Last year, we took you behind the scenes of Sofia the First with Nancy Kanter, executive vice president and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, and took a close look at the significant amount of research that was conducted to produce the show. Since then, Sofia the First has become a Disney Junior sensation that has attracted fans all over the world!
This summer, Feld Entertainment, Inc. collaborated with the network and Disney Theatrical Group to bring beloved characters from both Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates to the stage in Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure. The world premiere for this one-of-a-kind theatrical experience will take place on September 27 inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
We recently sat down with Nancy to discuss Disney Junior’s involvement with this project.
What was it like to collaborate with Disney Theatrical Group and Feld Entertainment, Inc.?
Disney Theatrical Group and Feld Entertainment, Inc. have been brilliant partners for us. They’ve helped us bridge the transition from characters that live on television and into a live theatrical experience. The close collaboration between our groups ensured that the essence of each series wasn’t lost.
What does this project represent for Disney Junior?
When shows like Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates resonate with kids and families on television, the idea that you can bring it to them live is pretty priceless. And there’s just nothing better for the creators of the show, especially because they can see their creation come to life in a theater with 3,000 people in the audience, dancing and singing along.
Did you integrate any of the educational aspects of Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates in the show?
We actually wrote an original song for Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure, “Be Who You Want to Be,” and we’ve now used it on air to capture both Jake’s and Sofia’s messaging of being who you want to be. It was a great way to introduce the song and brand that message around the show. At the end, the qualitative lesson we want to get out there for kids is, “dream big and work hard, and you can be who you want to be.”
Anything else you want to add about this experience?
I really hope that Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure will give audiences a chance to deepen their relationship with Jake and Sofia. It’s been an all-around thrill to see this come to life. And in this case, it really does come to life!