A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MARK B. KENT

What is it about “Disney?” I find that when I mention that word to folks, most of them have an immediate reaction that is very unique. A gleeful smile suddenly appears, followed by giddy, giggly energy. Then, they are usually overcome by a dreamy look in their eyes. I love it! I have to confess that I have the same reaction. The world of Disney is truly wonderful and filled with magic.

For many of us, we harken back to a more innocent time when we sat around the television on a Sunday night and watched Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, followed by The Wonderful World of Disney. Remember that? Also, many recall highly anticipated family vacations to a Disney theme park, where the magic we saw on screen leaped into real life. It was …and continues to be …mesmerizing.

We could not be prouder to present tonight’s concert. Here we stand, a group representing the LGBTQ+ community, singing Disney music, right in the State of Florida. Disney has come forward as a true ally for our community, and we feel this is one of the ways we can stand behind Disney. We are grateful for a lifetime of magic, wonder, and awe created by Disney. Tonight’s music and video bring it all together in a most spectacular way.

Performing a concert like this that is relevant and powerful for our community is an example of the vital role GMCSF plays in your life. When we aren’t singing in a mainstage concert, we are busy singing in dozens of community-based performances that bring our messages of love and inclusion to tens of thousands of people. We are honored to serve as the voice of the LGBTQ+ community.

We are a growing organization, attracting more singers and delivering more performances to more people than ever before. This kind of growth and impact requires financial resources. Please join us in our efforts to build a better future for all people by making a tax-deductible contribution. You can use the donation envelope enclosed in this program or online at: gmcsf.org/individual-giving.

Thank you for being at today’s concert and for sharing a couple of hours of magic with us.

Act I

Opening

Walt Disney Pictures Castle Logo (2006) and When You Wish Upon a Star* Music Themes by Mark Mancina, Leigh Harline, and Ned Washington

PAINT THE FANTASMIC NIGHT

When Can I See You Again? from Wreck-it Ralph Music and Lyrics by Matthew Thiessen, Brian Lee, and Adam Young

You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! from Peter Pan Music by Sammy Fain, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

The Second Star to the Right from Peter Pan Music by Sammy Fain, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

“Imagination” Theme from Fantasmic! Music by Bruce Healey, Lyrics by Barnette Ricci

A Whole New World from Aladdin Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Tim Rice

Zero to Hero from Hercules

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by David Zippel

Try Everything from Zootopia Music and Lyrics by Sia, Tor Hermansen, and Mikkel Eriksen

MAGIC AND PIXIE DUST

The Welcome Song

Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Barr

I’m Walking Right Down the Middle of Main Street, U.S.A. from Main Street, U.S.A. Music and Lyrics by Stu Nunnery

Saturday Soloists: Mark Blackburn, Mun Wye Chng, Dion Grace, David Pfeffer

Sunday Soloists: John Chaffin, Ginny McCulloh, Steven Patterson, Don Thompson

The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life For Me) from Pirates of the Caribbean Music by George Bruns, Lyrics by X Atencio

Grim Grinning Ghosts from Haunted Mansion Music by Buddy Baker, Lyrics by X Atencio

Saturday Soloists: Mark Blackburn, Mun Wye Chng, Dion Grace, David Pfeffer

Sunday Soloists: John Chaffin, Ginny McCulloh, Steven Patterson, Don Thompson

It’s A Small World from It’s a Small World Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow from Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Journey

Speakers – Mun Wye Chng and Louis Silvers

Go the Distance from Hercules

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by David Zippel

Let it Go from Frozen

Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez Soloist – A.J. Mendini

LAUGHTER IS TIMELESS

I Wan’na Be Like You from The Jungle Book

Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book

Music and Lyrics by Terry Gilkyson

Hakuna Matata from The Lion King

Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers from Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Cinderella

Music and Lyrics by Al Hoffman, Mack David, and Jerry Livingston

Saturday Soloist – Fred Boykin • Sunday Soloist – Francois Ratzel

You’ve Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story

Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman

MY PRINCE WILL COME

Speaker - Sandy Allen

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella Music and Lyrics by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston

God Help the Outcasts from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

MARY POPPINS

Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Speaker – Anthony Cabrera

A Spoonful of Sugar

Chim Chim Cher-ee

Feed the Birds

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Saturday Soloist – Felix Fidelibus • Sunday Soloist – Larry Small

Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Act Ii

Circle of Life from The Lion King

Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice

Opening Zulu Soloist - Johann Torres • English Soloist - Rafael Gragert

It Gets Better

Membership Video - Clayton Paterson

Reflection from Mulan

Music by Matthew Wilder, Lyrics by David Zippel

Bistro Ballet

Monsters, Inc. from Monsters, Inc.

Music by Randy Newman

Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Saturday Soloist – Kely Van Eaton • Sunday Soloist – Andrew Stephens

Dig a Little Deeper from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman

Belle Notte from Lady and the Tramp

Music by Sonny Burke, Lyrics by Peggy Lee

Saturday Soloists: Mark Blackburn, Dion Grace, David Pfeffer

Sunday Soloists: John Chaffin, Ginny McCulloh, Don Thompson

Feature Piano Solo - Edwin Neimann

Remembrance

Speaker – Bill Spinosa

Remember Me from Coco

Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Saturday Soloist – Jorge Bernal-Geschier • Sunday Soloist – Jonathan Sanz

“A Tribute to Howard Ashman and Alan Menken”

Speaker - Dean Hitsos

Under The Sea

Selections from The Little Mermaid

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Part of Your World

Saturday Soloist – Derek Barbara • Sunday Soloist – Colin Ludlow

Poor Unfortunate Souls

Saturday Soloist – Jonathan Sanz • Sunday Soloist – Patrick Simonelli

Under the Sea

Saturday Conductor – Paul Rolli • Sunday Conductor – Matthew Patterson

PROGRAM June 24 & 25, 2023

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Membership Video - Gregory Johnson and John Lewis

Shadowland from The Lion King

Music and Lyrics by Lebo M., Hans Zimmer, and Mark Mancini Soloist – Rashad Webb

He Lives in You from The Lion King

Music and Lyrics by Lebo M., Jay Rifkin, and Mark Mancini

Soloist – Rashad Webb

WISH UPON A STAR

Wishes from Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams

Music by Greg Smith

When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio*

Music by Leigh Harline, Lyrics by Ned Washington

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella Music and Lyrics by Mac David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston

You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! from Peter Pan Music by Sammy Fain, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

BOWS

Arranged and Orchestrated by Char Weirick

SOMEDAY

Someday from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

End

All songs in the program published by Walt Disney Music Company (ASCAP), Pixar Talking Pictures (ASCAP), Wonderland Music Company, Inc. (BMI), and/or Pixar Music (BMI)

*Published by Bourne Company

Footage from TARZAN®

©1999 Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FOR SCORES THE PODCAST

Listen to Disney’s For Scores podcast series, where host Jon Burlingame takes listeners on a magical journey into the world of film and television composers, revealing never-before-heard special moments behind many of today’s most beloved scores.

Disney MUSIC EMPORIUM

Visit Disney Music Emporium (Disneymusicemporium.com) for more collectible Disney Music merchandise.

WRITTEN BY JIM LOPRESTI

DISNEY: AN HOMAGE TO THE PERPETUAL CHILD

“The child is father of the man.” - William Wordsworth

DISNEY FILMS: 1928 Walt Disney introduced the world to its favorite cartoon mouse in the classic short film Steamboat Willie. Nine years later, RKO Sound Pictures produced Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytale. That was the world’s first full length animated film. For generations before today’s computer-based animation, every frame of every Disney film, beginning with Snow White, was hand-painted. Something no one has ever done better than Disney. But that is just the beginning.

After Snow White, princesses abound in the immense Disney library. They evolve over time toward ever-widening inclusivity with later characters like Elsa and Mulan taking on the central hero’s journey role. Simultaneously, fairy tales with less explicitly royal characters like Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, and Pinocchio are told in the same classic format. They are all full of magic characters, seemingly insurmountable obstacles to overcome, concluding with a “happy ever after” ending gift wrapped in clear moral messages.

Yes, Disney’s is a world of fantastic stories filled with heroes, magic, and heartwarming romance meant to bring delight to children. And all that will be visible on stage when the curtain opens on GMCSF’s Disney Pride. Yet, Walt Disney once said, “I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be six or sixty.” In a recent CNN online article, Lehigh University Professor of Religious Studies Judith Eicher-Levine expounded: “Because Cinderella’s Castle holds an entire century’s worth of cultural capital, Disney remains an enduring symbol of youth… And childhood is the symbolic crucible in which we forge our notions of the future and the values it will contain.” That guiding vision from Walt Disney makes just about every Disney-themed event truly family-inclusive. Fairy tales are told that evoke both optimistic innocence and moral heroism that speak to a child’s simpler heart while it nourishes adult cravings for a moral compass in an often-fractured world.

DISNEY PARKS: The inspiration for Disney’s classic films holds true for the fairy-tale kingdoms in Anaheim and Orlando. Many in my generation will never forget the childhood anticipation of the opening of Disneyland in California. I, for one, watched every black-andwhite television infomercial chronicling the progress of its construction. I was spellbound! My imagination was fed a hearty fare! It was not until I was 26 that I finally arrived at the front gate of my grade school-era mecca. I confess I was filled with the same simple, childlike delight walking in the entryway as I did when I watched anything Disney offered on the screen in the years between.