going to do next? Head to the gift shop, of course. The theater is in Fantasyland, but Spirit Pocahontas Shop is in Frontierland. |
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 Photo by Mike McKiernan, 1996 Spirit of Pocahontas Shop in Frontierland |
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 Postcard © Disney / from the collection of Chris Bales Pocahontas Disneyland postcard |
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How about a postcard as a souvenir? Buy another to send to friends or family. Let them know about this great show. |
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The Spirit of Pocahontas opened at Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theatre on June 23, 1995, the same day that Pocahontas, Disney’s 33rd full-length animated feature, opened in U.S. movie theaters. Disneyland’s stage version of Beauty and the Beast was a tough act to follow. Adapting Pocahontas for the stage was a real challenge. Disneyland Entertainment was up to the challenge. Although only 17 performers appeared in The Spirit of Pocahontas at each performance, the show looked lavish and polished. By telling the story through the storyteller and the tribe, the creative team delivered a show that worked well on stage, while dealing with the budget realities and performance length constraints of a theme park show. |
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 Photo by Chris Bales, 1996 Another Spirit of Pocahontas Shop sign |
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The final performance of The Spirit of Pocahontas was September 4, 1997. Its long run is testimony to its popularity and quality—although cynics suggested that the show was kept around to help Disneyland promote the mountains of unsold Pocahontas merchandise that filled the park’s shelves and warehouses. During the first half of 1998, the formerly open-air Fantasyland Theatre grew a tent roof. The first new show under the tent roof was Disneyland Presents Animazement - The Musical. |
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© 2022 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated September 28, 2022 |
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