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ETC congratulates all of this year’s Thea Award honorees.
Toour members, award recipients, and special guests, on behalf of the Themed Entertainment Association International Board of Directors, welcome!
This year marks over three decades of Thea Award history, celebrating examples of the creation of excellence that defines our industry around the globe. These awards honor the creativity, artistry, and technical brilliance that continue to inspire and captivate audiences everywhere.
I would like to extend our thanks to our presenting sponsor, Chimelong, for their generous support of this program and ongoing support of the TEA.
A huge thank-you as well to Andy Westfall and the entire Thea Awards Judging Committee, whose tireless work and dedication throughout the year have brought us an exceptional lineup of award recipients for this evening’s celebration. Only in recent years, spending more time liaising with the Committee, have I had the opportunity to witness and appreciate how much diligence and sincerity goes into the process of selecting our Thea recipients. It truly is remarkable.
As we gather here in Los Angeles, we reflect on the devastating fires in Los Angeles that have impacted so many people, including many of our members. As the news of the shocking impact of the fires emerged, the TEA community once again demonstrated its remarkable spirit of resilience and unity, and I thank all those who leapt to action to establish support groups, donation schemes and more to assist our membership and the wider community. Your unwavering support for one another is a testament to the strength of our membership. We are deeply grateful to be welcomed into Los Angeles during this time, and we are truly honored to celebrate with you here.
This is an exciting moment for the Themed Entertainment Association. We have strengthened our organization with the hiring and development of an amazing staff team, whose talent and dedication have already made a significant impact. In January, we held a successful Strategic Planning Meeting (SPM) in Florida in which we laid the foundation for a year of stabilization and made plans for the launch of several exciting new initiatives.
It was during the previous year’s Strategic Planning Meeting that we worked closely with the Thea Committee to find ways to extend the reach of our awards program. We are proud that this year’s Thea Awards slate includes, for the first time, the Recognition of Merit awards. Congratulations to the inaugural recipients of those awards, whose remarkable achievements will undoubtedly inspire us all.
I also want to extend my congratulations to this year’s special honorees; Rick Rothschild, the recipient of the Buzz Price Thea Award Recognizing a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievements; to Dayton Schroeter and Naoki Tanaka, recipients of the Thea Catalyst Award, and to Lynn Willrich, this year’s recipient of the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award. I have personally
witnessed over many years Lynn’s devotion to the TEA and am so excited to see her receive this well-deserved recognition.
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to the numerous sponsors whose generosity has made this week of INSPIRE events and the Thea Awards Gala possibleand a special acknowledgment to the countless volunteers whose passion, commitment, and thousands of hours of effort have brought this celebration to life. YOU are the lifeblood of our organization, and it is because of all of you that we can continue to honor and celebrate the best of themed entertainment together.
Here’s to an unforgettable evening of inspiration and celebration!
Recipients of Thea Awarded projects & Recognition of Merits can now purchase trophies or engraved plaques, featuring awarded projects from 1996-2025.
Note: Trophies can only be ordered for individuals or companies listed in official credits. Orders will not be processed without payment.
A message from TEA® CEO Melissa Oviedo
Aswe gather this year in Hollywood to honor excellence, we do it with a keen awareness of tragic circumstances that this region has faced since early January. Wildfires have devastated homes, lives and businesses at a scale and speed that are unprecedented.
I struggle to find the right words, but here are some: community, support, solidarity, resilience, respect.
The industry community in Los Angeles is a vital part of TEA’s worldwide community. We support and respect one another, and that solidarity is central to the existence of our organization. In difficult times, we step up, and we find a way to keep going and help others keep going. Resilience in the face of challenge is key to our industry culture; it is part and parcel of who we are in our lives and our work.
We are here for you, LA.
As we reflect on 31 years of the Thea Awards, the driving principle is excellence. Celebrating excellence in the creation of compelling experiences and places is why we are all here this evening.
In the words of TEA’s Thea Awards Judging Committee, this year’s awards slate is one of scale, grandeur and frankly, sheer audacity. This remarkable group of recipients collectively tells us highly valuable stories of “making the impossible possible” on multiple levels.
Our slate of recipients shows the endless flow of creativity through an industry that’s all about what its audience needs, all about testing the limitations of experiences and immersion. We are and will always be rethinking the way things have been traditionally delivered, finding ways to make them more impactful and reflecting the market as it changes.
From the pandemic to a succession of structural and leadership changes, TEA has undergone several years of transition. I believe 2025 will mark our year of stabilization and progression toward long-term, sustainable growth, and I am honored to serve in the role of CEO during this time.
I’ve been readied for this job through my years of service as a member of the TEA International Board (including, most recently, two years as Board President) preceded by leading the TEA Eastern North America Division Board, while also maintaining a full-time position with an industry company. That has given me the ability to step into the role with an inherent understanding of the industry and of how TEA works. I understand how the typical member runs their business, the value TEA brings to them, and what the key objectives and initiatives are, because I have lived it.
The TEA staff (the TEAm, as we call ourselves) is part of our collective effort to deliver excellence on all fronts. For several members of the new TEAm, this is their very first time helping execute our organization’s biggest week of the year. Thank you
for all of your devoted, long hours and hard work over the last several months.
As a valued partner of the TEA, Chimelong Group’s support as Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Thea Awards underscores their commitment to excellence and inspiration within the themed entertainment industry. Together, we celebrate the remarkable achievements and transformational impact of themed entertainment and experience development globally. Thank you, Chimelong, for your continued support of the TEA!
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the many partners, contributors, and volunteers who helped make the 31st Annual Awards Gala and TEA INSPIRE week of
programming possible. These are the partner organizations that help the TEA deliver a world-class Gala that inspires and motivates us to reach even higher. The TEA community is extraordinary and every year they come together and give their very best to make this happen.
I hope you enjoy the show, and congratulations once again to all of the recipients of the 31st Annual Thea Award Gala!
President Matt Barton 7thSense
executive committee
Chris Lange
CSB - Creative Studio Berlin GmbH
executive committee
Shannon Martin Color Reflections Las Vegas
executive committee
Daniel Memis
Universal Destinations & Experiences
executive committee
Evi Sari
WildBrain CPLG
President, AsiA PAcific division
Stephen Cavit
TruSound International
President, eAstern north AmericA division
Matthew Cross OE Experiences
President, euroPe & middle eAst division
Danielle Tanton RWS Global
President, Western north AmericA division
Darren Brown
Dynamic Entertainment
Ifat Caspi
P&P Projects BV
Yael Coifman
Leisure Development Partners (LDP)
Winston Fisher AREA15
Garrick Hansen EXP
Wendy Heimann-Nunes
Nolan Heimann LLP
Luc Mayrand
Walt Disney Imagineering
Luke Riley Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Denise Saviss
Princess Cruises
Greg Senner
Acronym Productions
Paul Su
Chimelong Group
Chris Willrich
DJ Willrich Ltd
MELISSA OVIEDO CEO
MORGAN HOEFT MARKETING MANAGER
KARIN BEST DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
SparkyJax & Ovations Live
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Keith Kaminski
MEDIA PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Sway Media - LED Walls
Theory Studios - Projections
LIGHTING DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Visual Terrain
AUDIO DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Pachinko Media
PROJECTION
Christie Digital
LED WALLS
Fuse-Tg
ELEXIS EAKLES FINANCE MANAGER
MEDIA SERVERS & SHOW CONTROL
AV Stumpfl PIXERA
INTERACTIVE Q&A Nightlight Labs
SOFT GOODS & PROJECTION SURFACES
Dazian
FABRICATION
Nassal
L3DFX
DeRochey Foam
SHOW PRODUCTION
PERSONNEL
Electrosonic
GLAM SUITE
The Costume Connection
CHLOE HAUSFELD
GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
CHRISTINE ROGERS EVENTS AND PRODUCTION MANAGER
ASHLEY COOPER MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
TERRY LACSON ADMINISTRATOR
TECHNICAL & PRODUCTION INTEGRATION
G-Man Design
HARDWARE & LABOR VCI
BRANDING & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Moongate Design
PHOTOGRAPHY
Frank Dorosy Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY & INSPIRE/THEA PROGRAMS
InPark Magazine
SIGNAGE & GRAPHICS
Color Reflections Las Vegas
NETWORKING GAMES Wild Optimists
KEYNOTE
Robert L. Zackery III- Leadership Forum
TALENT
Hosts - Mycotoo & Chris Durmick
Celebrity - Deborah Cox & Wil Wheaton
LIVE BAND KARAOKE The Moon Units
TEA VOLUNTEERS (AS OF 2.25.25)
Chrissi Barton
Emily Buecheler
Shani Hogan
Enya Huang
Lauren Lacson
Sammy Plumier
Marlene Tosca Hunt
Xochitl Solorzano
Mike Sturman
SPARKYJAX PRODUCTIONS
Creative Director - Producer / Show Director – Tom Vannucci
Gala Production Stage Manager – Jackson Benedict
Production Scenic Designer / Art Director – Keith Kaminski
Music Design and Production – Andy Garfield
OVATIONS LIVE
Producer / Tech Director – Leu Strope
Production Manager – Brian Schrader
Production Stage Manager – Kaitlyn Cramer
Assistant Stage Manager – Nico Parducho
SWAY MEDIA
Media Design and Production – Eric Hungerford
Editor – Source from Eric Hungerford
VISUAL TERRAIN
Lighting Design and Production – Steven Young
Lighting Design – Nicole Eng
Programmer – Steeve Vajk
COSTUME CONNECTION
Costume Design and Production – Bonnie Sinclair and Karen Weller
Hair and Makeup Supervisor – Source from Bonnie Sinclair
DAZIAN Scenic Production
CHRISTIE DIGITAL
Projectors
FUSE-TG
LED Wall
NASSAL
Scenic Fabrication
PACHINKO MEDIA
Audio Design & Production:
VCI
Hardware & Labor
L3DFX
Scenic Fabrication
AV STUMPFL - PIXERA
Media Servers & Show Control
TEA® Headquarters Staff
CEO
Melissa Oviedo
Director of Business Operations & Programs
Karin Best
Global Director of Strategic Partnerships
Chloe Hausfeld
Events and Production Manager
Christine Rogers
Marketing Manager
Morgan Hoeft
Membership Manager
Ashley Cooper
Finance Manager
Elexis Eakles
Administrator
Terry Lacson
Publisher: Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)
Layout and Production: Martin Palicki, InPark Magazine
Editor: Judith Rubin, InPark Magazine
Cover and Program Design: Moongate Designs
Art Direction: Moongate Designs
Project Descriptions: TEA Thea Awards Judging Committee
Credits lists provided by the Thea Awards recipients
Advertising Liaison: Martin Palicki, InPark Magazine
© 2025 Themed Entertainment Association. All rights reserved.
TEA Global Headquarters
303 N Glenoaks Blvd, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91502 USA +1 818 843-8497 • www.teaconnect.org
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) brings together the creators and makers of experiences worldwide – from the creative storytellers to the technical builders, from operators to investors, and from idea to operation and beyond – and provides them with the tools, education, advocacy, community, and connections they need to help grow their businesses and their careers.
Our members bring specific expertise in a variety of disciplines to a field that is constantly evolving: the creation of successful, highly engaging, out of home visitor attractions and experiences in the leisure and travel sector. These entertaining and educational projects include theme parks, water parks, museums, zoos, corporate visitor centers, casinos, restaurants, branded experiences, multimedia spectaculars, retail spaces, resorts and hospitality, destination attractions and more.
TEA members are innovators and problem solvers whose careers are spent confronting and overcoming unique challenges. They are specialists in realizing one-of-a-kind projects that have never been built before, and opening new frontiers of technical integration, creative storytelling, visitor engagement and brand extension.
TEA encompasses a community of more than 1200 member companies in 40 countries with expertise in storytelling, design, economics, logistics, architecture, construction and manufacturing.
The annual Thea Awards were created to bring recognition to achievement, talent and personal excellence within the themed entertainment industry. From a modest beginning in 1994, the Thea Awards have become internationally recognized as a symbol of excellence.
The Thea Awards Judging Committee includes past lifetime achievement honorees, one Board Liaison position and 12 Members-at-Large appointed to three-year terms.
Buzz Price Lifetime Members
Tony Baxter*
Mark Fuller**
Bob Gurr**
Doris Hardoon
Phil Hettema
Garner Holt*
Kim Irvine**
Don Iwerks**
Keith James
Monty Lunde*
Roland Mack*
Ron Miziker
Yves Pépin
Jeremy Railton*
Bob Rogers
Joe Rohde*
Jack Rouse**
Nancy Seruto**
Frank Stanek**
Bob Ward*
Bob Weis*
Mark Woodbury*
Su Zhigang*
** Emeritus for both Lifetime and Main Committee
* Emeritus for Main Committee but participating in Lifetime
Christian Aaen
Grietje Caels
Dimitri Delopoulos
Fri Forjindam
Franceen Gonzales
Linda Hung
Paul Kent
Michel Linet-Frion
Dan Picard
Darcy Troy Pollack
June Ren
Alexis Scalise
Jin Wang
Andy Westfall
Marc Zachary
Andy Westfall, Chair
Marc Zachary, Co-Chair
Luc Mayrand, International
Board Liaison
Jhenny Capili, Admin
In Memoriam – Buzz Price Thea (lifetime achievement) recipients John Hench (1908-2004)
Jon Jerde (1940-2015)
George Millay (1929-2006)
Harrison “Buzz” Price (1921-2010)
Marty Sklar (1934-2017)
Barry Upson (1934-2020)
PREMIER GLOBAL PARTNERS
INNOVATION GLOBAL PARTNERS
BREAKTHROUGH GLOBAL PARTNERS
NEXTGEN INITIATIVE PARTNERS
TEA holds more events than any other organization in our industry, in-person and virtual. Our events and mixers are curated meeting places for connection, education, and celebration among industry peers and icons - and they're all here and eager to talk! To stay updated on the latest events, scan the QR code below.
Our signature TEA Conferences and Events Include:
• Annual Thea Awards Gala and TEA INSPIRE Week: 29 April - 02 May 2026 | JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Orlando
• TEA Leadership Forum: 29 April 2026 | JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Orlando
• TEA SATE | Storytelling. Architecture. Technology. Experience.
- SATE Europe: 06-09 May 2025 | Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England, U.K.
- SATE Asia Pacific: 24-30 August 2025 | Wētā Workshop Unleashed, Auckland, New Zealand
- SATE North America: TBD
• Partnerships with the US Department of Commerce for Trade Missions in emerging markets (TBD)
We partner and participate in key industry events through panel discussions, mixers, and exhibitions at events worldwide, including:
IAAPA Expos
• IAAPA Expo Asia: 30 June – 03 July 2025 | Shanghai, China
• IAAPA Expo Europe: 22-25 September 2025 | Barcelona, Spain
• IAAPA Expo: 17-21 November 2025 | Orlando, FL
• IAAPA Middle East: 30 March – 02 April 2026) | Abu Dhabi, UAE
InfoComm Shows
• InfoComm Show: 07-13 June 2025 | Orlando, FL
• InfoComm Asia: 23 -25 July 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
MAPIC: 04-06 November 2025 | Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France
SINDEPAT Summit: 14-16 May 2025 | Campos do Jordão, Brazil
SEA Expo: 20-22 May 2025 | RFECC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Licensing Expo: 20-22 May 2025 | Las Vegas, NV
AAM: American Alliance of Museums) Annual Meeting (06-09 May | Los Angeles, CA
THEA GALA PRESENTING SPONSOR
INSPIRE CONFERENCE FRESHNESS PARTNER | LANYARD SPONSOR POWER PARTNER
INSPIRE CONFERENCE BREAKFAST SPONSOR
INSPIRE THE NIGHT PRESENTING SPONSOR
INSPIRE THE NIGHT SPONSOR
the Thea Awards Judging Committee Chair
Andy Westfall, Herschend Family Entertainment
The31st Annual Thea Awards cycle has been a celebration of our industry’s continued growth and ever-expanding creative vision.
This year’s Gala will recognize and celebrate more individuals, companies, and projects than any other year in the TEA’s history. Scaling up was a thoughtful and intentional endeavor, undertaken by a passionate Thea Committee and TEA leadership team to expand the reach of this yearly celebration, while maintaining the highest bar of excellence that the Thea Awards have always represented.
To my fellow Committee members, I thank you for your continued clarity of focus and passion for our purpose: To find excellence and celebrate it!
The scale of this year’s celebration expanded with the TEA Recognition of Merit (ROM). This new award category spotlights projects that demonstrate extraordinary creative artistry, innovation, and execution within our ever evolving and expanding industry. As with other Thea project awards, the ROM honors both the project itself and the team, and a comprehensive credits list is part of the recognition.
One powerful word permeated our Thea Committee conversation this year and it was Audacity. We saw bold, brave risks undertaken in the pursuit of creating experiences once thought impossible. The staggering scale, complexity, connectivity, and scope of this year’s slate of recipients serve as a testament to our industry’s momentum to dream bigger and deliver bolder than ever before.
Pre-existing conventional formats and norms are being challenged in search of new and awe-inspiring guest experiences. It shows in this year’s awarded projects as well as our Thea Catalyst honorees, who have broken down barriers to bring voice to the stories of the voiceless. These
daring individuals expand our vision for how our industry is called upon and who it has the power to serve.
Each project and person that we celebrate this year has expanded our collective sensibilities for what it means to engage - successfully - with our audiences in new, bold and truly audacious ways. Our future is so very bright!
The last two years chairing the Thea Awards Judging Committee has been one of my greatest professional privileges. Serving alongside industry legends and esteemed colleagues to bring greater awareness of the amazing, thoughtful, and bold work our industry creates is truly an honor. And now, I’m very pleased to welcome Marc Zachary as the incoming Chair of the Thea Awards Judging Committee for the 32nd annual session. Marc has his finger squarely on the ever-changing pulse of our industry. We look forward to seeing how his vision and contributions as Chair will steer the growth and expansion of next year’s Thea Awards.
The establishment of the TEA Thea Awards as the preeminent award program recognizing excellence in themed entertainment projects was seminal to the recognition of themed entertainment as a professional industry. The Theas shine a bright light on the industry and its leaders, fabricators and creative geniuses who make themed entertainment magic.
- Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Founder Monty Lunde, Technifex
TEA created the Thea Awards to bring recognition to achievement, talent and excellence within the themed entertainment industry.
The Thea Awards began in 1994 with a single Lifetime Achievement Award, and the first honoree was Harrison “Buzz” Price, a pioneer in entertainment feasibility. Monty Lunde, Bob Rogers, Pat Scanlon and Barry Howard were on the first Thea Awards organizational and judging committee.
The Thea Awards were named in reference to three words:
•“Thea” - the Greek goddess from whom all light emanates
•“Theater” - derived from the goddess Thea
•“TEA” - the acronym referring to our Association
The original Thea trophies were designed by Barry Howard and Jeremy Railton. The current Thea trophy debuted in 2001 and was designed by Zofia Kostryko.
The first year’s ceremony, held at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, was produced by Ron Miziker and coordinated by Jana Love, with TEA founder Monty Lunde serving as master of ceremonies. The 1995 Thea Awards also took place at the Biltmore, again with a single honoree: the late Marty Sklar (an official Disney Legend).
After Buzz Price passed away in 2010, TEA renamed the Thea Lifetime Achievement Award in his honor. It is now called the Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements.
The third year (1996) saw the introduction of Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA). Ten AOAs were bestowed. The Thea Classic category was created in
1997. It can be given to one achievement per year that has stood the test of time. Also in 1997, the AOA category of Excellence on a Limited Budget was created, to celebrate outstanding achievements under $10 million.
For 2014-2015, the Thea Awards Judging Committee introduced the Paragon Award, created to recognize projects that set a new bar of excellence.
The “Connected Immersion” category introduced in 2017 has since been applied to numerous Thea-honored projects, recognizing that tremendous advances in technology, social behavior and connectivity are reinventing our notion of storytelling and immersion.
In 2022, the Thea Catalyst Award became a new, annual honor to recognize individuals who have made recent, notable contributions to the industry.
Introduced in 2025: the Recognition of Merit awards. This new tier was created to spotlight submissions that exemplify superior artistry and/or execution, but did not receive the required number of votes for a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement. It enables us to celebrate a greater number of projects, and by extension, a greater number of the creative, artistic, architectural, engineering, technical, production and business minds behind them.
The TEA Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award recipient is also recognized at this time. This award was created and is decided by the TEA Past Presidents Council, and was renamed in honor of the late Peter Chernack, a TEA Past President who was instrumental in conceiving this award.
The Thea Awards reflect the global expansion of our industry, and the geographic coverage has grown accordingly, with the Thea Judging Committee continuing its efforts each year to span the globe. It should be noted that Thea Awards are not by any means confined to theme parks. Museums and museum exhibitions, heritage centers, casinos, multimedia spectaculars, brand experiences, theatrical productions and many other types of attractions and guest experiences - some yet to be invented or discovered - fall into the realm of projects that may be eligible for Thea Awards.
In 2020 and 2021, the realities of the global pandemic prevented us from being able to gather in person. Although
the INSPIRE and Gala events could not take place in person, TEA determined that the Thea Awards cycle should continue uninterrupted, utilizing TEA’s online platforms. The virtual Thea Awards Case Studies were a success in 2020 and 2021. TEA also continued to publish the official Thea Awards Program online during this period.
In 2022 and 2023, TEA once again welcomed the global industry community in person to the Thea Awards Gala and TEA Summit conference (now TEA INSPIRE) at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. 2024 saw the events move to a new location, in Hollywood. In future years, TEA may bring the Theas to more, different locations.
The culture of the Thea Awards is unique. Here are some key characteristics:
• The honoree is the project itself – Thea AOA and Thea Classic awards honor the entire achievement. The trophy is awarded to the project owner.
• Official project credits – The project owner is obliged to furnish a comprehensive credits list for publication by TEA. In this way the Thea Awards have resulted in the first official project credits of the themed entertainment industry, and shed light on the complexity
and true nature of these projects and the creative collaboration that produces them.
• Team trophies – Individuals and companies named on the official credits list of a Thea-honored project are entitled to obtain their own trophies from TEA.
• No set categories – The TEA is free to honor several achievements in the same category, create a new category, or to skip categories as the year’s achievements warrant.
• No secrets – Award recipients are openly announced in November, and the awards are formally presented the following spring at the Thea Awards Gala.
• Open nominations – Anyone can nominate a project for a Thea Award. It is not necessary to be a TEA member. You can nominate your own project.
The objective is simple: To find excellence and celebrate it. As we look to the future, the Thea Awards will continue to grow and evolve, while continuing to honor the original objective of bringing recognition to achievement, talent and professional excellence within our themed entertainment industry.
The Themed Entertainment Association’s annual TEA Thea Awards recognize excellence and innovation in the themed entertainment and international visitor attractions industry.
Each year, hundreds of submissions are received and considered by the TEA Thea Awards Judging Committee for outstanding destination attractions, breakthrough technology, event spectaculars, cultural attractions or guest experiences, as well as for individuals who have made their mark on the industry. We’re looking to find and celebrate the brilliance of those experiences and individuals around the globe.
The submissions period for the 32nd annual Thea Awards judging cycle runs 01 May - 05 July 2025
To be eligible for submission, a project must have opened during this timeframe: 01 July 2023 through 30 June 2025.
After submissions close, the Thea Awards Judging Committee begins its extensive review and judging period. The slate of recipients will be announced in November 2025, and awards formally presented in Spring 2026 at the annual TEA Thea Awards Gala.
For more information, see below, and visit the TEA website at www.teaconnect.org.
• You can submit your own project, event or technology
• Anyone may create a submission - whether or not a member of TEA
• Submissions for lifetime achievement honorees, the Thea Classic Award and the Thea Catalyst Award are also welcome
Step 1: Visit the TEA website at teaconnect.org and select “Thea Awards” from the “Awards and Recognitions” drop-down menu; click on “Submit Your Project” and then “Submission Portal” to navigate to the nomination form.
Follow the instructions to provide the required information. You will also see links for Tips for Thea Submissions and Thea Rules & Judging Criteria.
Step 2: You will receive an email response including a link to use in submitting additional materials and media. Note: for projects, the video is a most important element.
The TEA website also provides access to further resources that can help you understand more about the Thea Awards, including Thea Awards and Thea Case Studies video archives on TEA TV, links to past Thea Awards Programs, and galleries of past Thea Awards recipients organized by year.
We hope you will participate and share something spectacular! For more information and assistance, email theaawards@TEAConnect.org or telephone TEA headquarters at +1 818 843-8497.
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Rothschild
Founder and Chief Creative Officer, FAR Out! Creative Direction Inc.
Recognizing a Lifetime of
Rick Rothschild
Fivedecades ago, a young man made a choice that would change the world of themed entertainment. Nineteen-yearold Rick Rothschild had to decide which academic discipline to pursue - psychology or theater. Had he chosen psychology, he would have improved the lives of hundreds of people. Instead, he chose theater, and his inspired work has touched millions. He is the recipient of this year’s Buzz Price Thea Award, recognizing a lifetime of distinguished achievements in creating compelling places and experiences that exemplify the highest standards of excellence.
As Rick looks back, he finds that two things bring him the greatest pleasure. The first is the happiness his work continues to produce. The second is the awesome people he’s worked with, inspired and mentored.
It is striking how Rick’s abilities and achievements align with those of Harrison “Buzz” Price, who was the first recipient of the award and for whom it was posthumously renamed. Buzz was an innovator. He developed the practice of economic feasibility for attractions, and his professional advice helped Walt Disney to make Disneyland a success. Buzz was famously collaborative and cooperative: an indispensable team player. This is Rick as well: leader, innovator, and collaborator. A visionary with charisma and integrity. His secret might be the deep, intuitive understanding that informs everything he does: that true magic doesn’t announce itself, but disappears into the experience it creates.
Rick has a gift for weaving the most dazzling, complex show technologies into experiences of pure wonder. When guests soar through the skies or plunge beneath the waves, they aren't thinking about precision motion platforms or advanced projection systems. The intricate dance of technology fades away, leaving the story, the moment, and the magic.
article by Rich Procter
This singular talent made itself known in his first major project: “The American Adventure,” which was the anchor of The American Pavilion in World Showcase at EPCOT, Walt Disney World. Working with chief writer and creative concept developer Randy Bright, Director Rick Rothschild had a daunting task: deliver a show that includes every consequential moment in American history, appeals to every generation of guest, and creates such an emotional catharsis that guests will be eager to return again and again with every WDW visit. Rick, in his first big job at Walt Disney Imagineering, directed a legendary show that features 35 Audio-Animatronics® figures, moving sets, special lighting
effects, and digital rear-projection images on a 155-foot screen. Every guest is enchanted, feeling the pride and joy of living the ‘golden dream’ of America, where dreamers and doers can thrive.
Rick had discovered the magic of collaboration. He has demonstrated that the best ideas emerge when talented people are empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Rick’s stewardship of The Adventurers Club on Pleasure Island shows how well this can work. Here’s Disney Legend (and fellow Buzz Price Thea honoree) Joe Rohde:
Rick Rothschild was one of my most important and influential mentors. He allowed me to lead development of several of his projects and was really the person who taught me how Imagineering worked. His trust in me allowed me the confidence to trust myself. Rick gave me my first big chance to direct with The Adventurers Club and mentored me through the several mistakes I made as I grew into the role.
Rick Rothschild was and is fearless, which provided me a great role model in a business where risk is inherent to success.
The Adventurers Club’s approach to immersive storytelling and audience participation helped establish concepts that are now common in themed entertainment design.
Another leap forward for Rick was “Captain EO” for Disneyland, starring Michael Jackson at the peak of his fame. “Captain EO” combined 3D film technology with laser lights, smoke effects, and starfield projections. This "4D" approach was cutting-edge for its time. Rick followed it up with “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience,” one of the first 4D attractions to leverage and extend the power of Disney intellectual property.
In 1993, Rick took the lead in renovating the Hall of Presidents show at the Magic Kingdom, transitioning
it from a show about Abraham Lincoln to one that celebrates the American presidency including the current officeholder. In 1995, he rescued a troubled project that became the first showcase for digital binaural sound, the “ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.” This was a breakthrough show for a certain generation of younger Disney guests who reveled in its edgy, visceral thrills.
Some of Rick’s fondest memories come from his time living in Japan. As an Imagineer, he helped create the 3D “Magic Lamp Theater,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” and “StormRider” for Tokyo DisneySea. This latter attraction was so successful he was asked back in 2017 as a consultant to transform it into “Nemo and Friends SeaRider.”
Which brings us to “Soarin’.” The greatest innovatorsWalt Disney, Steve Jobs, James Cameron - do more than give people what they want: they give them what they
didn’t know they wanted because they didn’t think it was possible. Rick joined this select group with “Soarin’,” introduced at Disney California Adventure.
“Soarin’” began with a profound insight: the key to creating the sensation of flight wasn't about movement or visuals alone – it was about removing barriers. What if his team could make everything disappear except the exhilarating experience of flight itself?
To achieve this, Rick challenged Disney’s engineering team to invent a revolutionary ride system. Guests would be gently lifted into the air, their feet dangling free, suspended before an enormous IMAX screen that filled their entire field of vision. This was a perfect expression of Rick’s talent for blending complex show technologies and making them disappear, leaving pure enchantment. As riders glided over California's most spectacular landscapes, they felt the mist
of waterfalls, smelled the fragrance of orange groves, and experienced the subtle movements of wind currents. Guests found themselves believing, if only for a few precious minutes, that they were soaring through open skies.
“Soarin’” has become one of Disney’s most beloved attractions, delighting visitors around the world.
In 2009, Rick created his own company, “FAR Out! Creative.” Rick evolved the flying theater storytelling genre pioneered by “Soarin’” with his subsequent work for “FlyOver,” creating game-changing flying ride attractions in Vancouver, Las Vegas and Chicago.
Perhaps his most astonishing achievement with FAR Out! has been “Bermuda Storm,” a prior recipient of the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement, and a paradigmbusting immersive attraction at Chimelong Spaceship Park in China. This is ranked the world’s largest motion simulator attraction, hosting 300+ passengers on a single platform.
Rick was an indispensable part of a global team of creative minds and companies that collaborated on this project. He created the engaging, memorable story: something that, in Rick’s words, “delivered the excitement of the fantastic while embracing the overall theme of the park, the importance of water in sustaining life.”
Rick’s achievements are awesome. But his most awesome achievement may be all the friends and colleagues he’s made over 50 years. He proves that you don’t have to be a tyrant to lead; you can be a friendly, optimistic, encouraging leader and achieve miracles. And the people he’s mentored over the years are now themselves creating award-winning work that pushes audiences into new realms of delight and pleasure.
Rick Rothschild, your 2025 Buzz Price Thea Award lifetime honoree. Never has someone produced so much memorable entertainment, for so many people, in such a gentle, encouraging, optimistic way.
This attraction has stood the test of time while inspiring 25 years of imitation. The ride plunges us into the world of Spider-Man. It ushered in an unprecedented and powerful blend of 3-D film projection, sets, tactile effects, illusion, and moving vehicles.
The story of the ride turns park guests into last-minute reporters for the Daily Bugle. After boarding a vehicle known as the "Scoop," they learn that the Sinister Syndicate has captured the Statue of Liberty with an anti-gravity gun. This evil group is made up of five famous Spider-Man villains: Doctor Octopus, Scream, Electro, Hydro-Man and the Hobgoblin, and it is up to Spider-Man to defeat them and save the guests.
One of the innovative combinations was that the ride vehicles moved on tracks and yet they were motion base simulators with six degrees of freedom. Synchronized effects were achieved without the vehicle leaving the ground, including a movable building set, lighting cues, simulator movements, projections, wind effects, fog, fire, wind, heat, mist, strobe lights, and water spray.
Examples of the tactile seat effects include the impact of Spider-Man (3-D projection) landing on the hood of the vehicle. In another example, Electro tries to shock the guests with a sparking wire, causing the vehicle to vibrate at a high pitch suggestive of electric shock.
The ride climaxes with a simulated free fall of 400 feet, which remains one of the most convincing and dynamic
illusions ever achieved in any ride. (It is even more impressive if you know the vehicle never actually leaves the ground!)
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man has stood the test of time. Its integration of sets, 3-D projections, tactile seat effects, and moving vehicles was astonishingly original in its day and continues to be the gold standard referenced by all who attempt similar attractions. An astounding number of subsequent rides have since built on the principles and ideas this ride first pioneered. And yet it still holds its own. After 25 years, the attraction that inspired and led to the creation of so many others, remains best in class.
Chairman and CEO, USRG: Tom Williams
President & COO, Universal Orlando: Felix Mussenden
General Manager: Rich Costales
Executive VP Universal Creative: Andy Mandell
Senior VP & CCO, Universal Creative: Mark Woodbury
Senior VP Attraction Development: Phil Hettema
Senior VP Engineering: Ben Sheldon
Director of Creative Development: Dale Mason
Project Directors: Marc Watson, Mike Hightower
Show Producer: Scott Trowbridge
Project Manager: Gene Dobrzyn
Production Designer: Thierry Coup
Construction Manager: Brad Goeb, Norm Hobson
Set Show Designers: Phil Bloom, Eric Parr
Design Coordinator: Greg MacLaurin
Additional Design: Frank Tamara, Keith Matz, Brad Vancata, Su-Fei Wang, Mark Adams, Shim Yokoyama, Taki Shimojima, Eric Williams, Peter Anderson, Bob Murko, Smith-Bruni Design
Writers: Ross Osterman, Scott Peterson
Media Producer: Mark Rhodes
Project Architect: Abe Chorbajian
Landscape Architect: Paul Norconck
Senior Show/Ride Engineer: Ben Lovelace
Show Engineer: Steve Johnson
Show/Ride Control Engineer: Peter Jelf, Mark Peffen
Audio/Video Systems Engineer: Carl Hartzler
Project Engineer: Pete Hetherman
Technical Coordinators: Lisa Decker, Tim Wilson
Show/Ride Engineer: Jeff Bennett, Steve Thompson
Motion Choreographer: Devin Boyle
Project Coordinators: Ernie Benzor, Susan Clippinger, Barb Killian
Special recognition goes to our partners, the Rank Group
Key Vendors, Contractors and Consultants include
Anitech Systems, Inc.: Show Control
Attraction Services, Inc.: Special FX
Doyle Street Group: Flame FX
Beers Construction: Facility Construction
Birket Engineering, Inc.: Vehicle Of Board Controls
Cinnabar: Vehicle Body Production
Coast Steel Fabricators Ltd.: Track System
Construct Two Construction Management: Facility Construction
Electrosonic Systems, Inc.: Projection Systems
Entech Creative Industries: Track and Chassis Design
Fisher Technical Services: Special FX / Animation
Glenco Engineering: Design Services
ITEC Productions, Inc.: Show System Control
Landmark Entertainment: Show Development
Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company: CGI Film Production
Moog, Inc.: Vehicle System
Nassal Company: Show Sets/Scenics
Perry Engineering: Vehicle Controls
Precision Projection: Laser Systems
Richmond Sound Design: Audio Systems
Rinehart Manufacturing Corporation: Vehicle Body Production
Show Technologies, Inc.: Show Action Equipment / Special FX
Soundelux Showorks: Audio / Video
Structural Composites, Inc.: Vehicle Body Fabrication
TUV: Ride System
Universal Cartoon Studios: Preshow Animation
Vortex Lighting: Show Lighting Design
Vanco Lighting Service: Show Lighting
Special consideration to:
AVACO, Integrity Attractions, Kiss, Inc. Things and Ideas, Glen Hartung, Brad Borgman, FACE, Set Point, Computer Automation, BTL Engineering, Specialized Testing, Power Train Engineering, Inc., Rijn and Reisman, Pacific Systems Integration, Thorburn Associates, Applied Composites, Structural Composites, MAIDA Engineering, David Toyne Solutions, Sigma Design, Breeze Maker, Smart Services, Background Engineers, Brody Design, The Chandler Group, Stewart Filmscreens, Super-70 Entertainment, Imagica, Florida Rod and Drape, The Bakery, Richanbach & Associates, Lexington Scenery, Continental Scenery, Angstrom Lighting, Lighting Design Associates, Wild Fire, Famous Frames and Butler Heavy Structures.
This Catalyst Award shines a spotlight on a visionary whose imagination could see untapped potential in a new technology, whose passion raises and expands our vision of who we are as an industry, and who we can become.
With over 200M+ individuals globally who identify as disabled, Naoki Tanaka’s creative approach is challenging us to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity and reshape the future of inclusive design while offering powerful new forms of expression for everyone.
Naoki Tanaka majored in material engineering at university and graduate school with an academic background in science and technology. He joined dentsu as a copywriter. But soon his creative talent crossed boundaries, as he combined design, technology, and traditional advertising skills to provide media-neutral solutions for clients such as Shiseido, Uniqlo, Google, and Honda. These include TV commercials, TV program content, digital design, AI systems and even androids.
He also spends time on R&D, experimenting with creative ideas and technology as Executive Creative Director of Dentsu Lab Tokyo. He was named Chief Creative Officer of Dentsu Lab in January 2024. Naoki’s work has significantly impacted design in a wide range of categories such as film, digital, design, media, innovation, branded content, and PR. He also lectures at Kyoto University of the Arts.
Projects of Naoki’s of especial interest to the Thea Judging Committee were his creative planning for the TOKYO2020 Paralympics Opening Ceremony, and venue direction for the TOKYO2020 Sports Presentations; and All Players Welcome, a gazeinput only powered technology to allow all players to participate in sports and music production, that evolved to Project Humanity, a visionary application of AI with a metaverse layered application for electromyography-based avatar mobility for a live music event.
The Committee felt that the evolution from Paralympics to Project Humanity demonstrates a commitment to inclusive design that can be widely applied within themed entertainment. Naoki’s approach widens our lens, bringing a fresh perspective. He is attuned to an evolving global and ever diversifying audience. He has achieved real and positive impact that can serve as an example of best and recommended practices.
We will always need leaders of vision, individuals who will take risks and challenge us. This Thea Catalyst Award recognizes Dayton Schroeter, an extraordinary individual and visionary leader in the museum architecture field, with over 30 years of experience shaping culturally significant and inclusive spaces.
As Vice President and Design Director at SmithGroup, Dayton has consistently demonstrated his ability to create engaging and transformative experiences that embrace. His dedication to building strong connections with communities through design has profoundly and positively impacted the museum landscape, making cultural institutions more inclusive and accessible.
Dayton’s influence extends beyond the projects he leads, as he fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity within the industry.
Exemplary projects include:
• City of Alexandria Freedom House
• Whitney Plantation (Edgard, LA)
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts expansion
• Richmond National Slavery Museum
• Society’s Cage (National Mall)
Dayton is a change agent, a leader, a mentor, and an outspoken advocate for integrated design that, quite honestly, is reclaiming spotlights on underestimated communities and the narratives associated with them. His approach to integrating story into physical spaces is extremely relevant and timely to the challenges being faced in themed entertainment, whether in museums or other sectors.
In an era where the entertainment industry wields immense influence over distributing and exporting culture and consciousness, it has become increasingly crucial for this sector to take on a leadership role in promoting responsible storytelling. The convergence of creativity and cultural sensitivity is not merely a choice; it is a moral imperative, and
Dayton Schroeter has been an unwavering catalyst in that regard.
Dayton’s values and goals are reflected in his words as well as his work. He speaks of “amplifying the voices of the voiceless”; “making sure teams mirror our communities” with focus on “trauma and resilience”; and “taking discomfort around racial reconciliation and creating integrated spaces that inspire communities.” He has said, “When it comes to placemaking, we need to create spaces that are grounded in the lived experiences of the people who use them.”
As a new addition to the already thriving Windsor Great Park - an ancient royal landscape and part of the historic Windsor Estate - the main objective of this project was to increase both the frequency and dwell time of family visits, and attract a new audience to the existing, 35-acre Savill Garden. Additionally, the project wanted to educate and inspire families through the careful integration of naturebased play into the newly established courtyard area and existing woodland beyond.
The three levels of adventure are easily identifiable through the use of detailed image-based carvings that denote which is which:
1. Small & Nimble (mouse)
2. Natural Climber (squirrel)
3. Bold & Brave (owl)
Providing different challenges for guests of all abilities while removing hazards in a challenging environment is intended to maximize play value, while being watchful not to sanitize the experience too much. (A playground without carefully managed risks that allow children of all abilities to push themselves, is not a playground at all.) This is a reclamation of holistic play: Getting visitors close to nature, the purpose is to stimulate their senses, activate their imaginations and grow their confidence by challenging children to take risks. The attraction actively promotes intergenerational play between children, parents, and grandparents.
The playground brings together bespoke play structures, timber sculptures and artworks, all wrapped
around a steel substructure for strength and longevity. From a sustainability perspective, most of the timber used in the build was sourced from within the wider Estate, seasoned over several years. This meant that the playground was effectively grown on site, dramatically reducing the amount of timber required from other locations and suppliers.
Every detail, from the smallest carving to the grandest treehouse, was carefully considered to add layers to the visitor experience. All the elements combine to ensure a visit to this compelling, adventurous place will live long in the memory.
Contributors
Client: Savill Garden, The Crown Estate
Client Project Manager: TFT Consultants
Client Cost Consultant: Burnley Wilson Fish Consultancy
Client Legal Consultant: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Client CDM Consultant: Gardiner & Theobold LLP
Client Planning Consultant and Ecologist: LUC
Client Access Consultant: Earnscliffe
Client Design Consultant: Path Design
Client Experience Advisor: Britton McGrath Associates
Client Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
Client Services Engineer: Watkins Payne
Partnership
Client Play Inspection Consultant: Play Inspection Company
Designer: Creating Adventurous Places (CAP.
Subs to the Principal Contractor
Philip Hartley Associates (PHA) Ltd, Project Manager
Artych Ltd, Site Manager
Creating Adventurous Places (CAP.Co) Ltd, Adventure Play Timber Construction
Alex Egan, Artist & Illustrator
Barnsfield Timber, Timber Supply
Interiorbuild. Welfare Facilities
Massey Harris Ltd, Steelwork and Slide
Manufacture and Installation
TJ Hunt Ltd, Groundworks & Screw Piles
Kenward Ltd, Groundworks
DCM Surfaces Ltd, Groundworks
LG Electrical, Electrical
Fairwater Ltd, Water Features
Brooks Pumps Ltd, Water Supply and Irrigation
John Spalding, Consulting Structural Engineer
Cleftwood Fencing, Internal Fencing and Gates
Parallel Fabrication Ltd, Acorn Structures
Huck Nets Ltd, Play Nets
7 x 19 Building Adventure Ltd, Suspended Walkways
DJ Willrich Ltd, Interactive Projection and Control System
DJ Willrich Ltd, Media Content
Henry Hepworth Smith, Animal Carvings
Willowtwisters, Willow Features
RoSPA, Play Inspection Consultant
DJ Willrich Ltd
David Willrich, Technical Director and Media
Systems Designer (Audio, Video and Projection)
https://docs.connect.panasonic.com/projector/
David Gibbons, Media Designer and Media
Mike Switzer, Audio, Video Equipment and
Mark Richards, Show Control Installer, Show Control System Programmer and Media Director
Aquascope is an innovative water park that opened in 2024 as a second gate to the neighboring Futuroscope theme park in France.
Guests checking in will find that the experience feels more like a spa, complete with modern changing rooms with modern lighting effects as a preview of what’s to come. Aquascope has three experiential indoor zones focused on immersion, thrills and fun.
In Les Abysses de Lumiere, water and image technology work in unison to offer a dual immersion in an aquatic and digital environment. The blend of video mapping, light shows, spatial sound system, interactive elements and water effects plunges visitors into a world where the real and the unreal merge. Creating an original immersive experience using digital equipment in a chlorinated wet environment seemed a risky undertaking at first sight, but the technical and artistic teams worked to develop cutting-edge solutions.
The Rift and the slides not only offer fun activity along a giant net overhanging the wave pool; there are also eight slides with breathtaking drops. The slides were designed so that each one is different and offers a unique experience.
The fantasy-world theme of La Faille de Kraki features slides, an aquatic maze, a musical cavern and play pools that offer children over 20 interactive aquatic adventures.
Aquascope is a pioneer in integrating projection mapping, digital media, and sound in a water park setting, creating
a highly immersive, engaging environment. The narrative and attention to detail in each zone elevate the experience to an interactive adventure. Eco-friendly practices and sustainable design demonstrate that thrilling entertainment can be achieved responsibly. The variety of attractions catering to different age groups, thrill levels, and interests ensures that every guest finds something enjoyable.
Concept Aquascope
Rodolphe Bouin, CEO
Elodie Arnaud, Project Director
Olivier Heral, Creative Director
Futuroscope Project Managers
Pauline Ravry, Quentin Duport, Marc Rasmussen
Technology Integration and Development of Custom Technical Solutions
FMD Team
Yannis Marchet: Development and Project Manager
Jeanne Bombardelli: Energy, Mechanics, and Materials Engineer
Frederic Rigaudeau: Audiovisual Engineering
Olivier Trésorier: Study and Works Manager
Architect
Art’Ur Architectes Firm: Emmanuelle Bodin
Scenography & Media Design for Abysses des Lumières
Moment Factory
Virginie Valastro: Producer
Alexandre Lupien: Creative Director
Moment Factory Team: Pierre Corsy, Dominique Charbonneau, MarieAudrey Campion, Stéphane Roisin
Water Effects and Fountain Systems
Crystal Group, Michel Amann
Scenography of La Faille de Kraki and the Rift
Michel Linet-Frion
Credo Project: Alan D’Andréa, Jenny Impens
Slides for Thrill zone
Polin Waterpark
Concrete Sculpted Décor Construction
Universal Rocks: Jean Marie Chollet
Lighting and Scenography Design
Contre Jour, Bruno Demesester
Installation
Ineo – Equans France
Focused on strategy and market feasibility for entertainment projects, ECA provides in-depth, global expertise for the industry’s leading investors, institutions, developers, designers, licensors, and operators.
ECA PROJECTS
UPCOMING
• 11 SKIES (SkyCity)
- KidZania Hong Kong (2025)
• EDEN Project Qingdao, China (2025)
• LEGOLAND Resort Shanghai (2025)
• SEVEN Entertainment Complexes, KSA (2025+)
• VidantaWorld's BON Luxury Theme Park, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (2026)
• LEGOLAND Resort Shenzhen (2026)
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Shanghai
– The Making of Harry Potter (2027)
• Delhi Aerocity Retail Entertainment
– Anchor IP Attractions (2027+)
• Sanya Hello Kitty Water Park Resort, Hainan Island, China (2027+)
• Sentosa-Brani Masterplan, Singapore (2030+)
ECA PROJECTS RECENTLY OPENED
• Universal Studios Beijing Resort
• The CHUAN Whisky Distillery, Mt. Emeishan, China
• LEGOLAND Korea
• Kiewit Luminarium
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo –The Making of Harry Potter
• SAGA Shanghai (Puy du Fou)
• Aztlán Parque Urbano, Mexico City
BDX Droids were first playtested at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland California.
The ensemble of three walk-around Droid characters is made up of freeroaming two-legged droids, capable of an enormous amount of expression. They have toddler-size bodies on little legs, and slightly oversized heads, giving them a childlike charm. They appear to be alive and full of personality.
BDX Droids exhibit the personalities and attention spans of playful preschoolers. They freely walk around while charming guests. The Droids seem to recognize guests and even seek eye contact, imitating guests' movements and encouraging guests to reciprocate.
Breakthroughs in adaptive learning allow the Droids to learn new movements very quickly. An innovative operator control system enables improved ability to perform in character while walking and maintaining autonomous balance. The digital puppeteers become actors, focused on performance rather than technicians focused on robot operation. The technology is essentially invisible; the experience is what is perceived.
The real magic of the BDX Droids is the combination of all the arts of our trade. These include imagination (in the form of character design, scripting, choreography, digital puppetry arts, rehearsal, ensemble performance, and the highest animation art) together with the engineering genius that makes
all this possible, robust and reliable. The blend of imagination and engineering is beyond excellent.
The BDX Droids achieve the highest standards of animation, meeting the qualifications defined by classic Disney Animators Frank Thomas and Olie Johnson in their book Disney Animation, The Illusion of Life. The three little Droids appear to be living, thinking, feeling, sentient beings, with charming individual personalities, independent thought, their own emotions and even a love of mischief, far beyond previous achievements in walk-around robotics. They are totally convincing and lovable.
WDI R&D Core Team
Moritz Bächer, Project Lead, Disney Research Imagineering (Zurich, Switzerland)
Ruben Grandia, Reinforcement Learning, Disney Research Imagineering (Zurich, Switzerland)
Espen Knoop, Mechanical Design, Disney Research Imagineering (Zurich, Switzerland)
Michael A Hopkins, Show Control , Disney Research Imagineering (Glendale, USA)
Georg Wiedebach, Runtime System, Disney Research Imagineering (Glendale, USA)
Jared Bishop, Animator, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Steven Pickles, Electrical Engineering, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
David Müller, Reinforcement Learning, Disney Research Imagineering (Zurich, Switzerland)
Joseph Virzi, Electrical Engineering, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Mark Arnold, Procurement, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
WDI R&D Support Team
Franklin T Batino, Planning and Coordination, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Leslie Evans, Planning and Coordination, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Tony Dohi, Show Director, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Walt Disney Imagineering
Brian Kesinger, Concept Art, Concept Design
Jeremy Costello, Concept Art, Concept Design
Mark Brashear, Concept Art, Concept Design
William Martinez, Concept Art, Concept Design
Kelsey Hardwick, Paint, Concept Design
Disneyland Resort & Disney Live Entertainment
Adela L Kuehn, Technical Director, Disney Live Entertainment
Daniel Hayden, Entertainment Management, Disneyland Resort
Deena Selenow, Creative Director, Disney Live Entertainment
Hollie Hopson, Producer, Disney Live Entertainment
Lindsey Bryant, Technical Director, Disney Live Entertainment
Michael W Duncan, Producer, Disney Live Entertainment
Michael Serna, Creative Director, Disney Live Entertainment
Preston Olivares, Entertainment Management, Disneyland Resort
Tim Bennett, Show Director, Disney Live Entertainment
Joel Peavy, Planning and Coordination, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Karen Thorne, Planning and Coordination, Walt Disney Imagineering R&D
Consultants
Lee Romaire, Paint, Romaire Studios, Inc
This completely reimagined, magnificently staged circus-type show thrills the family audience with non-stop action performances enhanced by enormous, constantly changing visuals and exciting musical integration.
Inside a lavish, purpose-built, very large theater is housed a sensational show combining aerialists, acrobats, motorcycles, trick horse riders, bicyclists, jugglers, birds, and ostriches, supported by dancers, singers, and of course… clowns.
Technically the show is outstanding with dazzling, constantly changing visual effects including lighting, sound, moving background images, and pyro, all perfectly appropriate and synchronized to the action.The visual integration of the background images with the performers is striking, enhanced by lighting and lighting effects, as in the aerial ballet.
Departing from traditional three-ring format, the show uses a dedicated aisle to stage fun interludes such as a Carnival parade. Another is a battle with a mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex. All are fun for kids and adults alike.
Chimelong Show is an experience that is innovative, entertaining and outstanding in many ways. Performances on a unique 270-degree stage ensure that every seat provides a fantastic view. Advanced lighting systems add a magical touch. Thrilling stunts showcase the performer’s extraordinary skill and daring feats. The music is presented as being performed by a traditional circus band but is fully orchestrated and beautifully
scored to be appropriate to the visuals and performance. Costumes are colorful and extravagant. The theater itself spans 678,126 square feet (63,000 square meters), with massive 14,000-square foot (1,300-square meters) 3D LED screens. Chimelong Show promises to leave its audiences in awe.
Zhigang Su, Chief Director, Chimelong Group
Dale Su, Executive Producer, Chimelong Group
Chimelong Design, Production, Project Management
Hengsheng Fu, Technical Director, Chimelong Group
Xiaopeng Yao, Associate Technical Director- Automation, Chimelong Group
Bella Lai, Production Manager, Chimelong Group
Kelly Huang, Production Coordinator, Chimelong Group
Lydia Wu, Production Coordinator, Chimelong Group
Yong Lu, Venue Design Manager, Chimelong Group
Zhiqiang Wu, Construction Manager, Chimelong Group
Seven Zhang, Onsite Project Manager – Equipment, Chimelong Group
Xiaobing Wang, Structural Engineering Manager, Chimelong Group
Margarita Peschanskaia, Costume Designer, Chimelong Group
Zhijian Lan, Associate Construction Manager, Chimelong Group
Yuanyuan Luo, Associate Venue Design Manager, Chimelong Group
Hanxi Zeng, Equipment Engineer, Chimelong Group
Xiao Yu, Onsite Project Engineer – Equipment, Chimelong Group
Cynthia Yin, Contract Manager, Chimelong Group
Eagle Xiao, Logistic Manager, Chimelong Group
Bruce Peng, Associate Logistic Manager, Chimelong Group
Vendors & Suppliers-Creative, Design & Production
Evgeny Shevtsov, Artistic Director, Shevtsov Production
Olga Poltarak, Chief Choreographer, Shevtsov Production
Anatoly Voynov, Choreographer, Shevtsov Production
Vladimir Demichev, Choreographer, Shevtsov Production
Anatoly Nezhnyy, Scenic Designer, Shevtsov Production
Andrei Yanshin, Scenic Designer, Shevtsov Production
Aleksandr Riabinin, Video Content Specialist, Shevtsov Production
Dmitry Kuznetsov, Composer, Shevtsov Production
Vladimir Tarasov, Technical Director, Shevtsov Production
Svetlana Kuvshinova, Make Up Artist, Shevtsov Production
Anna Titova, Production Manager, Shevtsov Production
Ilia Salmov, Aerial Gymnastics Trainer, Shevtsov Production
Alain Lortie, Show Lighting Designer, Lortie Design Lumiere Inc.
Yannick Dussoyer, Show Lighting Programmer, Lortie Design Lumiere Inc.
Koert Vermeulen, Sound Designer, ACTLD
Operations (Opening Crew)
Jing Huang, Operation Director, Chimelong Group
Vendors
Ray Winkler, Theater Concept Design and Planning, Façade Design, Stufish Entertainment Architects
Maciej Woroniecki, Theater Concept Design and Planning, Façade Design, Stufish Entertainment Architects
Felix Chow, Set & Prop Fabrication, Karlson Global Limited
Guiming Chen, SFX (Smoke, Fog, Faux Fire, Bubble, Cold Firework) Design & Supply, Guangzhou Quanya Trading Co., Ltd.
Jianpeng Shi, SFX Water Treatment Design & Supply Contractor, Guangdong Laswim Water Environment Engineering Co., Ltd
Sha Yi, Interior Hardcover, SHENZHEN HONGTAO DECORATION CO.,LTD.
Sheng Li, LED Supply & Installation, Nanjing Lopu Technology Co., Ltd.
Ting Zhang, Costumes Fabrication, Guangzhou Borong Costumes Co., Ltd.
Yongyao Liu, Lighting and Show Master Control System Installation & Integration, Guangzhou Leafun Art & Culture Technology Co., Ltd
Chimelong Resort, Hengqin, Guangdong, China
The Chimelong Spaceship, a worldclass, indoor theme park that forms a second gate to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, is an industry breakthrough in its integration of entertainment, education, and marine animal conservation. Its attractions, rides, shows, aquarium displays, tours and classrooms are housed in a structure designed as a colossal, landed spaceship. The backstory is that it is the repository where aliens have collected 150,000 aquatic creatures, representing 300 species of aquatic life from all over planet Earth, for conservation and study.
The Park features 15 themed areas, three major theaters, 35 amusement rides, 13 science classrooms, and eight scientific backstage tours. Each themed area blends entertainment and educational content, incorporating rides and animal exhibits.
The park has seven Guinness World Records:
• World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park: 397,064 square meters of enclosed area (4,271,783 square feet).
• World’s Largest Aquarium: 75,350,969 liters of tanks (16,574,889 gallons) with 38 aquarium tanks.
• World’s Largest Aquarium Tank: 56,450,136 liters (12,417,288 gallons).
• World’s Largest Indoor Artificial Wave, generating waves measuring up to 3.2m (10 feet 6 inches).
• World’s Largest Living Coral Reef Exhibit: 10 specialized coral tanks, totaling 2,848,562 liters (626,595 gallons).
• World’s Highest Seated Capacity Motion Simulator: “Bermuda Storm” simulator ride (a previous Thea recipient) accommodates 304 riders on a single platform.
• World’s Largest Curved Projection Screen: In “Bermuda Storm” encompassing over 1,682 square meters of surface.
From one regional aquatic zone to the next, the regions portrayed inside the tanks extend into the walkways. The architectural facades, rock work, faux landscaping, live entertainment, animal meet-and-greets, dining and retail are all outstanding features of a cohesive, immersive guest experience.
Project Development 项目开发
Zhigang Su, Owner / Chief Developer, Chimelong Group, 志刚 苏, 业主/总开发, 长隆 集团,
Venue Design and Development 场馆设 计与深化
Yong Lu, Facility Design Manager, Chimelong Group, 陆勇
Qinyu Fan, Vice Design Manager, Chimelong Group, 范钦彧
Life Support System Design, TJP Inc., TJP美国维生 系统设计公司
William Watts, Master Plan and Concept Design, Windward Design, 前海洋世界设计师——阿标
The Hettema Group, Master Plan and Concept Design
Attraction Design and Production Design
机动设备设计与制作设计
Creative Director, FAR Out!, 瑞克-暴风剧场创意 导演
Attraction Design and Supply, HPS Play Trading LLC, 中东攀爬供应商-二楼攀爬设备
Engineering 工程
Hengsheng Fu , Technical Director , Chimelong Group, 付恒生
Yinhao Zeng, Technical Manager, Chimelong Group, 曾颖皓
Xiaopeng Yao , Technical Manager, Chimelong Group, 姚孝鹏
Mechanical System 机械系统
Amusement Rides, ANTONIO ZAMPERLA spa, 意 大利赞培拉-游乐设备
Amusement Rides, Guangdong Jinma Entertainment Corp.,Ltd, 金马-游乐设备
Submarine Ride Supply, Mack Ride, 德国麦氏-潜 水艇
Motion Platform, Brogent Technologies, Inc., 智 威-暴风剧场 Amusement Rides, Shenyang Chuangqi
Amusement Equipment Co,Ltd, 沈阳创奇-游乐 设备
Media Production 多媒体制作 Caiyun Yuan, MEDIA Manager, Chimelong Group, 袁彩云
Media Production, Mack Animation GmbH & CoKG, 德国麦氏影片-暴风剧场影片 Music Production, TRIANGLE MARKETING SERVICES COMPANYLIMITED , 香港谭生-主题 音乐
Media Production, Chao Xiang Digital Technology coltd , 潮向-媒体内容
Live Entertainment Production 现场演艺 制作
Theatre and Show Production, Renaissance Entertainment, 文艺复兴
Scott Arnold, Lighting and Show Control System design 灯光及表演系统设计, Tech Fulcrum, 史 葛-美国灯光设计师
Show Production, MANTA RED, Show Prop, Airstage by Effekt-Technik GmbH, 德 国空飘公司
Brent Young, Show design and video production, Super78, 雨林剧场制作导演
WY Liu, AV system, Lei Fung, 广州励丰文化科技 股份有限公司 - 参观通道影音制作及灯光导演
JQ Wang, AV system , SMI AudioVisual Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 深圳市 天市源科技有限公司 -参观通道及雨林剧场影 音制作
Rui Wen OuYang, Park Audio System, PCI China, 上海佳联视厅科技有限公司 – 园区音响设计 及实施
Recreation Equipment 娱乐设备
Wave Equipments, WhiteWater, 白水-造浪机供 应
Media System Design & Supply (Audio, Video, Projection, Show Control), Kraftwerk Living Technologies GmbH, 奥地利特效座椅及投影系 统公司(万佛)-暴风剧场
Project Management 项目管理
Liangqing Gong, CEO, Chimelong Group, 龚良 庆
Guixin Dong, COO & Chief Management Officer of Animal and Botany ( as Group Senior Vice-President ), Chimelong Group, 董贵信
Construction 土建施工
Jun Li, GM of Construction, Chimelong Group, 李峻 Risheng Chu, Construction Manager, Chimelong Group, 初日昇
Zhiqiang Wu, Construction Manager , Chimelong Group, 吴志强
Operations(Opening Crew) 营运(开业筹 建团队)
John Smart Jiang, General Manager of Zhuhai Resort, Chimelong Group , 蒋敏灵
Frankie Zhang, General Manager of Chimelong Spaceship, Chimelong Group, 张程
Fangjung Wu, Chief Engineer, Chimelong Group, 吴方荣
Jim Jin, Operation Manager, Chimelong Group , 靳勇
Lenny Han, Maintenance Manager , Chimelong Group, 韩绍华
Raymond Lin, Entertainment Manager, Chimelong Group , 连汉强
Tiger Li, Aimal Management, Chimelong Group , 李湛伟
Julien Marc Jacques Forestier, Aimal Management, Chimelong Group , 朱利安
Vendors 供应商
Acrylic Panel Design and Supply, Nippura Co., Ltd., 日本尼普拉-水池玻璃
Special Effects Design, Engineering and Supply, Technifex Inc., 美国特效公司(蒙迪公司)
Artificial Coral and Rock Work Design and Supply, Ony Kobo Bangkok Co., Ltd., 泰国鬼工 坊(假珊瑚)
Show Lighting Design & Programing, Visual Terrain Inc., 美国特效公司-暴风剧场灯 光设计
Mr Wang, Coral Elder Lighting Supply & Installation, GUANGZHOU HENGYI
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD, 广 州恒一(珊瑚长老灯光)
Animatronic Show Design, The Bezark Company
Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo, Japan
Thea Award For Outstanding Achievement
Theme Park Land
Fantasy Springs is a new, 26-acre land at Tokyo DisneySea. Open since June 2024, it represents the park’s largest expansion to date (an addition of 20 percent) and its eighth “port of call.”
The backstory is that of a magical spring, home to a curious water spirit and a place where magical water constantly springs from numerous locations. The water spirit would visit fairytale realms and, upon her return, would magically carve into the rocks characters and scenes she had encountered. There are multiple springs that spout water in time with music, with the area also decorated with rocks engraved with Disney character motifs.
Thousands of custom artificial foliage elements integrated with live landscaping ensure the land remains lush and colorful year-round. Fantasy Springs is home to three areas inspired by Disney Animation Studios films, Frozen, Peter Pan and Tangled, comprising four new attractions, three themed dining locations (accommodating 1,400 guests), a retail outlet plus the new Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel (475-rooms).
Frozen Kingdom features an immersive family-friendly flume/boat ride (Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey). Peter Pan’s Never Land includes an epic 3-D flying adventure, a Tinker Bell outdoor ride, a lake with Captain Hook’s pirate ship and Skull Rock, and a restaurant built by the Lost Kids. In Rapunzel’s Forest, the classic story comes to life at Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival.
The magic and pristine level of design of Fantasy Springs results from the international collaboration of hundreds of specialists. Artisans, carvers, and painters created nearly 50 characters expressed in the rockwork “story pools.” Lighting, audio, and water effects offer different experiences for daytime and nighttime. As with the rest of Tokyo DisneySea, water helps tie these areas together along with the trees, landscape and storytelling.
Walt Disney Imagineering
Abbie R Bender
Andrew Sibner
Abby Ramirez
Abigail A Michael
AC G Christakis
Achin Kundu
Adam B Hill
Adam D Flemming
Adam Machalak
Addi Gaash
Aileen L Trombatore
Akiko Suzuki
Akina Obata
Alessandra Robotti
Alex Guerrero
Alexandrea Young Irvine-Wheeler
Alicia Ellsworth
Alicia Marie Hofer
Alison Hemphill
Alison Robins
Allan Bloemsma
Allan J Marasco
Allison Masikip
Amanda B Weiskind
Amanda Haley
Amanda L Canteenwalla
Amy M Pennebacker
Andrea Rose Nice
Andrea Sorini
Andrew A Sanchez
Andrew G MacPhee
Andrew J Chew
Andrew J Reiff
Andy Nice
Angel M Moreno
Angel Orlando Quintanilla
Angela D'Anna
Angie Ramirez
Anila Arif
Anne Miller
Annette McQuilkin
Anqi Xu
Anthony G Enriquez
Anthony Pisano
Anthony Yuen
Aoi Nakamura
April V Warren
Arashi Yoshioka
Areyna D Schmidt
Arthur Rowlodge
Arturo C De Guia
Asako Kokubu
Asako Takahashi
Asha Xue
Ashley Susanne Jennings
Audrey Katheryn Aronoff
Avi Tuchman
Aya Misawa
Ayaka Ikuta
Ayako Suzuki
Ayumi Miyamori
Bari Jo
Barry S Golding
Ben "Frodo" Froman
Ben Bian
Ben Trabuco
Bethann M Brody
Bhavna Mistry
Blake J Ostrowski
Bob Evans
Bob Litjen
Brandt Adrien Marshall Sr
Brenen Gene Thul
Brent S Cho
Bret K Kawashima
Brett Swain
Brian A Belot
Brian P Orr
Brian S Nefsky
Brittany Danielle Sandzimier
Brittany L Smith
Brooke Mackenzie Dozier
Bruce Lau
Bryan Joseph Thombs
Bryce A Frost
Cameron D Schlender
Cara A Malek
Carley Addeman
Carlos Ferreira
Carlos Garcia
Carlos Sayde
Caroline J Andrew
Catherine Black
Catherynne Jean
Cathy Ritenour
Cecile Olivier
Celine C Paez
Chad Smith
Chandler Williams Edwards
Charline Boieiro
Cheng Hsiung Chang
Cherie Beaulieu-Unland
Chiaki Koyama
Chih-Ying Chu
Chiho Senda
Chinatsu Ogata
Chloe Cudney
Chris Bacon
Chris Fogel
Chris Hofer
Chris Lamb
Chris Smith
Christian Fernandez
Christian P Bodden
Christina M Woodman
Christopher Beck
Christopher D West Jr
Christopher Dylan Merritt
Christopher Gustafson
Christopher J Black
Christopher J Turner
Christopher M Andras
Christopher S Matinas
Clarissa J Matalone
Claudia Ivonne Fernandez Escobar
Cody Poyner
Colleen E Mansfield
Connie Schlobahm
Corbett W Brown III
Cornelius Dupre
Courtney A Scheffler
Craig Barr
Craig Russell
Craig Tadaki
Cristina Maria Diaz
Daiya Takagi
Daniel Fredrick Fazio
Daniel Joseph Steck Jr
Daniel Jue
Daniel R Richardson
Daniel Thomas Ridgers
Daniel Todd Lindsey
Daniella D Roberge
Danielle Lieu Urban
Darin Hollings
Dave Metzger
David Azcarraga
David Brickey
David D Dupree
David Donald Geier
David E Emery
David F Barnett
David Gilmore
David Kalbeitzer
David Lester
David P Goldberg
David Rothman
David W Edminster
David W. Graul
Dean Herrick
Deborah Kleinman
Deborah Y Low
Dennis Park
Derek C Haas
Derek Howard
Derek K Santos
Desmond Moore
Devin T Lai
Diane Sta Maria Villar
Dino A Fauci
Dirk E Bekkering
Dominic Diaz
Drew Yates
Duane L McLeod
Dung Phan
Duveshwar A Sarju
Dylan J Olson
Earl Ellise
Edemuel Mora
Edith S Saucedo
Eduard Weverling
Edward H Choi
Efren Balenton
Elizabeth Joy Reckart
Elizabeth L McFarlin
Ellen Guevara
Emi Sugano
Emily Marie Adams
Emily Mattie
Emily R O'Brien
Eri Luna
Eri Namiki
Eri Segami
Eric D Miller
Eric Hou
Eric Jost
Eric S Kovach
Erie Imai
Erik T Vernon
Erma L Yazzie
Esther C Watanabe
Esther Usaraga
Ethan F Reed
Fabrice Kennel
Fanny Vieira
Francisco Eddy Castaneda
Frank Antonides
Frank E Hill
Frank Wolf
Frank Reifsnyder
Frank X Newman
Franklin T Batino
Fusano Miyamori
Gabriel Antonio Lopez
Gabriel Joshua Almario
Gail J Hash
Gaku Sato
Garret Parrish
Garrett R Lindner
Gary Gold
Gary T Graham
Gary W Castler
Gary Y Tokumoto
Genevieve S Sheehan
Gerald T Fletcher
Geronimo F. Cedano
Glen Humphrey
Gohta Nakashizu
Greg Combs
Greg Francis Holleran
Greg Hayes
Gregory Emmett Macdonald
Gregory S Lhotka
Grisol L Ramirez
Hal Brian Orensky
Halsey Paige Edmunds
Haluk Ay
Hanh T Lieu
Harout Akopian
Hazem Ali Zidane
Heather S Greene
Heidi Cho Cole
Hiroaki Izawa
Hiroki Ishiakawa
Hiromi Hayashi
Hiroshi Taga
Hiroyuki Takagi
Ian McVittie
Ikuyo Kimura
Ismael T Abad Jr.
Ivan Chan
Jackson W Conley
Jaclyn L Harris
Jacqueline Hilo
James E Bloomfield
James Towler
Jan Hughes
Janet S Saavedra
Janet V Boutte
Janny Mulholland
Jared A Kleier
Jasmine N Krull
Jason Badger
Jason E Collins
Jason Lovelace
Jason O Kaufman
Javier Soto
Jeff De Boer
Jeff Hampton
Jeff Webb
Jeffrey L Compass
Jenna N Renard
Jennie Atwood
Jennifer A Huang
Jennifer K Plessinger
Jennifer Kurborka
Jeremy Takaaki Tsubota
Jessica L. Bateman
Jessica Lynn Badgerow
Jillian Ma
Joan M Hartwig
Jocelyn Ramirez
Jody Gerstner
Joe Becherer
Joe Kucharski
Joel McNeely
John A Malluck
John B Streifel
John Bunt
John Chia-Nai Chiang
John Dennis
John Hayes
John L Gizienski
John N Evans
John P Mauvezin
John Pham
John S Algeo III
John Stewart
John Stone
John W McDonald
John Ward
Jon R Carver
Jonathan L Fisher
Jonathan Michael Moran
Jonathan Stanley Enriquez
Jose A Diaz Jr
Jose Real
Josef L Lemoine
Joseph Andrew Mancha
Joseph R Garcia III
Joshua Camarena
Juan Gutierrez
Jude Blanco Manabat
Judy Liss
Julia Michelle Soderstjerna
Julie Y Asato
Junichiro Shigenobu
Junko Kato
Justin Faulconer
Justin Petronglo
Ka Yan Cheung
Kaho Kataoka
Kaisey William McCallion
Kaitlin Marie Grabowski
Kako Nishimura
Kana Sakurai
Kana Tamura
Kanako F Murphy
Kanako Hori
Kangja Chung
Karen A Powers
Karen E Lawrence
Karen Hoshino
Karin Elizabeth Hanson
Katherine Justice
Katherine Nicole Barnett
Kathleen M Davis
Kathryn Evans
Kathryn Joan Yancey
Kathryn Julia Skobrak
Kathryn L Vincelli
Kathryn M Barnes
Kathy Mathis
Katie Dayton
Katsumi Hirano
Kazue Hirose
Kazuhiro Saito
Kazumi Nakagawa
Kelsey L Hardwick
Kelsey N Frosch
Ken Neville
Kenji Takeuchi
Kenneth D Smith
Kenneth R Lennon
Kensuke Yoshida
Kesta Suarez
Keven R Schlender
Kevin Fong
Kevin J Hyland
Kevin J Phillips
Khadeine Ali
Kieu H Thi Nguyen
Kimberly Lau
Kirk P Bodyfelt
Knarik Harutyunyan Jones
Kristen Kafkaloff
Kristie Kaye Syring
Kristin Lynn Athans
Krys Chang
Kumi Ueno
Kyle C Barnes
Kyoko Oka
Lan Phuong T Nguyen
Lance Borowitz
Laura A Duran
Laura A Royce
Lauren L Meister
Lauren N Bizzigotti
Laurence W Treweek
Lee Choung
Leeann Popoff
Levi Ponce
Liana Zorn
Liane Dietz
Lincoln Hui
Linda Jaramillo
Lindsay B Leader
Linh T T Tran
Lisa Bell
Lisa Everett
Liza Maria Gutierrez
Lori C Coltrin
Lori Rothman Story
Lucas Krull
Luis Flores
Luis Fragoso
Luis Pinto
Lynne Itamura
Maggie Williams
Mahshid Abbasalipour
Marc C Escobar
Marcella Denise Swett
Margaret Ellen Samis
Maria C Fontiveros Penso
Maria C Mondloch
Maria Iwanami
Marihan Mehelba
Marina Antikellian
Marissa G Manzon
Mark A Lach
Mark Mesko
Mark Natter
Mark Schirmer
Martha Elizabeth Powell
Martin Urbina
Mary E Manchin
Masako Yui
Masato Shimazu
Masayuki Murofushi
Matt Abiva
Matthew C Schoepf
Matthew Jamieson Abiva
Matthew K Gary
Matthew Varga
Maureen Hart
Maya L Vyas
Mayu Kubomura
Mayumi A Davies
Meg Tsuzaka
Megan A Harris
Megan Anne Moore
Megan Duncan
Megan Dziatkowicz
Meghalee S Rosenberg
Melissa Donnan
Meow Ling
Michael Ascencio
Michael D Spurk
Michael J Barnett
Michael J Bishop
Michael J Browne
Michael J Fracassi
Michael J Savage
Michael John Anson
Michael John Quinn
Michael P Jones
Michael R Arana
Michael R Shalla
Michael S Peters
Michael Sean Foley
Michael T Ferguson
Michael W Godby
Michael W O'mary
Michi Baba
Miho Hojo
Mikako Sato-Stetson
Mike J Larrabee
Mike Kilbert
Mike Kutcher
Mikey Hachache
Miki Takeuchi
Mila G Corkins
Minda L Richmond
Miriam Ben-Ora
Misato Kimura
Misato Sakata
Miyuki Hasegawa
Mohsen A Nasr
Morgan Durkel
Morgan L Richardson
Mukhtar S Kaissi
Mutsuko Pease
Nana Sawada
Nana Shirakami
Nancy Nguyen
Naoki Yoshida
Naruhiko Terada
Natalie S Hein
Nataly Ardiles
Nathan Scott Brubaker
Natsumi Ochi
Nga Kwan Chan
Nick Pitman
Visual Terrain is thrilled for all of this year’s Thea Award recipients, and cheers your achievements.
Congratulations to Rick Rothschild on being recognized with the Buzz Price Lifetime Achievement Award. (Now everyone knows you’re as awesome as we’ve always known).
A special HURRAH to Lynn Willrich on being recognized with the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award.
We are grateful to The Bezark Company and THG Design for having us on the teams for Chimelong Spaceship and The Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater at the National WWII Museum, and honoring us with our 17th and 18th Thea Awards.
Celebrating 30 amazing years of Lighting Design for Architecture • Attractions • The Arts …with 18 Thea Awards
Nicolas Rodriguez Villar
Nicole Armitage Gonzalez
Nicole Marie Szparagowski
Niklas Allansson
Noah Holliday
Nona Dokholian
Noriko Kimura
Norman B Weise
Nozomi Izawa
Nuria A Molina Barrantes
Olga Tsirambidis
Olivier Arias Villalon
Oriana Menendez
Oscar Cobos
Oscar E De La Cruz
Parie Suda
Pasqual Sebastia Redón
Patrick G Girvin
Patrick Myles Viste
Patrick Viste
Paul A Westacott
Paul Gutierrez
Paul Mathews
Paul Sanguanmitr
Pei Jun Tang
Peter Arnet
Peter Stepniewicz
Phil Lee
Philip Hyonsu Lee
Philip J Schenkel
Phillip Nakamura
Pia Christina Gilman
Pierre Antounian
Pinar Toprak
Pooya Ghobadpour
Priscilla Mentzer
Q Rose Lai
Qinming Zhou
Rachel A Miller
Rae Jillian R Rivera
Ramesh Laridjani
Ramiro Ricardo Montalvo
Randall A Hill
Randy Tamme
Ranko Tagawa
Rebecca Elizabeth Yu
Reiko Lindsay
Remi Uchiyamada
Rene Barrios Jr
Rhine Meyering
Ricardo E White
Rich Breen
Rich Rhodes
Richard H Scholl
Richard Lucero
Richard Mills
Rick Daffern
Rick L Wullschleger
Rick Won
Rieko Kojima
Rina Kijima
Rob Blue
Robert A Dahm
Robert A Sebesta
Robert B Vann
Robert Coltrin
Robert F Pontrelli
Robert Fox
Robert Frederick Mills
Robert H Dozier
Robert J King
Robert Schuler
Rodney A Kurihara
Rodney Rayborne
Roland T Miller
Ron F Schaefer
Ron Monk
Ron Payne
Rui J Casimiro De Matos
Russel Wise
Russell B Dunn
Ryan A Stell
Ryan J Keenan
Ryan Jan Jodoin
Ryan W Drescher
Ryo Takane
Ryoki Chiba
Sachio Fujima
Sahar Kausar
Sally J Anderson
Salvatore Ingraldi
Sam Richards
Sam Towler
Samantha Catanzaro
Samson Michael Towler
Samuel Hsiao
Samuel Reyes
Sana Fujita
Sanae Iwamoto
Sanae Maeda
Sarah Catherine Nesbitt
Sarah J Lockett
Sarah Kibler
Satomi Kocho
Sayaka Suzuki
Scott Branch
Scott C Goddard
Scott E Wilburn
Seamus Carey
Sean M Robb
Sean Ramseier
Sean William Poluha
Sean Ye
Sharango Kundu
Shaun M Baranyi
Shawn Michael Hass
Shay Willard
Shelley Sizemore
Shie Rozow
Shigemi Kasai
Shintaro Suzuki
Shuko Shikauchi
Sierra Grace Cyprian
Sijin Kim
Sinthia M Dear
Siyao Kong
Sonny Chapman
Sophia Baldwin
Soren (Kay) Ghering
Soumya Bhavaraiu
Spencer T Banks
Srikari Nagaratna Ayyagari
Staci M Schofield
Stephanie A Laing
Stephanie A Shelley
Stephanie Reyes McCaw
Stephanie Rodriguez
Stephen Anderson
Stephen Gregory
Stephen Leff
Steve Cotroneo
Steve Litten
Steve Rosolio
Steve Wang
Steven A Johnson
Steven G Wagner
Steven Jay Porter
Steven T Kosakura
Stijin Vandycke
Sun Youn
Sunjit Singh
Taishiro Hoshino
Takayasu Fujita
Takayou Maeda
Takenori Hoshi
Tamar Partamian
Tammy Tosounian
Tanner Wade Lovgren
Taralyn Omolara Von Der Linden
Taylor A Maurer
Thi Xuan Huong Nguyen
Thomas A King
Thomas E Child
Thomas P Leach
Thomas Robert Duran Jr
Thomas T Tait
Tiffany Lay
Tiffany X Cheung
Tim McGrath
Tina Li
Tod A Mathias
Todd K Uhl
Todd Neubrand
Tom Novak
Tomoko Kanno
Tomoyo Mitzoguchi
Tracy N Singleton
Tracy T Wang
Tricia Holloway
Trinh Mai
Trung Ngo
Tsubasa Yoshida
Tsuyoshi Miura
Tyler Gregory Bal
Uriel Sanchez
Valerie J Chen
Vally Mestroni
Varoojan S Dergaloost
Vasilisa Ziakhodjaeva
Victor Alfonso Perez Garcia
Victor R Jaccoud-Miley
Victoria A Thomas
Victoria Castro
Wakana Harata
Wakayama Nauboko
Walter A Hurtarte
Warren J Wilson
Wayne Lai
Wendy Gish
Wesley Dewberry
Whitney A Novotny
Whitney Joanne Babin
Will Barney
William Robert Leskovich
William T Barr II
Xiao Qing Chen
Yamile Rivera Gonzalez
Yash S Mehta
Yayoi Kikuchi
Yayoi Ogo
Yo Yokouchi
Yonit Olshan
Yoshikazu Watanabe
Yoshimi Ogata
Yuka Clarke
Yuka Kobori
Yukako Ueda
Yuki Sugita
Yuko Suzuki
Yumi Sonoda
Yumiko Yamada
Yumoa Wakatsuki
Yuri Shinoda
Yurie Kira
Yuto Lee
Zach Tripotti
Zachary Royce Kerchman
Zi Quian Bak
Zohreh Sadeghi
Zsolt Hormay
Oriental Land Company
Akihiro Muto
Atsuko Kuge
Atsushi Hokimoto
Atsushi Yoshida
Ayaka Shibuta
Ayana Mita
Daiki Tsuji
Daisuke Tanii
Eiji Shigezumi
Eiko Yamashita
Emiko Kajihara
Fumihiro Isa
Gaku Suzuki
Hayato Yaegashi
Herikku Dein
Hideyuki Kanda
Hideyuki Mogi
Hiroaki Adachi
Hirobumi Hanashima
Hiroshi Kato
Hitoshi Ishii
Honoka Miyakoshi
Isamu Sahara
Jun Ito
Jun Murayama
Kana Hayashi
Kanemoto Nijyou
Kazuaki Kuroda
Kazuhiro Abe
Kei Yamamoto
Keisuke Tanaka
Keita Arao
Keita Ito
Kenichi Hanai
Kenichi Ishiyama
Kenji Yoshida
Kiichi Nakashima
Kiwamu Kobayashi
Koichiro Akamine
Kotaro Takeshita
Kotaro Yokomatsu
Kyohei Katayama
Mai Miyata
Makiko Nakagawa
Manabu Kadokawa
Masamichi Kuruji
Masanao Sakanashi
Masaya Hara
Masayoshi Shinoki
Mieko Mochizuki
Miyako Tonoike
Mizuki Nakada
Motokatsu Asakura
Motoki Kohara
Naoko Yano
Natsuki Takase
Nobuo Sato
Nobuyuki Fujita
Osamu Eto
Riho Kawamura
Ryo Nakazawa
Ryosuke Niisato
Ryotaro Shiiba
Ryuta Sasaki
Satoru Kawai
Shota Sasamori
Shoya Tezuka
Shuhei Ariyoshi
Shuhei Ogawa
Shunichi Yokoyama
Takanobu Nakamura
Takashi Koiso
Takayuki Arai
Takayuki Kikuchi
Takayuki Tanabe
Takehito Nakashima
Takeshi Ishii
Takeshi Tsunekawa
Taku Ichikawa
Takuji Kato
Takumi Matsubara
Takuya Iwasa
Takuya Ohtani
Tasuku Moriki
Tatsuhiko Mimura
Tomihito Enomoto
Tomohiro Miyaji
Toru Yoshimura
Toshiya Shimizu
Toyoshi Kanda
Tsuguaki Kageyama
Tsutomu Takayama
Wataru Uchimori
Yasuhiko Tanabe
Yasunori Akabane
Yayoi Kawano
Yoshihide Tokiya
Youhei Morita
Youhei Ohkubo
Yudai Hamano
Yuichi Kaneko
Yuki Takimoto
Yukihisa Ohbu
Yumiko Takano
Yusuke Saso
Yuuki Saito
Walt Disney Attractions Japan
Aimee Berkeley
Akihiro Ito
Akiko Naito
Akiko Ozawa
Akiko Yokomatsu
Alyse Goodwin
Ayaka Chichine
Ayako Kawai
Ayumi Jasarevic
Ayumi Miyamoto
Ayumi Shimada
Ayumi Terada
Brigitte Sitbon
Bruce McGregor
Bryan Douglass
Chiaki Kurata
Chiaki Takeuchi
Chiaki Yanagawa
Chiharu Befu
Chihiro Kuboki
Christa Douglass
Daisuke Ito
David Koo
David Stubsten
Edu Garcia
Eiichi Toyama
Eisuke Nakajima
Emi Watanabe
Eri Ogiso
Eri Tsukida
Erika Yokoyama
Fumiaki Oshita
Fumino Watanabe
George Gross
Hajime Akagi
Hannah Shinagawa
Hiho Hojo
Hirata Shio
Hiroko Kawabata
Hiromi Nakajima
Hiromi Yamazaki
Janet Nagamine
Jason Alexander
Jean-Marie Clement
Jim Doyle
Junko Hosoya
Kaho Kataoka
Kahori Koyano
Katherine Mathis
Kazuko Mori
Keiichi Iwamoto
Keiko Agawa
Keiko Aoki
Keiko Mitsuhiro
Keiko Nakamura
Kenji Takeuchi
Kensuke Uchiyama
Kiyomi Boyd
Kyoko Watanabe
Laura Symborski
Madoka Yoshiike
Mai Ohashi
Mami Yuguchi
Marco Troncarelli
Marcus De Souza
Mariko Shigetomi
Masahiko Ito
Masako Wongkom
Masami Ueda
Mayuko Nonaka
Mayuko Omori
Megumi Tsuzaka
Mia Song
Michiyo Baba
Miho Tomotsuka
Mikako Nakata
Miki Davis
Mio Kinouchi
Mutsuko Kaneda
Nana Sawada
Nao Ihara
Naoko Rokuroman
Naoko Yazumi
Natsuko Kobayashi
Nikki Hagstrom
Niklas Allansson
Nobuko Kondo-Calisher
Nobuko Takeuchi
Nobuko Wantanabe
Noriko Wright
Noriko Yamada
Norio Tajima
Nozomi Izumi
Osamu Imai
Parie Suda
Peter Kadokura
Reiko Arai
Rena Takahashi
Riho Fukui
Romain Levenes
Rumiko Mitani
Ryo Takane
Ryo Kiyotake
Sachiko Obayashi
Sachiyo Kuniyasu
Saeko Atsumi
Saki Murayama
Sakurako Kurano
Sandra Thomas
Sandy Abe
Satomi Takahashi
Sawako Mase
Sayaka Tobari
Sayuka Tsukahara
Senthilkumar Kaliannan
Karuppannan
Shoko Namba
Shouhei Ohara
Soumya Bhavaraju
Stephen Barbour
Stuart Mayne
Suwako Nomura
Tabi Hashimoto
Takako Yamamoto
Takashi Hashimoto
Takashi Tamura
Takayuki Ino
Takumi Miyao
Takuya Yoshida
Tim Grabowski
Tomo Munemura
Tomoe Yamagata
Tomoko Fujimura
Tomomi Daigo
Tomomi Ido
Tomoyo Mizoguchi
Tony Castillo
Toru Yuhara
Toshio Kajiwara
Tsuguho Hara
Yasu Hasegawa
Yayoi Fujiwara
Yoko Abo
Yoko Sasa
Yoko Tsuchiya
Yoshimi Kawakami
Yoshimi Kumagai
Yukako Clarke
Yukako Ninomiya
Yukari Wakakuri
Yuki Yanagihara
Yumi Yazawa
Yuna Hiraide
Yuri Kitagami
Yuriko Noda
Yuto Lee
Disneyland International
Bridget Winger
Darin Anglin
James Lai
Jimmy Tran
Katherine Lamming
Kazuko Scott
Keith Tomita
Kimberly Beach-Pettus
Lorraine Oakley
Manny Masaoka
Mikiko Davis
Nobuk Kondo-Calisher
Noriko Beck
Patricia Ochoa
Rieko Lindsey
Scott Harris
Steve Herron
Tomoko Crittenden
Tracey Donaldson
Totaling more than $7 billion, our entertainment experience includes some of the most iconic attractions of the decade. As active members of TEA we bring inherent knowledge of theming, equipment and ride coordination, integration and execution while seamlessly meeting your schedule needs.
Vendors
Acomb Ostendorf & Associates, Ltd.
Adena Corporation
Adirondack Scenic, Inc.
Advanced Corporation
Aecom Technical Services, Inc.
AKD Corporation
Alcorn McBride, Inc.
Amphenol Custom Cable, Inc.
Anthony David Swatton
ARC Document Solutions LLC.
Arm Automation, Inc.
Arrange Concrete Corporation
Artech Design & Productions Co.
Artistic Entertainment Service
Asahi Building-Wall Co., Ltd.
Autograph Foliages
Bailey Design Element, Inc.
Beckhoff Automation LLC
Benchmark Arts, Inc.
Black Wolf Production Services
Brass Roots Technologies LLC
C Ideas, Inc.
Cali Framing Suppies
California Theaming
Celtic Engineering, Inc.
Central Screw Products
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
CL Global Systems, Inc.
CRP USA LLC
Cumming Construction Management, Inc.
CW Enterprises
D.Works Corporation
Daiken Corporation
Daniels Engraving Company LLC
Direct Embed
Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
Duncan Interior, Inc.
EITAI Co., Ltd.
ELA - Lighting
Electronic Theatre Control, Inc.
Electronic Theatre Controls Asia LI
Electrosonic, Inc.
Elmo Motion Control
Enviro Tech Industries
F&D Scene Changes, Ltd.
Far Out Creative Direction, Inc.
Field Club, Inc.
Ferrera Tooling, Inc.
Fujiya Co.,Ltd.
Generation-X Co., Ltd.
Go Wes, Inc.
GP/Capitol Arts & Frames
Grass Valley USA LLC
Hamada Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Hamilton, Inc.
Hammerton, Inc.
Harashima Total Design
Harman Professional
Harmonic Drive LLC
Hexagon Tower (Tianjin) Technology Co.,Ltd.
Higchi Kougei
Hinchey Design Co., LLC
Hoxan Corporation
Icarus Exhibits, Inc.
Ijinkan Co., Ltd.
Intamin Amusement Rides
International
Intamin Japan Co., Ltd.
iZone & IRC
Japan Art Craft, Ltd.
Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
John Kristiansen New York, Inc.
Judson Studios
Kajima Corporation
Kaman Automation, Inc.
Kandenko Co., Ltd.
Keisei Construction, Inc.
Kenso Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Kerr Panel Manufacturing
Kinden Corporation
Kyowa Co. Ltd.
Lemo USA
Lifeformations, Inc.
Lighting Design Alliance
Lighting Services, Inc.
Mariner SA
Martin Aquatic
MetalCraft Services of Tampa, Inc.
MicroDesk, Inc.
Misubishi Heavy Industrie
Machinery Systems, Ltd.
Monarch Glass Studio, LLC
Monro Art
Motion Industries, Inc.
Murayama, Inc.
Nakamura Painting Company
Nassal Company
National Fiber Technology LLC
Nikken Sekkei, Ltd.
NIKKO KOUKI CO., LTD.
Nippo Corporation
Nippon Densetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Nippon Express (Xi'an) Co., Ltd.
Nishimoto Industry
Nocturna, Inc.
Nomura Co.,Ltd.
Oliver Corporation
OneWorld Marine Consulting, Ltd.
Panasonic Corp of North America
Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Patrell Engineering
Plantscape INC
Plethora
Powersoft Advanced Technologies
Corp
Presidio Networked Solutions LLC
Prism Systems, Inc.
Pro Sound, Inc.
Ralph Hudson, Inc.
Ram Automation, Inc.
Rando Productions
Reel EFX, Inc.
Riper Lamp
Robers-Leuchten GMBH&CO KG
Rock Solid Holdings LLC
Roush Industries, Inc.
Saltman Art Associates
Sangetsu Corporation
Sansei Technologies, Inc.
Santa Barbara Lighting Company
Scenario Cockram USA, Inc.
Scenic Highlights, Inc.
Shinryo Corporation
Shirai Tech, Limited.
Sohten, Inc.
Solomon Group Productions LLC
Spitz, Inc.
Square Peg Design, Inc.
Stewart Filmscreen
Stoll Metalcraft, Inc.
Stratastys Direct Manufacturing
Studio Mundo
Taiko Trading Co., Ltd.
Taisei Corporation
Tait
Tanseisha Co., Ltd.
Technical Multimedia Design, Inc.
Technifex, Inc.
Tejix
ThemeWorks, Inc.
Thingergy, Inc.
Toho Eizo Bijutsu Co., Ltd.
Toho Stage Craft Co., Ltd.
Toko Electrical Construction Co., Ltd.
Tonets Corporation
Toto Aquaeng, Ltd.
Trimble, Inc.
Tsukasa Kikou Co., Ltd.
Unitron Precision Machining, Inc.
Wahlberg ApS
Watermoves LLC
WFR Engineering, Inc.
Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo
Wunderlich Malec Engineering, Inc.
Yamazaki Limited Company
3D InfoTech
7thSense Design, Ltd.
Walt Disney
Animation Studios
Roger Gould
Aimee Scribner
Darrell Johnson
Amy Astley
Dan Lund
Congratulations to all of the 2025 award recipients who've brought such wonder and magic to audiences across the world
Here's to a joyous celebration with all who are part of our international industry and who collectively represent the best in themed Entertainment
Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Immersive Land
This immersive park experience brings to life the anime world of Studio Ghibli's three witch themed films: Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle and Earwig and the Witch. Its tactile qualities redefine expectations for a movie-based park experience. Since 2008, the park has expanded creating immersive film-based worlds for fan engagement, adding this newest world in 2024.
Guests enter through the giant open mouth of the witch Bella Yaga and explore the witchy wonders of Okino Residence. They follow sweet smells and stroll down the village path to the Guchokipanya Bakery. They explore the House of Witches. They explore key scenes of Howl's Moving Castle.
A grand carousel weaves all the magical flying machines and creatures of the three films together into a colorful Ghibli menagerie. A host of unique retail shops, featuring witchinspired wares, and immersive food offerings completes the Valley of Witches experience. In keeping with the sustainability practices of Ghibli Park, buildings in the Valley of Witches were constructed using locally sourced hardwoods.
In this unique blend of reality and fantasy, multilayered story integration and authenticity are keys to its excellence. The level of craftsmanship and the employment of local artisans in the construction and fabrication of the project give the project a sense of tangible place. Environments are filled with real antiques and objects giving the film’s characters a sense of realism. Guests may leaf through the books, play the instruments, tune the radio,
and rummage through cabinets. Environments are technology free, affording guests the chance to be in the moment with the movie world they are inhabiting, rather than focused on capturing it - at their own pace.
Goro Miyazaki, Creative Development Director
Aichi Prefectural Government, Project Owner
STUDIO GHIBLI INC., Design & Planning Direction GHIBLI PARK Co., Ltd., Management & Operations
NIHON SEKKEI, INC., Project Architect
KAJIMA CORPORATION Chubu Branch, Building & Landscape Construction NOMURA Co., Ltd., Exibit Design & Construction
Tatsuya Yamada Architect, Wooden Architect
Anzai Design Studio, Landscape Architect PREC Institute Inc., Landscape Architect
TOHO EIZO BIJUTSU Co., Ltd., Exibit Design & Construction
Thea Recipients at the 2024 ceremony for our
on SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Parkwide AV and Parkwide Interactive Game
宮崎吾朗, 監督
愛知県, 事業主体 スタジオジブリ, デザイン・企画監修 ジブリパーク, 管理運営
日本設計, 建築設計
鹿島建設, 建築工事 乃村工藝社, 演示設計・工事
山田建築研究所, 木造建築設計
安西デザインスタジオ, 造園設計 プレック研究所, 造園設計
東宝映像美術, 演示設計・工事
The International American African Museum is built at the former shipping wharf of Gadsden in Charleston. The coastal town had several wharfs, and was the place where approximately 50% of the enslaved people who arrived in the US disembarked.
In 2000 Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. was the first to publicly propose the creation of a museum to tell the town of Charleston’s history and underrepresented stories of African American experiences across generations. After 20 years of planning and fundraising, construction started in 2018, and the museum opened in 2023. The building design is a floating structure on pillars to honor the site’s significance, and the space below hosts the African Ancestors Memorial Garden.
The Museum is home to 12 permanent exhibitions that include nine galleries and one Special Exhibitions Gallery, plus an ongoing series of digital exhibitions accessible online. The permanent exhibitions include “African Roots & Routes,” “American Journeys,” “Carolina Gold / Memories of the Enslaved,” and “Gullah Geechee.”
The Museum also houses the Center for Family History, which provides resources and staff know-how to teach researching African American genealogy.
This is a well-executed venue that puts the African American story in its full context. It does not shy away to tell stories of struggle and trauma, and it also celebrates the ones of victory
and resilience. To quote a review in The Guardian: “The African American journey is a history of many steps - and this museum is one of those steps. This history, this institution is yet another reason to aspire and champion what our nation, what our world can become as we embrace inclusion and equity.”
Project Development
Dr. Tonya Matthews, CEO/President, IAAM
Malika Pryor, Chief Learning & Engagement Officer, IAAM
Martina Morale, Director of Curatorial & Special Exhibitions, IAAM
Suzanne DiBella, Collections Manager
James Bartlett, Consultant, Visible Life LLC
Carolyn Harris, Consultant, Carolyn Harris
Consulting
Leslie C. Willis-Lowry, Image Research
Sharon Shahid, Script Writing
Aki Carpenter, Project Oversight, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Melanie Ide, Project Oversight, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Luka Kito, Project Director, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Rio Valledor, Project Manager, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Mary Battle, Lead Content Developer, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Larnies Bowen, Content Developer, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Venue Design and Development
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Architect
Moody Nolan, Architect of Record
Walter Hood, Landscape Architect, Hood Design Studio
Attraction Design and Production Design
Technical Artistry, Lighting Designer
Johnson Controls Inc., AV Control and Systems
Production
Solomon Group, Fabricator
Media Production
Cortina Productions
Amy Maddox, Media Director
Jen Fetsch, Creative Director/Senior Producer
Kia Meredith-Caballero, Creative Director/Senior Producer
Zahra Ahmed, Production Coordinator
Kathryn-Mae Eiland, Production Coordinator
Jen Fetsch, Production Manager
John McCarthy, Director, Interactive Design
Brendan Lipton, Senior Interactive Designer
Amanda Tuttle, Graphic Production Manager / User Experience Designer
Amanda Scherer, Director, Film & Animation
Alex Kolotos, Field Production Specialist
Nick Spiropoulos, Motion Graphics Artist / Senior Editor
Andrew Prasse, Visual Effects Supervisor / Senior Editor
Amanda Scherer, Post-Production Supervisor
Roberto Jimenez, Editor
Leo Gesteira, Senior Developer
Dale Alward, Senior Developer
Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Megan Kerman, Art Director
Maria Alma Guede, Visual Designer
Project Management
Cauchon Enterprises LLC, Cost Estimate
The new “Kiss of the Sea” multimedia venue comprises the final component of South Phu Quoc Island Sunset Town in Vietnam. The 30-minute seaside show opened in January 2024. In this 5,000seat, 100 x 100 meter, “architainment” venue, the audience faces three spectacular arches up to 30 meters high creating a visual vortex aligned with the sunset, forming the central feature of the show. The array of features, equipment and effects also includes four adaptable pools on 5,000 square meters of sea water, a 1,000 square meter water screen, 31 HD video projectors, 60 jets of water, 20 flames and 73 moving lights, plus a spatial sound system. Effects span as much as 60m and even 120m.
The narrative takes the spectator into a love story between a girl from outer space and an Earthling boy, in an odyssey that breaks down the confines of time and space. It includes a cast of 60 performers, actors and dancers among the monumental projected imagery and effects.
The “Kiss of the Sea” show received attendance of some 280,000 in its first five months and has played a key role in the local, post-pandemic economic and tourism resurgence. With its combination of monumental and spectacular architecture, state-of-the art equipment and large-scale “human/technology” show, Phu Quoc’s “Kiss of the Sea” experience represents a great achievement for the genre of the show spectacular - in terms of what it can do to define an entertainment destination, attracting large audiences and giving a distinct personality to the island in addition to boosting recognition of the local culture.
Sun Group Headquarter Board of Directors
Đặng Minh Trường, Chairman of Board of Directors
Trần Thị Mỹ Hạnh, Chief of Staff of Sun Group
Sun Group BOD Office
Huỳnh Phan Hoàng Nhật Thiên, First Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of Price Apprisial
Nguyễn Vũ, Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of Price Apprisial
Triệu Lưu Vân Oanh, Deputy Head of Insurance
Nguyễn Mạnh Hà, Insurance Specialist
Nguyễn Hoàng Anh, Senior Insurance Officer
Hoàng Thị Thanh Tú, Deputy Cost Manager
Nguyễn Duy Hiền, Deputy Cost Manager
Nguyễn Vân Anh, Deputy Cost Manager
Trương Thị Thanh Mỹ, Deputy Price Apprisial Manager
Nguyễn Viết Thanh, Deputy Price Apprisial Manager
Lê Thị Hồng Phượng, Price Apprisial Officer
Phan Thị Nhật Phương, Price Apprisial Officer
Phan Thị Hoàng An, Price Apprisial Officer
Phạm Hồng Tài, Price Apprisial Officer
Nguyễn Anh Khoa, Price Apprisial Officer
Mai Thị Lê, Price Apprisial Officer
Lê Phi Hùng, Price Apprisial Officer
Đinh Cao Tịnh, Price Apprisial Officer
Phạm Thị Thành Vinh, Price Apprisial Officer
Nguyễn Thị Kim Oanh, Price Apprisial Officer
Nguyễn Trần Phương Trang, Price Apprisial Officer
Nguyễn Thị Hương, Price Apprisial Officer
Vũ Mạnh Tuấn, Price Apprisial Officer
Nguyễn Thị Phương Hằng, Data Processing Officer
Nguyễn Tuấn Minh, Senior Assistant to the Chairman
Nguyễn Xuân Hậu, Senior Assistant to the Chairman
Trần Thị Vân, Secretary to the BOD
Đoàn Thu Phương, Secretary to the BOD
Nguyễn Thị Hiền, Administrative Officer
Sun Group Supply Chain
Lương Mỹ Linh, Director of Sun Supply Chain
Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc, Deputy Director of Sun Supply Chain
Lưu Thảo Nguyên, Senior Procurement Officer
Nguyễn Thị Hiền, Procurement Officer
Ngô Việt Hoài, Head of Administration
Nguyễn Tiến Việt, Procurement Officer
Trần Nhật An, Administrative Officer
Phan Bảo Chiêu, Senior Procurement Officer
Lê Thị Phương, Procurement Officer
Huỳnh Thị Diệu, Procurement Officer
Nguyễn Trí Tín, Procurement Officer
Nguyễn Thị Ly Na, Head of International Purchasing
Nguyễn Hoàng Ngọc Hân, International Service Procurement Officer
Ngô Trần Ái Diễm, Import-Export Officer
Nguyễn Thị Yến, Contract Officer
Phạm Thanh Tuyền, Head of Planning and Verification Division
Phạm Minh Khuê, Price Verification Officer
Phạm Thị Thu Hiền, Price Verification Officer
Phạm Thị Phương Thảo, Head of Finance and Accounting Division
Hoàng Thị Thu Hà, Finance and Accounting Officer
Sun Group Design Management Devision
Hoàng Vũ Lân, Deputy CEO and Head of Design Management Devision
Hoàng Huy Hoàng, Head of Design Coordination
Marc Wigley, Project Director and Technical Operations
Steve Dubuc, Director of Theatre Design and Integration
Sun Group Project Management UnitConstruction
Phạm Đức Hùng, Chairman of Sun Construction Group
Hoàng Minh Vỹ, Project Director
Dương Đức Trường, Deputy Project Director
Tăng Thượng Ga, Head of Project Management
Nguyễn Văn An, Head of MEP
Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, Construction Supervisor
Phan Thế Hiển, Mechanical Supervisor
Trương Tuấn Vũ, MEP Supervisor
Vũ Duy Thập, Quantity Surveyor
Sun Group Kiss of The Sea Project Team
Sean Le, Business Development Director
Gabrielle Chuyu Tan, Deputy Head of Creative Direction
Jarvis Nguyễn Đức Cường, Project Development Associate
Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Anh, Project Administrative Assistant
Trần Diệp Linh, Project Administrative Assistant
Sun Group Communication
Đồng Thị Ngọc Ánh, Deputy CEO andHead of Communication Department
Chu Lan Hương, Senior PR Executive
Võ Trung Nghĩa, Senior PR Executive
Lê Duy Thanh An , PR Executive
Phạm Thị Phương Mai, Senior PR Executive
Sun Group Marketing
Cao Ngân Hà, Head of Marketing Department
Bùi Ngọc Linh, Marketing Operations Manager
Phạm Thị Mai Hoa, Vice Head of Brand Marketing Department
Dương Tú Mỹ, Head of Digital Marketing
Hoàng Tuấn Phong, Senior Marketing Executive
Vũ Hồng Sơn, Graphic Design officer
Hoàng Anh, Graphic Design officer
Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Mai, Graphic Design officer
Trần Tiến Hùng, Senior Marketing Executive
Lê Thị Linh, Digital Marketing Officer
Trần Phương Ly, Digital Marketing Officer
Lương Kiều Anh, Senior Marketing Executive
Sun Group External Relations
Nguyễn Thái Hoài Anh, Deputy CEO and Head of External Relations Department
Nguyễn Song Tùng, Head of External Relations
Trần Thị Minh Quyên, External Relations Specialist
Hoàng Lê Minh, External Relations Specialist
Trần Nguyễn Hoàng Minh, Project Management Specialist
Sun Group South Region
Bùi Thành Trung, Chairman of Sun Group
South Region
Hoàng Minh Vỷ, General Director of South Region
Nguyễn Trung Anh, Deputy General Director of South Region
Lê Nguyễn Thiên Lý, Head of Financial Department
Sun World Group
Thái Thị Phương Hòa, General Director
Mai Thúy Hằng, Deputy Director of SGR
Nguyễn Lâm An, Deputy Director of SWG
Đào Thị Hiền, Operations Management Officer
Hoàng Thị Thu Hương, Head of HRM
Sun World Kiss of The Sea Operation
Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, General Manager
Trần Duy Long, Vice Director
Thạch Tuyết Như, Assistant
Llew Marsh, Artistic Director
Do Thi Thanh Tam, Stage Manager - Show Caller
Steven Nguyen Phi Van, Assistant Stage Manager - Show Caller
Nguyen Thao My, Assistant Stage ManagerShow Caller
Tran The Anh, Assistant Stage Manager
Bui Van Than, Assistant Stage Manager
Hoang Thi Van Anh, Backstage Assistant
Bui Thi Kim Ngan, Backstage Assistant
Nguyen Dieu Linh, Head of Costuming & Props
Huynh Thi Quy, Costuming Assistant
Tran Thi Trong, Costuming Dresser
Vo Thi Thu Thanh, Costuming Dresser
Tran Hoang Nguyen, Props Specialist
Nguyen Thai Gioi, Props Specialist
Giang Thi Anh Nguyet, Stitcher
Nguyen Lam Ngoc Trang, Artist Supervisor
Tring Thu Tra, Artist Supervisor
Luis Abel Alayo, Artist
Christine Aquilina, Artist
Rocio Aquines, Artist
Romina Bastera, Artist
Jean Carlos Bazurto, Artist
Lucia Bedetti, Artist
Elisa Baison, Artist
Giselle Bogado, Artist
Andrei Bublikov, Artist
Gonzalo Burgoa, Artist
Teresa Carmona, Artist
Efehan Celik, Artist
Javier Conejero, Artist
Giovanna Falcade, Artist
Jula Falcade, Artist
Matias Fernandez, Artist
Matias Fernandez, Artist
Giuliana Mendoza, Artist
Azul Lazzaroni, Artist
Agustina Mamsuk, Artist
Martina Nicolau Monti , Artist
Selene Morano, Artist
Esteban Nieva, Artist
Samuel Odhiambo, Artist
Ignacio Olivares, Artist
Adriana Papagni, Artist
Facundo Pérez, Artist
Keyla García Pompa, Artist
Diego Quiroz, Artist
Bárbara Raposo, Artist
Elaysi Rosabal, Artist
Daniela Tania Sáez , Artist
Dylan Sernícola, Artist
Martín Silveiro, Artist
Isabella Souza, Artist
Gastón Tehant, Artist
Sergio Trejo, Artist
Ademi Turysbayeva, Artist
Agustín Valenzuela, Artist
Nahuel Valenzuela, Artist
Alison Vázquez, Artist
Renata Venturelli, Artist
Javier Vrashka, Artist
Martín Zabala, Artist
Claudio Zapata, Artist
Alex Zurita, Artist
Leandro Lujan, Artist
Lautaro Cuenca, Artist
Santiago Escallier, Artist
Lautaro Garcia, Artist
Lucas Ortiz, Artist
Facundo Crescini, Artist
Oleksii Milodan, Artist
Florencia Arqueta, Artist
Eduardo Mola, Artist
Michel Arevalo Correa , Artist
Linda Munoz, Artist
Omar Nieto Gomez , Artist
Miguel Angel Torres, Artist
Tarik Usman, Artist
Lê Minh Khoa, Technical Manager HTI
Nguyễn Văn Nguyên, Technical executive BNC & HTI
Nguyễn Chiếm Minh, Technical executive
Dương Bá Hào, Technical executive
Nguyễn Quốc Việt, Technical executive
Lê Ngọc Hà, Technical executive
Lê Hoài Ngọc, Technical executive
Huỳnh Công Tâm, Technical executive
Huỳnh Ngọc Chính, Fireworks Team Leader
Đoàn Tấn Thành, Technical staff
Nguyễn Vũ Linh, Technical staff
Viên Văn Lắc, Technical staff
Trần Văn Ngọc Long, Technical staff
Danh Đức Hòa, Technical staff
Nguyễn Thành Nhân, Technical staff
Nguyễn Quốc Khánh, Technical Team Leader
BNC
Trần Trúc Doan, Technical executive BNC
Đinh Việt Hùng, Technical executive BNC
Trần Thị Phương Thảo, Operation Manager (FOH)
Lê Hồng Trúc, Makerting Manager
Mai Trọng Phúc, Operator staff
Võ Thị Loan, Ticket Sales Team Leader
Đỗ Thị Ngọc Trâm, Ticket seller
Nguyễn Thị Họa Mi, Ticket seller
Nguyễn Bảo Hà, Ticket seller
Huỳnh Danh Tuấn, Ticket seller
Nguyễn Thị Yến Trang, Ticket Inspector
Trần Thị Thu Hằng, Ticket Inspector
Trần Thị Vân Linh, Ticket Inspector
Phan Thị Oanh, Ticket Inspector
Nguyễn Thị Kiều Diễm, Ticket Inspector
Hồ Thị Anh Thư, Ticket Inspector
Trần Thị Thúy Yên, Ticket Inspector
Đặng Hiếu Nghĩa, Ticket seller
Nguyễn Thị Nga, Ticket seller
Nguyễn Thanh Hiếu, Ticket Inspector
Trần Hoàng Mai, Customer service staff
Nguyễn Thị Thanh Hải, Customer service staff
Nguyễn Trần Ni Ni, Customer service staff
Phạm Thị Thảo Anh, Customer service staff
Nguyễn Thị Trường An, Customer service staff
Lê Thị Ngọc Tư, Customer service staff
Tu Thị Minh Trang, Customer service staff
Huỳnh Thị Mỹ Xuyên, Medical staff
Danh Tuấn, Medical staff
Nguyễn Thanh Liêm, Medical staff
Nguyễn Quốc Phải, Medical Team Leader
Huỳnh Dương Tử, Customer service Team Leader
Huỳnh Trần Vĩnh Thiên, Landscape Supervisor
Nguyễn Thị Kim Liên, Instructions Team Leader
Bùi Lâm Linh, Instructions staff
SHOW DESIGN & PRODUCTION BY ECA2
Producer: Jean-Christophe CANIZARES
Creative Design, Direction & Storytelling: Charline MUNNIER
Stage Director: Stéphane THIODAT
VP Operations: Julie CUGURNO
Technical Directors: Gaël PIQUET, Aurélien BOUVIER
Chief Architect & Stage Design: Erminio SERPENTE
VP Business Development: Emmanuelle CHAROTTE
Chief Financial Officer: Nicolas BOUVET
Marketing & Communication: Adrien CHARPENTIER
Public Relations: Emma HOANG
Designers
Music: Philippe VILLAR, Pascal LENGAGNE
Laser Graphics & Animation: Claude LIFANTE & Pascal MORYS
Fountains & Special Effects Design & Animation: James THOMSON
Light Design: Frédéric FAYARD
Pyrotechnics Designer: Pierre-Emmanuel GELIS
Video Creation Designer: Khalid RAJRAJI
Costume Designer: Dulcie BEST
Props Designer: Philippe LEGROS
Makeup Designer: Gwendoline MALRIEU & Vishika YORN
Makeup Assistant: Jennifer GUERNIER
Artistic Department
Artistic Coordinator: Catherine LE BRUN
Video Content Designers: Mohammed TAHIRI JOUTI, Mohammed KARAM, Youness EL GARRAB, Michael FAIVRE RAMPANT, Reda HLALMA, Ayman KARAM,
Storyboard: Fabien JACQUES
Voice Over (English): Kaycie Chase, Andy Chase
Choreographer: Julie Magneville
Assistant Choreographer: Loic FAQUET, Léa DE NATALE, Alexandre MAY
Stage Managers : Sami SAULA, Karine DULOT
Technical & Operations Department:
Technical Managers: David OLIVIERO, Nick CALTHROP, Mike CLINGMAN, Laurence RYAN,
Raoul PIERSON, Christophe BERNARD
Show Control: David BIRCHALL, Craig POW CHONG, Lucas HARRISON, Stephen COURTNEY, Kyle MACKENZIE, Connor NOBLE, Slavisa KNEZEVIC,Arnaud GUERIN
Technical Specialist, Training & Documentation: Jason FISCHER
Architect: Raphaël ESTIVAL
Power Supply Manager: Jacky BOILEAU
Logistics Managers : Amanda LAVENANT, Anne LARRA, Patricia VALLET, Jean- François RAVEL
Logistics Coordinator: Tri HO HOANG
Light Operators: Theo BROCHE CANNONE, Kelian SEVREE, Simon FOUILLET
Video Technical Studies: François ROCCHETTI
Video Programmer: Vladislav TOLIC
Audio Engineers: Jean-Philippe BADOUI, Martial ALLIX
Laser Programmer: Pascal MORYS
Water & Flames System Design: Michel AMANN
Water & Flames: Zbigniew PALUBIAK Christophe MONTET, Michael BOUSSICHAS, Astrid
CORRAL, Florentin PASSALAU, Georges RADU, Nicolas PONCET, Daniel BARROS DA SILVA DE
ARAUJO, Olivier RIGAUX, Gaelle AMMAN, Alexis NONIN, Arkadiusz CZERNIAK, Mariusz Sylwester BOGACZ, Tomasz Kamil SARNECKI, Yannick BELLON, Basile DE SCHRYNMAKERS DE
DORMAEL, Sebastien ASSOIGNONS, Martin SYLVOS, Sebastien CHASSEPOT
Lighting, Audio, Laser and Video Equipment
Installation: Thomas Zhiwei LIAO, Kwee Soon CHAN, Abdul Rahman BIN AHMAD, Sheng THE, Chor Yong SOW, Jia Wei TAN, Bastian BIN
BANI, Thanh Duy HO, Ba Bao TRAN, Gabriel LEE JUN RONG, Sheng Teeh TEECH TOOK, SEET
SEE HONG, Marcus AW LIE HAO
Pyrotechnics Technician: Olivier FLEURETTE
Project Administration
Operations Executive: Frédérique PAGNON, Guillaume RIZO
Production Coordinator: Marie CREBASSOL
Project Administration & Logistics: Delphine CLERGUE
Show Promotion Photography & Filming
Graphic Designer: Alexandre DELRANC
Photographer, Cameraman: Ralph LARMANN
Additional filming: Adrien CHARPENTIER
Drone filming: Vu Hoan HO & Bao HOANG
Trailer editing & postproduction: Julien KADOURI, Séverine LE HYARIC, Aurélie HYSON
Additional footage courtesy of Sun Group
Sun Group Other Main Contractors
An Hân Thịnh, Industrial Cleaning Services
Anh Phát PQ, Square Paving for Interchange Plaza
Cầu Vồng, Supply and Install Showvotex Seats, Interior Wall and Ceiling Finishing with CNC
Metal Panels
Clearcom, Clearcom Audio Connection System
Cơn Bão Số, Supply and Install BGM System
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN XÂY DỰNG VINH THỊNH
HẢI, D1500 Sewer Line Adjustment
CÔNG TY TNHH SKYDOOR VN(SKY):, Fire Partition Supply and Installation
Cường Hoa, Audience Stand Concrete Wall Theming Work
Đại Thắng, Audience Stand and Performance Area Railing Fabrication and Installation
Đăng Bách Đạt, Water Treatment System
Consulting and Design for Mist System
Design Live, Supply and Install Meeting Room Equipment
ĐIỆN TỰ ĐỘNG BIỂN ĐÔNG, Additional
Inverter Cabinet for 8 Pumps in Seawater Pump Room
Dragcons, Supply and Complete Installation of Exterior Cladding for the Arches
Epower, Supply and Complete Installation of Exterior Cladding for the Arches
Fecon, Signature Show Audience Stand and Performance area Piling Work
Fountech, Installation of Bored Piles for Technical Room and Stage Water Feature
GSVN, Built-in and Loose Furniture Work
Hà Yến, Supply and Install Kitchen & Laundry System, Clean Water Treatment System
HDC, GRC Finishing for Stage Floor Area
Hòa Bình, Structural Rough-In Construction for Performance Area
Hợp Quang, Supply and Install Generator
Auxiliary System, Soundproofing for Chiller Room
Hưng Thịnh, Supply and Installation of Spring Floor System for Performance Area
Itecom, Supply and Install BMS System
LECMAX VIỆT NAM, Supply and Install Steel and Fire-rated Doors for Technical Room
LG, Supply and Install Signage Boards
Long Khang, Façade Lighting System Supply and Installation
Maxcell, Supply and Install Interior Lighting System
Net Việt, Supply and Install Steel Floor Structure for Technical Room in Audience Stand
NHT, Light Electrical System Installation (ELV), Fire Alarm System Installation
Osaka, Micropile Piling Work for Audience Stand
Phương Nam, Supply and Install Indoor Cellular Signal Enhancement System (IBS)
QH PLUS, Fabrication and Installation of Black Hole Steel Structure
Reich window & Façade, Supply and Install Aluminum and Glass Walls for Audience Stand,
Performance Area, and Connector
SWATER KANKYO, Supply and Install
Seawater Pump Station
Tân Minh Nhân, Floor and Paintwork for Performance Area, Technical Room, BOH Area, Auditorium
TAVA, Supply and Install Landscape Lighting System for Square and Nine Cloud Layer
Thu Tâm, Supply and Install Curtains
Tisco, Waterproofing for Water Disc
TMN, Water Disc Wall Stone Finishing Work
Trường Thịnh, Supply and Install Crystal Curtains for Sky Bar
Tuấn Thanh, Sand Pumping and Leveling for Signature Show Area
UNICONS, Rough Structural Construction for Audience Stand Area
Vân Khánh , Showvotex M&E Part, Medium Voltage Fire Protection System
VNDC, Supply and Install Digital Signage System
XDAT, Water Tank Tile Cladding for Audience Stand Area
Special Thanks
Trần Hoàng Việt
Ngô Thị Kim Thanh
Nguyễn Ngọc Thái Sơn
Daan Duijm
Bradley Loxly
Anton Montaut
Nguyễn Thế Phong
Phan Quốc Tiến
Nguyễn Bảo
Escape games have surged in popularity over the past decade, captivating a diverse audience with their blend of challenge and entertainment. These interactive experiences invite players to solve puzzles, find clues, and collaborate. Many people find them a refreshing alternative to more traditional forms of entertainment. The Ladder brings new innovation to these mission-based experiences.
The Ladder blends puzzle-solving with a compelling narrative that emphasizes teamwork and critical thinking. Each area features three scored games alongside more traditional puzzles. Solving these puzzles opens up choices that can profoundly influence the narrative, while the games allow players to earn points, representing financial success in the world of the game.
Four to 10 participants at a time kick off their 90-minute journey by selecting an avatar to represent their team. They then navigate through five distinct rooms and periods of time. Each themed room, realized with high production values, symbolizes a decade from the 1950s through the 1990s and a rung on the corporate ladder of Nutricorp, a fictional yet corrupt vitamin company.
Each room features interactions with filmed actors displayed on screens, creating the illusion of a shared space with the players, who reappear in each room, 10 years older. The footage was produced with a team of 27 actors and a complete crew.
The narrative accomplishment is supported by highly customized technology. The system manages some 17,000 lights across 650 cues, connects with five workstations that drive 21 screens, and operates 40 microcontrollers. The sophisticated game manager interface monitors player progress through 110 variables tracked in a database.
The rich, engaging atmosphere of The Ladder sets it apart and keeps participants invested in the experience while intentionally crafted for re-playability, with appeal for seasoned escape room enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Written, Designed & Directed by
Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp and Tommy Wallach
Cast
Jordan Belfi as Stab Backner
Tony Revolori as Agent Veritas
Zelda Williams as Melody Goodmaker
Michael Lorz as Allen Ronson
Brittnee Hollenbach as Mae Hartnett
Rielly Alexander as Mark LeMark III
Chantel Turner as Nancy Walkins
Damith Warnasuriya as Bob Heyman
Julissa Vega Rodriguez as Pat Shelby
Adrian Adler as Spouse 1
Eljo Rio Dela Rosa as Spouse 2
Luis Antonio Canete as Secretary 1
Brian Callegari as Secretary 2
Anastasia Kopylova as Secretary 3
Alexis Wright as Secretary 4
Frankie Hurley as Kid 1
Dominic Patel as Kid 2
Julia Weinstock as Kid 3
Sasha Weinstock as Kid 4
Ricky Rodriguez as Ricky Rodriguez
Switchboard Call Voices: Jordan Belfi, Daniel Clanton, Paige Crawford,
Jerald Scoop Dawson, Courtney
Escher, Will Kommor, Asante
Mango, John Mihalik, Shannon Peterson, Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp, Chip Powell, Sharon Powell, Ranjana Ramchandran, Serina
Stone, Daniel P. Traynor, Cameron
Lee Underwood, Tanya Wagner, Tommy Wallach, Zelda Williams
Crew
Jarod Hamilton, Lead Carpenter
Will Kommor, Interactive Media Dir.
Caitlin Peterson, Lead Propmaker
Matthew McClain, Creative Technologist
Giulio Carmassi, Music
Jenny Rolapp, Still Photography
Sarah Skapik, Logo Design
Additional Carpentry
Christian Cheker
Agust Velazquez
Additional Prop Making
Kelly Glaubig
Austen Edwards
Additional Technology
Michael Collins
Peter Helstrom
Mitch Mastroni
Michael Pammit
Joe Pisanzio
Robert Twombly
Illustration
Eric Hetherington
Jdzombi
Emily Thompson
Film Shoot
Michael Nie, Director of Photography
Andrew Chen, First Assistant Camera
Audio, Kevin Cheng
Costume Designer, Megan Spatz
Costume Assistant, Zachary Carver
Hair and Makeup Department
Head, Michelle Sfarzo
Key Makeup, Sonia Cabrera
Makeup Artist, Veronica Rodarte
Hairstylist, Brenda Lopez
Electricians
Holden Ketterhagen
Bill Boehme
Hatch Staff
Liv Robertson, Hatch Managing Dir.
Hatch Management Team
Jacqueline Fossett
Benjamin Marsh
Other
Produced by Arvind Ethan David in association with Prodigal Inc.
Special Thanks: Juliana Moreno, Michael Hurley, Alex PettigrewRolapp, Jesicah Rolapp, Ellen Epley
The magic of The Legend of Luna: A Great Wolf Story, open since June 2023, is that it converts a normal hotel lobby into a special effects experience, held together by a story both heartfelt and important.
Every evening, families are invited to gather around the fireplace in the center of the grand lobby for a magical bedtime story full of heart, humor, magic and surprises. The carefully crafted story is a heartfelt fable about Luna, a young wolf who feels herself to be different from the other wolves. But with a little patience and love from her grandmother, Luna finds the courage to be herself and discovers an important lesson, that each of us is unique in our own way, and it is our differences that make the pack stronger. The story with its reassuring, healing message is touching, important and timely.
Storytelling devices and effects include projection mapping and unexpected screens embedded in the ceiling, hotel chandeliers that display close to two million colors, the use of lasers, fire, and smoke. And it snows!
When not in show mode, this technology infrastructure allows the space to adapt to seasonal makeovers and special events, all with the simple touch of a button. The system and all its special effects are also programmed to support events.
This attraction expands a new sector in the themed entertainment industry showing how public pass-through spaces can also be immersive, storied places of wonder. Between shows, the lobby functions as normal.
The presentation format and all the accompanying effects and display elements are specifically developed to support refreshing the story for holidays and other occasions.
Great Wolf Resorts
Leadership
John Murphy
Chief Executive Officer
Brooke Patterson
Chief Brand Officer
Tim Brown
Chief Development Officer
Dan Stevens
Vice President of Development PreConstruction
Sarah Smallwood
Director Design Development
Eden Deng
Project Executive
Stephen Murphy
Vice President, Operations
Development & Integration
Melissa Jeselnick
Director, Attractions & Entertainment, Operations Development & Integration
Created and Produced by
BRC Imagination Arts
Matthew Solari
Creative Director
Edward Hodge
Production Creative Director
Marci Carlin
Executive Producer
Matty Sweeney
Project Manager
Steven Farnsworth
Project Manager
Nathan Evans
Art Director/Production Designer
Kat Reinbold
Creative Producer
Robert Bisser
Technical Director
Alex Mackay
Installation Manager
Anthony Onibon
Spatial Planner
Emma Wood
Graphic Designer
Leone Ermer
Graphic Designer
Bernard Semerdjian
Graphic Designer
Stacy Barton
Story Writer
Rich Procter
Senior Writer
Alvin Oei
Environmental Designer
Belle Shang
Environmental Designer
John King
Concept Illustrator
Jordan Beeks
Design Manager
Mikey Reyes
Concept Illustrator
Alex Eastman
Project Coordinator
Brittany Goode
Production Coordinator
Brendan Griffin
Project Administrator
Karan Russell
Business Affairs Manager
Christopher DeAnde
Business Affairs Manager
Stephen Rebori
Production Resources Coordinator
Maya Guice
Marketing Director
Cara Pico
Design Studio Director
Galeit Desiderio
Design Studio Director
Jhenny Capili
Executive Assistant
Mehdi Mahramzadeh
Transportation Captain
Rose Fernandez
Project Accountant
Doug Sarver
Controller
Tom Seib
Chief Financial Officer, BRC
Imagination Arts
Christian Lachel
Chief Creative Officer, BRC
Imagination Arts
Carmel Lewis
President, BRC Imagination Arts
Bob Rogers
Founder and Chairman, BRC
Imagination Arts
Contributors Under the Direction of BRC
Imagination Arts
ProFun
Jim Higashi
John MacDonald
Gregory Manchess
Portrait Artist
ID3 Group, Inc. - Theming
Contractor
Lydia Pilcher
Creative Director
Kevin Carpenter
Lead Designer / Coordinator
Elia Valles
Design
Jon Keller
Design
Fabrication:
Michael Wren
Mold Maker
Jeff McCravy
Metal Shop Manager
Install:
Phil Abbot
Onsite Lead
Kyle Walker
Shotcrete Lead
Michael Windley
Sculptor
Kelly Richards
Painter
181 - Custom Chandelier Lighting
Stefan Verhoef
Innovation Officer
Vivian Buil
Account Manager
Tilo Burger
Project Engineer
Joost van Kessel
Project Manager
X-Laser - Laser Systems
Adam Raugh
President
Nisha Ramnath
Programmer
dandelion + burdock - Notch
Interactive Design and Production
Nils Porrman
Director for Creative Workflows, dandelion + burdock
TechMDi - Audio, Video and Control
Systems
Joe Wilber
Principal
Charlie Blymier
Project Lead
Mike Matthews
Programming Specialist
Martin Velez
Associate Engineer, Controls
JJ Margolis
Associate Systems Designer
Kamyi Lee
Associate Engineer, Video
Matthias Baker
Associate Engineer, Controls
Jack Saint James
Project Coordinator
Justin Nguyen
Onsite Video Graphics Engineer
Clearwing Systems Integration -
Lighting and Effects
Kurt Schnabel
Systems Integrator
Mike Jonas
Site Supervisor
Quinton Davis
Installation Manager
Andrew Marceleno
Installation Technician
Houston (Mac) Clark
Installation Technician
Mark Sprague
Installation Technician
Chris Yodonis
Systems Installation Technician
Daxen Brems
Installation Technician
Ears Up Sound Design - Audio
Design and Production
Matt Glenn
Co-Owner
Mark Caspary
Co-Owner
Nathan Chase
Project Manager
Entech Innovative EngineeringPortrait Conveyor
Eric Roehl
Project Manager
Justin Stehr
Executive Director
Optec Displays, Inc
David Pratt
Executive Vice President/Project
Manager
George Lin
Engineer
Jane Hwee
Chief Operating Officer
Artie Plascencia
On-site Technician
Chao Ho Chen (Lego)
On-site Technician
Darrin Weber
On-site Technician
Hao Hao Hsieh (Bob)
On-site Technician
Jesus Gutierrez
On-site Technician
The Business Travel
Oliver Banham Travel Agent
Black Wolf
Josh Selander Lighting Programmer
NYX Design
Manny Treason Lighting Designer
Architecture and Construction Stantec
Architect, Interior Design
Turner Construction Company General Contractor
Media Credits
Great Wolf Entertainment Presents THE LEGEND OF LUNA: A GREAT WOLF STORY
Created and Produced by BRC Imagination Arts
Matthew Solari Director
Stacy Barton Writer
Stacy Barton & Kat Reinbold
Story
Rhona Drummond
Producer
Matthew Solari
Producer
Brooke Patterson
Executive Producer
Marci Carlin
Executive Producer
Bob Rogers
Executive Producer
Matty Sweeney Co-Producer
Jason Livesay Music
Nolan Livesay Music
Eyebolls Animation
Animation Production Services
Garry Marshall
Art Director
Justin Owades Editor
Jack Turner Assistant Editor
Victoria Watson
Creative Producer
Direction Rene Veilleux
Casting and Voice
Sarah Malikov
Production Coordinator
Cast
Jennifer Taub
Grandma
Maya Aoki Tuttle
Violet
Visual Development
Celia Kendrick
Storyboard Artist
Selina Wagner
Character Designer
Elio Lischetti
Character Designer
Lucy Gillespie
Background Designer
Pablo Navarro
Animation Supervisor
Selina Wagner
Animator
Carolina Bouwkamp
Animator
Kelan Hordos
Animator
David Andres Lopez
Animator
Desi Garrido
Animator
Joe Hick
Animator
Sophie Osinski
Animator
Frankie Swan
2D VFX Artist
Kevin Rob Morris
2D Rigger / Animator
David Ferguson
2D Rigger / Animator
Adam Webster
Full Room VFX
Lara Martinez
Ink and Paint Supervisor
Sophie Osinski
Ink and Paint Artist
Mara Ungureanu
Ink and Paint Artist
Dara Darcy
Ink and Paint Artist
Lewis Campbell
Ink and Paint Artist
Elio Lischetti
Clean Up Supervisor
Estefania Bergzoll
Clean Up Artist
Nuria Ramirez
Clean Up Artist
Antonio Vivancos
Clean Up Artist
Kris Ursachi
Clean Up Artist
Florian Viale
Lead Compositor & VFX
Nicol Craig
Compositor & VFX
Production
Brittany Goode
Production Coordinator
Karan Russell
Business Affairs Manager
Christopher DeAnde
Business Affairs Manager
Rose Fernandez
Accountant
Tom Seib
Chief Financial Officer, BRC
Christian Lachel
Chief Creative Officer, BRC
Carmel Lewis
President, BRC
Bob Rogers
Founder and Chairman, BRC
Dialogue and Foley recorded at Ears Up’s Studio
Ashton Livesay
Luna Vocalizations
Mark Caspary
Mixer
Nathan Chase Ears Up Project Manager
Music
Music Orchestrated and Conducted by Jason Livesay and Nolan Livesay
Score Recorded by Milton Gutierrez at Silent Zoo Studios
Phil McGowan Music Mixing
The filmmakers would like to thank:
Robert Bisser
JC Calciano
Leone Ermer
J. Nathan Evans
Maya Guice
Edward Hodge
Christian Lachel
Claire Lachel
Carmel Lewis
Stephen Rebori
Bernard Semerdjian
Emma Wood
Copyright 2023 Great Wolf
Entertainment. All Rights Reserved
Neobio is an innovative brand proudly introducing an interactive science and technology museum in Shanghai. The museum spans 6,000 square meters across three floors, divided into five dynamic sections: Power Hungry, Miracle Labs, Secret Studios, Maker’s Hall and Space Station. Each section invites visitors to engage with science in a hands-on and immersive way.
The Neobio Museum endeavors to seamlessly integrate knowledge, art and hands-on experiences, with the goal of creating a fully immersive scientific adventure. This nontraditional approach to informal science education stimulates children's curiosity and broadens their scientific horizons, helping equip families with essential 21st century skills.
Spanning three floors and 6,000 square meters, the museum features five major exhibition areas:
• Power Hungry: Discover humanity's journey in understanding nature and harnessing energy.
• Miracle Labs: Witness the life cycle - from birth to aging - while exploring the intricate workings of human organs and cells.
• Secret Studios: Engage in a creative symphony where art and technology converge.
• Maker's Hall: Become an innovator and experience the joy of creation firsthand.
• Space Station: Embark on a cosmic journey to unravel the mysteries of the universe for future generations.
To enhance the experience for young visitors, each child receives a smart wristband that allows parents and caregivers to track their location, ensuring peace of mind during their adventure.
This museum reflects Neobio's mission to create an enriching environment and high-quality experience for all families. The Neobio brand is dedicated to nurturing the talents of tomorrow, working hand in hand with Chinese families and society to foster growth and curiosity.
Project Development
Yandan Chen, Owner, General Manager Office, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Jing Xu, Owner Representative, General Manager Office, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Developer, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Qing Ai, Sponsor / Partner / Participant, General Manager Office, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Yan Zhou, Market Analyst, Information Technology and User Experience, Shanghai Huanpei Technology Co., Ltd.
Yin Xu, Financial Analyst, Finance Center, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Yuxuan Feng, Operations Consultant, Operation Management Center, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Xiaoqing Shi, Legal Counsel, Compliance Center, Shanghai Neobio
Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Zhenli Zhu, Finance Manager, Finance Center, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Hengyuan Hu, Public Relations Manager, General Manager Office, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Shengjie Zhou, Creative Director, Construction Design Center, Shanghai
Nipeier Interior Design Co., Ltd.
Ruhong Liu, Show Director, Course Department, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Concept Creator, Kurt Hüttinger GmbH & Co. KG
Venue Design and Development
Interior Designer, Shanghai Weimai Architect Design Co., Ltd.
Kitchen Designer, Shanghai Qianwanzhi Metal Products Co., Ltd.
Structural Engineer, Shanghai Kangye Building Decoration Construction Co., Ltd.
Electrical Engineer, Zhongtang Gongfeng Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Production
Lighting Vendor, Shanghai Yishou Lighting Appliance Co., Ltd.
Lighting Installer, Shanghai Yishou Lighting Appliance Co., Ltd.
Audio Vendor, Suzhou Guangmo Software Technology Co., Ltd.
Audio Installer, Suzhou Guangmo Software Technology Co., Ltd.
Projection Systems Vendor, Suzhou Guangmo Software Technology Co., Ltd.
Projection Systems Installer, Suzhou Guangmo Software Technology Co., Ltd.
Recreation Equipment
Game Supplier, Shenzhen Shihong Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.
Playground Equipment Supplier, Tong Yun Amusement Equipment (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
Science Exhibition Equipment Supplier, Kurt Hüttinger GmbH & Co. KG
Project Management
Yijun Tan, Project Manager, New Business Development , Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Xuan Zhu, Project Coordinator, New Business Development , Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Yiwen Zhu, Project Finance Manager, Finance Center, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Yuanze Zhou, Projects Business Affairs, Business Development , Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Jin Liu, Contract Manager, Compliance Center, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Construction
General Contractor, Shanghai Kangye Building Decoration Construction Co., Ltd.
Jinsong Deng, Construction Manager, Construction Management Center, Shanghai Nipeier Interior Design Co., Ltd.
Fire Protection System Renovation Contractor, Shanghai Shenying Fire Engineering Co., Ltd.
Stars Wall Contractor, Guangzhou Hongtufang Building Materials Co., Ltd.
HVAC Contractor, Shanghai Xinli HVAC Engineering Co., Ltd.
Operations (Opening Crew)
Junming Li, General Manager, Operation and Management Center, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Xiaona Zang, Area Manager, Operation and Management Center, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Manli Cheng, Venue / Attractions manager, Operation and Management Center, Shanghai Huantiao Technology Co., Ltd.
Lei Tian, Retail Supervisor, Operation and Management Center, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Xiangshou Huang, Food & Beverage Supervisor, Operation and Management Center, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Dong Shao, Training Manager, Talent and Organization Development, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Ming Hong, Maintenance Supervisor, Operation and Management Center, Shanghai Neobio Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Vendors
Activity Equipment Vendor, Shanghai Huayue Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Aerospace-plane Model Vendor, Xingyi Pilot (Beijing) Culture Media Co., Ltd.
Artistic Tapestry Vendor, Shanghai Fuli Tapestry Carpet Industry Co., Ltd.
Game Equipment Vendor, Shanghai Xuyong Technology Co., Ltd.
The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies, held in Paris
July 26, 2024 and August 28, 2024, established a new paradigm for global celebration at the intersection of Sport, History, and Culture.
Rather than confine the event to a stadium, this bold embodiment of the host city concept broke with tradition, utilizing the city of Paris and the Seine river as a canvas upon which to stage a global celebration that was a free, live spectacle to all in addition to the worldwide television audience.
Paris was transformed into a veritable open-air theater. This re-invention of the format stretched the boundaries of what has been considered logistically feasible, and set a new bar for live global events.
Some of the many innovative features:
• Held outside a stadium
• Using a river as a central feature
• Free spectator access
• Bringing Sport and Art together on a grand scale
• Athletes’ parade began the opening ceremony combining with the artistic sequences
• A fuel-less Olympic flame made of water and light, that did not burn out but rather illuminated Paris every evening at a height of 90 meters
Hundreds of thousands of in-person spectators and billions of television viewers were able to enjoy the ceremonies, spread over a variety of locations: 12 km of river banks, a temporary, purpose-built theater in
the Trocadero Gardens, the Place la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées. Paris 2024 offered a creative, daring spectacle, fusing all forms of Art and Sport and magnifying the exceptional heritage of France and its capital city.
This grand spectacle was a colossal achievement of creative vision and production bringing together myriad facets including boats, grandstands, artists and performers, stages, costuming, cameras, loudspeakers, land facilities, giant screens, AV systems, hundreds of rehearsal days and much more.
Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Creative Director - Advertiser: Thierry Reboul, Executive Director Ceremonies, Creation and Special Projects
Project Managers - Advertiser: Marie-Catherine Ettori, Ceremonies Director and Arnaud Mennesson, Ceremonies Production Director
Ceremonies Artistic Director: Thomas Jolly
Musical Director: Victor Le Masne
Design and Costume Director: Daphné Burki
Head Costume Designer: Olivier Bériot
Dance Director: Maud Le Pladec
Set Design Directors: Emmanuelle Favre and Bruno Delavenère
Light Design: Thomas Dechandon
Executive Production Agency: Paname 24
Agency Managers: Cyril Giorgini, Cyril De Froissard, Julien Carette, Nicolas Dudkowski, Thomas Deloubrière, René Celestin, Michael Courcoux
Agency Project Managers: Philippe Castanet - Director of Operations and Michael Courcoux - Director of Show Operations
Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Creative Director - Advertiser: Thierry Reboul, Executive Director Ceremonies, Creation and Special Projects.
Project Managers - Advertiser: Marie-Catherine Ettori, Ceremonies Director and Arnaud Mennesson, Ceremonies Production Director
Ceremonies Artistic Director: Thomas Jolly
Paralympic Ceremony Artistic Director: Alexander Ekman
Musical Director: Victor Le Masne
Design and Costume Director: Daphné Burki
Head Costume Designer: Olivier Bériot
Dance Director: Maud Le Pladec
Set Design Director: Bruno Delavenère
Light Design: Thomas Dechandon
Executive Production Agency: Paname 24
Agency Managers: Cyril Giorgini, Cyril De Froissard, Julien Carette, Nicolas Dudkowski, Thomas Deloubrière, René Celestin, Michael Courcoux
Agency Project Managers: Yoann Texier - Director of Operations and Michael Courcoux -Director of Show Operations
National WWII Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Thea Award For Outstanding Achievement Museum Attraction
The Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater at the National WWII Museum comprises a pre-show area and a three-act theater show, focused on the four universal freedoms laid out by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt – Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear – as well as the expanding global role the United States was destined to play in the post-war era.
Seating on a 44-foot diameter turntable split in half allows for two audiences of 64 guests on each side. At the start of Act 2, the turntable rotates to allow a new group of guests to enter, enabling this 30-minute show to accommodate up to three cycles an hour.
The Freedom Theater makes extensive use of sophisticated effects and scenic elements. Projection mapping on jagged projection surfaces represents the shattered state of the world leading up to World War II. Trusses supporting media monitors fly up and down during the show, and deck tracks allow three massive high-resolution LED screens to move in choreography with the production. An original orchestral score delivers a rich soundscape.
The Freedom Theater completes the story begun in the National World War II Museum's other signature presentation, "Beyond All Boundaries," by telling the story of why this war was fought, why it matters, and it continues to affect our world today. Guests emerge from the experience with the understanding that freedom is fragile, and that all have a responsibility to protect it.
In its design, production, and storytelling, the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater delivers originality, excellence, and impact. The storytelling renders the history both compelling and relevant today. The design and technical excellence are original and imaginative, perfectly supporting the story and the emotional track.
Executive Producer /Creative Director - Phil Hettema
Producer - Nichole Garza
Produced and Conceived by – THG Creative
Written by Chris Ellis
Media Design and Production – Mousetrappe
Media
THG Creative, Inc. - Creative Design and Project Management
Erik Neergaard - Chief Executive Officer
Anthony Pruett - Executive Project Director
Justine Huseth - Producer
Jodi Roberdes - Interior, Scenic, and Architectural
Design
Mark Dannelly - Technical Director
Quinn Riddle - Technical Director
Chris Duarte - Technical Coordinator
Nick Griffith - Project Coordinator
Bria Alvarenga - Project Coordinator
Production Team/Project Development Supervision
Susan Beth Smith
Diana O'Rourke
Kelley Ritch
Project Coordination
Nichole Balderama
Laura Garrett
Cassie McGinnis
Marney Miller
Designers
Jeff Cook - CAD Designer
Clayton Ford - Interior Illustrator
Connor Murphy Boyd - Dimensional Designer
Michael Overman - Dimensional Designer
Ovid Pope - Model Builder: 1111 Creative
Estephan Quass - Dimensional Designer
Lynn Rickets - CAD Designer
Connor Sinclair - Graphic Designer
Matt Steinbrener - Scenic Designer
Technical
Derby Ahsltone - Technical Consultant
Bob Blucher - Technical Director
Kane Fritz - Technical Director
Louis Higuera - Installation Coordination
Benj Lien - AME: Media Consultant
Bill Nearhood - Technical Coordinator
Media
Eric Hungerford - Media Producer
Lighting
David Finn - Lighting Consultant
National WWII Museum
Museum Leadership and Project Management
Stephen Watson - President & CEO
Nick Mueller – Founding President and CEO Emeritus
James B. Williams - Vice President and COO
Bob Farnsworth - Senior Vice President of Capital Programs
Scott Evans - Associate Vice President of Capital Projects & Infrastructure
Niall Cooper - Project Manager, Capital Projects
Museum Research
Pete Crean - Vice President of Education and Access
Mike Bell, PhD (COL, USA, Ret.) - Executive
Director of the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy
Rob Citino - Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian, JCISWD
Eliot Cohen - Historian, Robert E. Osgood
Professor at Johns Hopkins University
John Curatola - Historian, JCISWD
Nina Luckman - Project Manager, Education and Access
AV Tech Team
Bret Bohnet - Senior Director of Theater & AV Systems
Jacob Vincent - Co-Director of Theater & AV Systems
Theo Fogelman - Co-Director of Theater & AV Systems
Media
Mousetrappe Media - Media Production
Daren Ulmer - Co-Owner / Creative Executive
Chuck Fawcett - Co-Owner / Chairman
Mary Cluff - Managing Director
Stormie Miller - Director of Production
David Briggs - Media Director
Kathleen Keefe - Producer
Cedar Conner - Director of Creative Technology
Ryan Kravetz - Senior Creative Director & Production Design
Bryan Chavez - CG Supervisor
Michaela Karis - Creative Associate, Editor
Elizabeth Harding - Production Coordinator
Sara Gilman - Junior Art Director
Andrew Burnett - Pipeline Technical Director
Khalil Abdul-Fattah - Technical Coordinator
Ken Ajzmundt - Systems Technical Manager
Michael Dolan - Archival Researcher
Emilio Sweet-Coll - Assistant Editor
Art Lazaro - Concept Designer
Richard Rios - Concept Designer, Storyboard Artist
Ron Bowman - Matte Painter
Misa Steinmetz - Matte Painter
Nicholas Foong - Matte Painter
Axel Alvarez - Animator
Zachary Citro - Animator
Dominic Amatore - Animator
William Mendoza - Animator
Tigran (Tizu) Tarumyan - Animator
Samuel Davidson - Animator
Denny Zimmerman - Animator
Demetris Vazquez - Animator
Brian Smith - Additional Production Support
Ilgi Candar Dyer - Additional Concept Design
Freddy Morales - Additional Motion Design
Brett Bailey - Additional Art Direction
Music and Audio Production
Ty Fy Studios, Inc - Audio and Music Production
Daniel Fontana - Owner, Producer, Score Mixer
Matthew Jordan Leeds - Composer
Ellis Martinez - Director of Production & Business Development
Jeffrey Villanueva - Audio Engineer
Stephen Marro - Sound Designer
Lighting
Visual Terrain, Inc. - Lighting Design
Lisa Passamonte Green - CEO/Principal In Charge
David Green - President/COO
Steven Young - Principal Lighting Designer
Lucius Lee - Senior Lighting Designer/Lighting Programmer
Steeve Vajk - Associate Principal of Production
Production and Technical Credits
Bandit Lite, Inc. - System Integration
Chris Barbee - Vice President of Integration
John Jenkinson - Director of Integration
Footage Provided by:
The National WWII Museum
The Library of Congress
The National Archives
Getty Images
FDR Library
Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust
Remembrance Center
Critical Past
The New York Times
The Museum of Jewish Heritage
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The JFK Library
The US Army Center of Military History
The United Nations Photo Digital Asset Management
The US Navy Seabee Museum
The American Presidency Project
The Chinese American WWII Veterans
Recognition Project
The Family of Wah Kau Kong
The Associated Press
The Nation Museum of African American History
The United States Airforce
The United States Department of Defense
The United States Army
NASA
The Washington Post
Ed Lewis Casting
Ed Lewis - Casting Director
Vocal Talent
Alex Morf, Christian Oliver, Dan John Miller, David Hunter Jr., David Lodge, Dino Andrade, Garry Littman, James Yaegashi, Jason Weiner, Jenna Stern, Jon Adams, Jonathan Von Mering, Julian Smith, Marc Vietor, Rich Orlow, Sheila Head, Tara Langella, Tony Daniels
Technifex - Gasket Control System
Joe Ortiz
Carousel USA - Fabrication of Revolving Auditorium
President - John Thomson
Project Engineer - Myron Castro
Production Manager - George Ruben
Mechanical Design Engineer - Dillon Oliverio
Mechanical Design & Drafter - Ardashes Hovsepian Field Engineer/Installation - Chris Muellerschoen
Controls Engineer - Alex Sirotin
Electrical Design & Production - Danny Radillo
Fabricator/Welder - Tommy Jefferson
PSX, Inc. - Audio, Video, Show Control, Projection, LED Wall, Truss, Rigging Installation & Integration
Jeff Borne - Owner / CEO
Steven Fisher - VP, Global Business Operations
Robert Pourciau - VP, Location Based Entertainment
John March - VP, Business Development
Judd Nissen - Senior Director of Project Operations
John McGovern - Senior Systems Engineer - Audio
Edward Vigueira - Senior Systems Engineer - Video
Stephen Ledet - Senior Systems Programmer
Sam Stone - Director of Pre-Construction
Taylor Lott - Installation Supervisor
David Brennan - Installation Technician
Niscon - Motion Control System Programming
Kate Dalo - Project Manager
Sam Thompson - Design Team Manager
Patrick O' Hara - Deployment Specialist
Smart Monkeys, Inc. - AV Controls
Jason Pontius - Director of Business Operations
Olivier Moser - Director of Design & Engineering
Cambry Wade - Engineering Project Manager and Show programming
Construction
Mathes Brierre Architects - Architect of Record
Joyce Bergman - Project Architect
MAPP - General Contractor
Chris Watermeir - Project Executive
Justin Cain - Project Manager
Mike O’Brien - Project Superintendent
Mike James - Project Superintendent
Floyd (Topo) Frilot - Project Superintendent
Jared Graffagnino - BIM Coordinator
Erin Chauvin - Assistant Project Manager
Boesch Construction - Construction Support
Randy Boesch - Owner / Onsite Construction Lead
Sound Thinking - Accoustic Design
Rick Talaske
THG Creative would like to congratulate our collaborators and partners, along with the National WWII Museum and the Priddy Family Foundation, on being this year’s Thea Award Recipient for Outstanding Achievement – Museum Attraction
To learn more about how THG Creative can transform your stories into immersive experiences visit thgcreative.com or connect with us at studio@thgcreative.com.
This revolutionary immersive structure and digital canvas is redefining the world of live and produced entertainment in a very exciting way.
Located one block from the Las Vegas Strip, Sphere is an architectural and technological marvel inside and out, designed to host a wide range of events including concerts, original productions, and corporate and marquee events. Sphere is disrupting and redefining what is possible for multi-sensory, immersive storytelling in each of these categories, leveraging Sphere’s technologies in unique ways to create bespoke experiences that resonate across diverse audiences and challenge expectations.
Exterior: The Exosphere is a 580,000 square-foot fully programmable LED exterior and ranked as the world’s largest LED screen. It furnishes an unparalleled content platform and has changed the Las Vegas skyline forever, becoming an instant icon. Sphere also recently added to the Exosphere experience with music synced to the content on the Exosphere and an official livestream.
Interior: Sphere’s total capacity of 20,000 includes seating for 17,600. The immersive display plane inside the main venue bowl wraps up, over, and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. At 160,000 sq. ft. and 16K x 16K it is ranked the highest resolution LED screen on Earth. Content is served via multiple platforms and at high frame rates.
The super sophisticated audio system utilizes 3D audio-beamforming and
wave field synthesis. Multi-sensory 4D technologies further enhance the storytelling experience, including 10,000 haptic seats. Environmental effects also include changing temperatures, wind, and scents.
This audacious new venue and platform is revolutionizing live entertainment with cutting-edge immersive technologies that redefine artistic expression and audience engagement. Sphere is also advancing state-of-the-art cinema even further, with the contributions of Sphere Studios, launched June 2023 to develop bespoke immersive content and tools.
Owner: Sphere Entertainment Co.
Sphere Entertainment*
Jim Dolan, Executive Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Jen Koester, President & Chief Operating Officer, Sphere
Carolyn Blackwood, Head of Sphere Studios
David Dibble, CEO MSG Ventures
Benjamin Adams, Manager Immersive Audio
Bryan Agnew, Senior Administrative Assistant
Thomas Agostino, Deliverables Technical Specialist
Jesus Aguirre, Lead Real Time Engineer
Ji Ho Ahn, Designer
Tyler Allison, Director Capture Operations
Keith Anderson, Playback Operator
Robert Anderson, VP Advanced Engineering
Maria Andreotti, Associate Technical Project Manager
Mercedes Aponte, Project Manager Experiential Activations - Atrium
Daziah Arias, Production Coordinator
Jordan Ariel, Senior Designer
Andrew Ashton, Senior Workflow Supervisor
Jillian Awner, Capture and Scanning Technician
Michelle Bac, Designer
Christian Bach, Supervisor VFX
Christopher Baine, Director Audio Platform Development
Frank Balbuena, QC Operator
Colette Bannister, Senior Administrative Assistant
Jesse Barnett, Designer
Nathan Barquira, Junior Software Engineer
Mark Barrow, Senior Disguise Notch Artist
Wyatt Bartel, Director Production Technology Innovation
Michael Batty, Photogrammetry Field Manager
Timothy Bauer, Capture Systems Development
Lead
David Bees, Senior Director Studio Technology
Carlos Bernal, Creative Director
Aakriti Bhakhri, VP Product Management
David Bilkis, Software Engineer
Ryan Brady, Manager Playback
Paul Breen, VP Show Systems and Technology
Sasha Brenman, Senior Manager Software Engineering
Ryan Brooks, Assistant Editor
Paige Brunson, Junior Designer
Diane Caliva, Technical Project Manager
Zachary Charney Cohen, Director Capture Data Management
Hao Chen, Coordinator Workflow & Delivery
Kathleen Chen, Assistant Manager Show Management
William Chen, Junior Designer
Euna Chi, Technical Project Manager
Kaley Cho, Technical Artist
Thomas Choi, Designer
Daryl Chong, Compositor
Michael Clement, Senior Software Engineer
Stephanie Coats, Post Producer
Byrone Collins, Technical Project Manager
Jennifer Cook, Executive Producer
Leland Cox, Senior Manager Capture Data
Joshua Crews, Motion Graphics Artist
Annette Cruz-Hernandez, Executive Administrative Assistant
Eric Cruz, Senior Creative Director
Ryan Cummins, VP Capture & Visualization
Jason D Richards, Drone Show Pilot & Operations Engineer
Christopher Dadzitis, Director Platform Engineering
Aaron Daly, Senior Unreal Artist
Patrick Danford, VP Studio Core Technology
James Dargie, Senior Creative Director
Megan De Souza, Senior Specialist Quality Assurance
Yoshi Deherrera, Technical Director Photogrammetry
Kim DeJohn, Render Wrangler
Alden DelVecchio, Software Engineer
Lydia Demange, Art Director
Ian Denig, Compositor
Ryan Dolan, SVP Interactive Experiences
Elena Dole, Senior Administrative Assistant
Andrew Eick, VP Post Production Operations
Stuart Elby, SVP Advanced Engineering
Julia Epprecht, Lead Render Wrangler
Katie Facada, Creative Director
Brad Falk, Lead Technical Director
Sarah Fang, Technical Director, Big Sky Lab
Stephanie Farah, Senior Engineer Show Control
Genesseo Finley, Senior Engineer Software Deployment
Jeffrey Forman, Manager Project Management
Kiel Fredrickson, Dailies Operator
Paul Freeman, VP Audio Artist
Max Frew, Associate Capture Workshop
Andrew Frye, Senior Manager Software Engineering
Toby Gallo, Director Editorial & Finishing
Marcelo Garcia, Creative Director
Alexander Giglio, VFX Producer
Michael Gizienski, Senior Designer
Jason Goldenberg, Senior Control Engineer
Michael Graae, Senior Director Imaging Systems Hardware Development
Bartolome Graziana, Creative Director
David Greig, Manager Project Management
Joshua Grow, SVP Studio Core Technology
Eric Guadara, Software Engineer
Stephen Guma, Motion Graphics Artist
Zo Guthrie, Lead Quality Assurance Engineer
Steven Gutierrez, I/O Technician
Juan Gutierrez, Designer
Brian Gyss, Technical Project Manager
Jenna Hagel, Manager Project Management
Bryce Hammond, Assistant Physical Production
Zachary Hansen, Lead Compositor
Brianna Hart, Director Physical Production
Thomas Heddell, Senior Motion Graphics Compositor
Ian Henckel, Director Pipeline Engineering
John Hendicott, Director Post Production Audio
Jeroen Hendriks, Capture Data and Metadata Supervisor
Christopher Herbert, Director Program Management
Jeremy Hernandez, Technical Project Manager
Arnaud Hervas, Director Cinematic Imaging
Software Architecture
Katie Hinsen, SVP Post Production
Scotty Hoag, Senior Software Engineer
Loc Hoang, I/O Technician
Maximilian Hoch, Creative Director
Erik Hockman, Senior Fellow
Dania Holder, Director Project Management
Jacob Holmes, Senior Manager Project Management
David Holt, Software Deployment Engineer
Babitha Hosahalli Somegowda, GPU Engineer
Brian Hsieh, Designer
Kai Huang, Technical Director
Amanda Huang, Senior Interactive UI/UX Designer
Luke Huapaya, Network Systems Technician
Catherine Hughes, Senior Technical Project Manager
Scott Humphreys, AV Technician
Tyler Hymanson, Senior Director Program Management
Aruna Inversin, Supervisor VFX
Wilson Ip, Senior Environment Artist
Ian Jenkins, Pipeline Engineer
Kiefer Jenkins, Storage Engineer
Nicole Johnson, Real Time Engineer
Sean Johnson, Senior QA Tester
Ciera Jones, Senior Software Engineer
Paul Jouard, Concept Artist
Shyam Kannapurakkaran, Lead Technical Director, Big Sky Lab
Jennifer Katanyoutanant, Senior Manager Project Management
Chuck Katz, Manager Capture Operations
Archit Kaushik, UI UX Designer
Jamison Kellogg, QC Operator
Thomas Kernan, Senior Designer
Suraj Khalsa, Manager Delivery Operations
Shahana Khan, Senior Motion Graphics Compositor
Kian Khiaban, Designer
Kyu Kim, Senior Motion Graphics Compositor
Yeon Jin Kim, Motion Graphics Artist
Everett Klingshirn, Technical Project Manager
Prasanna Kodapadi, VFX Producer
Joshua Kolden, Production Technology Innovation Engineer
Richard Kopelow, Senior Software Engineer
Joshua Kushner, Motion Graphics Artist
Nicholas Lange, Creative Director Experiential Activations - Atrium
Joseph Lapara, Technical Program Manager
James Larsen, AV Technician
Kimberly Lashbrook, Digital 2D Supervisor
David Lawdensky Sr., Senior Technical Manager
James Lawrence, AV Technician
Sydne Lea, Senior Software Engineer, Aura Gemma Leigh, Senior Director Experiential Activations - Drones & Robotics
Bryan Lemus, Quality Assurance Manager
Emma Li, Coordinator Physical Production
Marc LoCascio, Manager Audio Software Development
Douglas Loeb, Senior Engineer Artist Operations
Edgar Lopez-Garcia, Senior Software Engineer
Gabrielle Lorthe, Coordinator Physical Production
Alexandra LoSchiavo, Executive Administrative Assistant
Halle Lucas, Manager Experiential Activations4D
Christopher Lynn, Program Manager - Drones
Madeline Mainit, Senior Director Physical Production Operations
Melissa Makovec, Technical Project Manager
Miranda Mancini, Director Big Dome Operations
Preston Marchman, Drone Show Pilot & Operations Engineer
Iain Matthiae, Computer Graphics Generalist
John Mccormick, Senior Manager Big Dome Operations
Margaret McNaughton, Senior Director Technical Operations
Ned McNeilage, Chief Creative Officer
Aaron Melendez, I/O Technician
Gregory Mendoza, I/O Technician
Michael Merkwan, Editing Supervisor
Benjamin Meyers, QC Supervisor
Brian Miller, Playback Operator
Robert Mitchell, Senior Software Engineer
Scott Mitchell, Lead Compositor
Michelle Molina, Senior Coordinator Physical Production
Nelson Monroig, Manager Project Management
Blake Montgomery, Compositor
Jordan Morris, Camera Systems Technical Lead
Adam Moser, Senior Manager Show Management
Bruno Mulligan, Gimbal Technician
Raman Mustafa, Senior Art Director
Lee Nagar, Senior Director Software Engineering
Zainib Naseer, Technical Project Manager
Phiyen Nguyen, Lead Environment Artist
Manuel Olague, Designer - CAD
Teniola Olopade, Director Product
Cameron Outlaw, QC Operator
Aya Peard, Senior Compositor
John Peeler, Compositor
Kirk Pierron, Director Immersive Technology
Nathaniel Pincus-Roth, Senior Writer
Ned Piyadarakorn, Motion Graphics Artist
Phil Poon, Software Engineer
Benjamin Poynter, Senior Software Engineer
Keith Price, On Set Capture Data Wrangler
Kira Prince, Senior Manager Ingest & Dailies Operations
Chris Pritchard, Capture Timelapse Lead
Rex Privratsky, Senior 3D Generalist Artist
Michael Quan, Lead Network & Storage Engineer
Benjamin Quernheim, Capture Specialist
Farid Quintanilla, Systems Technician
Randy Ramos, I/O Technician
Matthew Rampias, Senior Motion Graphics Compositor
Rigel Ranciato, Senior 3D Artist
Nicholas Randall, Senior Creative Director
Michael Ranger, Senior Motion Graphics Artist
Michael Rankin, Senior UI/UX Engineer
Christopher Reardon, Senior Manager Show Management
Joseph Reilly, Senior Software Engineer
Steve Rembuskos, Senior Technical Animator
Dominic Ricci, Operations Engineer - Drones
Ryan Richardson, Playback Operator
Randall Rickert, Render Wrangler
Dean Ripper, Senior Motion Graphics Artist
Michael Rives, Principal Effects Engineer
James Robbins, Camera Technician
Rebecca Roberts, Senior Manager Exosphere Product Management
Sacha-Mikhail Roberts, Lead Technical Artist
Dana Robinson, Senior Specialist Artist Operations
Ronald Robinson, Creative Director
Michael Romaszewicz, Senior Director Software Engineering
Devin Ronneberg, Robotics Engineer
Allen Rose, Senior Director Studio Services
Sophia Rose, Junior Designer
Nathan Rosquist, Real Time Engineer
Ian Ross, Senior Houdini Artist
Michael Rucker, SVP Product & Show Management
Jonathan Sager, Director of Aura
Eric Sagotsky, Associate Fellow
Diganta Saha, Senior Platform Engineer
Judit Samper Albero, Compositor
Aaron Sanchez, AeroHardware Engineer - Drones
Karen Saucedo, Manager Experiential Activations - Atrium
Emily Saunders, Platform Engineer
Eric Scheidemantle, Senior Software Engineer
Stacey Schendel, Director Physical Production
Zachary Schiller, Senior Character Artist
Zachary Schipono, Director Studio Services
Lauren Schwartzbard, Post Production Coordinator
Eric Scott, VP VFX
Richard Sears, Senior Director Experiential Activations - Atrium
Taylor Shechet, Senior Real Time Technical Artist
Chelley Sherman, Senior Real Time Engineer
Andrew Shulkind, SVP Capture
Keith Simpson, Deliverables Technical Specialist
Stephen Skelton, Lead Designer
Theodore Skye, Senior Director Product Management
Arnold Song, Senior VFX Art Specialist
Matthew Soule, Supervising Sound Editor
John Sparks, Senior Houdini Artist
Wynter Spears, Coordinator Physical Production
Lindsey Sprague, 3D Supervisor
Nicholas Sprague, Manager Stabilized Systems
Alexander Stamm, Director Project Management
Brock Stearn, Senior Motion Graphics Compositor
Sharina Stotesbery, VP Post Production Technology
Gordon Straub, Pipeline Engineer
Jonathon Sturm, Principal Audio Engineer
Kannan Subburayan, Senior Storage Engineer
Patrick Surace, Photogrammetry Processing Lead
Zachary Sutherland, On-Set Playback Manager
Thomas Sydnor, Deliverables Technical Specialist
Joseph Szopa, Director Imaging Systems Product Deployment
Will Taylor, Lead Software Engineer
Samuel Teng, LED & Display Technician
Seye Tesfazgy, Compositing Technical Director
Tanner Thompson, Senior Motion Graphics Artist
Alexander Thomson, Video Field Engineer
Darlene Toledo, Render Wrangler
Joshua Troub, Senior Systems Technician
Corey Turner, VP Physical Production
Ronald Ubaldo, Music Supervisor
Serhan Ulkumen Ardila, Lead Software Engineer
Tharyn Valavanis, Associate Fellow
Joshua Van Meter, QC Operator
Gregory Veeser, Vice President Experiential Activations - 4D
Ali Villavicencio, Manager Capture Data
Nicole Votta, Senior Manager Digital Asset Management
Ash Wagers, Senior Motion Graphics Artist
Cameron Wang, Junior Software Engineer
Liam Ward, Senior Designer
Daniel Warom, On Set Technical Supervisor
Adam Wermus, Software Engineer
Sean Whitacre, Software Deployment Engineer
Katherine Wilson, Senior Creative Director
Ralph Winter, Head of Physical Production
Jessica Wotherspoon, Senior Director Physical Production
Jeffrey Wright, I/O Supervisor
Walter Wrobel, Senior Specialist Artist Operations
Katherine Wurzbacher, Senior Manager Capture Technology
Robert Wuss, Senior Software Engineer, Aura
Brian Yonck, VP Physical Production
Anna Zanoni, Coordinator Physical Production
Minerva Zapata, Technical Project Manager
Jessica Zhu, Software Engineer
AED
Forza Silicon
HOLOPLOT
iCrave
ME Engineers
Optical Support Inc.
Populous
Powersoft
SACO
Severud Associates
STMicroelectronics
Tait
Vanguardia
*Sphere Entertainment would also like to acknowledge the entire Sphere Entertainment team, as well as all the partners and vendors across the project, who helped bring Sphere to life.
Voltron Nevera Powered by Rimac is the signature attraction of a new, 20,000 square meter themed land celebrating the genius of the renowned inventor Nikola Tesla (18561943), who was born in present-day Croatia. The attraction is integrated into a themed, architectural setting with Croatian-style houses and a 28-meter replica of the Wardenclyffe Tower, which harnesses cosmic energy to launch riders on an action-packed ride through the land.
The detailed queue experience features immersive effects, lightning bolts and Tesla animatronics that energize the atmosphere. The journey begins as the train glides down the platform into a dark ride segment where Tesla conducts electrifying experiments to harness the power of electricity flowing from a powerful generator. The train pauses; the darkened room is filled with simulated lightning. Bolts of electricity envelop the train; the track pulses up and down as if being charged by volts of power. Doors open, and a powerful launch soars riders straight up to a height of 32.5 meters. This early scene demonstrates how the coaster technology is meticulously synchronized with the storytelling, preparing guests for a thrilling adventure.
The Voltron Nevera coaster track Is 1,385 meters long, reaches a speed of 100 km/h, with 21 turns, seven inversions and four magnetic launches, including one backwards, along with multiple special effect elements, packed into a two-minute ride experience. The efficient ride system has seven trains, each accommodating 16 passengers, maintaining a throughput of some 1,600 people per hour.
This supercharged thrill machine is reputed to break two world records for launch coasters, boasting the steepest launch at 105 degrees and featuring the most overhead elements (seven). And because it blends cutting-edge coaster technology with captivating storytelling, it delivers both thrills and enrichment. Guests are immersed in a narrative that works to heighten the adrenaline experience and create a lasting impression.
Mack Family
Dr.-Ing. h.c. Roland Mack
Marianne Mack
Jürgen Mack
Mauritia Mack
Michael Mack
Miriam Mack
Thomas Mack
Katja Mack
Ann-Kathrin Mack
Nicolas Mack
Frederik Mack
MACK Animation
Bernd Bohnert
Guillaume Wyatt
Holger Tappe
MACK One
Alexander Kartsov
Anne-Kathrin Tintinger
Anzhelina Ilieva
David Ginnuttis
Joanna Valeri
Mario Vasilev
Sina Krenz
Peter KP
Peter Petrov
Timon Blank
Tobias Mundinger
Aldric Muller
Patrick Marx
Vanessa Fallet
MACK Rides
Adrian Fees
Andreas Blum
Andreas Oberlin
Andrej Nadan
Armin Sexauer
Benjamin Krause
Burkhard Reich
Christian von Elverfeldt
Daniel Maag
Daniel Vögele
Dennis Gordt
Felix Maier
Florian Sombroek
Frank Hackstein
Frank Sornik
Franz Friedl
Frederic Saout
Günter Burger
Holger Nikola
Jan Faißt
Jens Hilbert
Joachim Röttger
Jonathan Mürb
Jürgen Messing
Luisa Bofinger
Markus Becherer
Markus Hug
Michael Moog
Simon Stadler
Stephan Alt
Thorsten Koebele
Tobias Haasch
Wolfram Reinelt
MACK Solutions
Bunyarit Hoff
Cedric Schaeffer
Charles R. Botta
Christian Schätzle
Christof Zimmermann
Corina Henninger
David Studer
Dorothe Müller
Eva-Maria Graf
Franziska Ise- Binder
Julien Lauffenburger
Jürgen Hauptmann
Lars Huber
Laura Ciano
Lena Hierlinger
Lena Ströbele
Luca Wehrle
Martin Glaser
Matthias Lange
Michelle Homburg
Misha Schäfer
Nadine Schneider
Patrick Lauer
Silvia Blattmann
Tobias Schirmer
Vincent Vallois
Yvonne Burkhardt
2112 Studios
Sebastian Kübler
Europa-Park
Alessandro Furger
Alexander Fuchs
Alexander Windham
Alexis Kempf
Andreas Gauerhof
Andreas Henninger
Björn Zimmer
Can de Haan
Chip Cleary
Christian Hirt
Christian Steiger
Corinna Maxand
Daniel Fuchs
Daniel Noack
Dietmar Mellert
Dominique Lammer
Dr. Thorsten Marohn
Dr. Volker Klaiber
Engelbert Gabriel
Enzo Sorianiello
Eric Koegler
Florian Frey
Frank Hönninger
Gerd Dörflinger
Gregor Engelmann
Horst Römer
Husam Aldori
Jannik Johner
Jasmin Dietrich
Johannes Ohnemus
Jonas Hemmerich
Julian Betz
Julien Thillou
Jürgen Vetter
Kevin Gufert
Klaus Hauer
Laetitia Uhl
Laura Lambertz
Laurent Sorianiello
Lukas Metzger
Marcel Brodbeck
Marius Winterhalter
Markus Gehring
Martin Winkler
Matthieu Sorianiello
Matthieu Vogt
Mirko Kern
Nico Schwinning
Oliver Topf
Patrick Spoth
Philippe Schaeffer
Philippe Spahn
Pierre Dickely
Ralf Stumpf
Sarah Fröhlich
Sascha Johner
Sebastian Ochs
Steffen Kasten
Stephane Schmidt
Sven Hain
Theodor Dechert
Tim Kabbert
Tina Blum
Valentin Findeli
Aquatique Show
Cedric Bigot
Mathieu Levain
Mike Baderot
Pavol Soos
Thomas Schneider
Babak Music
Eric Babak
Bavaria Studios GmbH –
Art Department
Alex Heinrich
Daniel Knigge
Louise Clausen
Maria Mayr
Sebastian Krause
Simone Kellermann
Werner Wolf
Yvonne Blaschke
Marc Berle
Armin Hartenstein
Marc Berle
Felix Manchon
Filip Mrvelj
Piotr Zamojski
Chaudronnerie Du Ried
Christophe Laufenburger
Nicolas Stoeckel
DELTA Soundworks
Ana Monte
Daniel Deboy
Markus Auer
Effektschmiede
Andreas Korth
Conrad Keuck
Judith Mann
Justin Lehmann-Friese
Lucas Ladendorff
Niclas Voigt
EMIS
Alexander Döring
Andreas Kammerer
Andrej Österle
Björn Allgaier
Claudius Schultis
Daniel Zawadski
Dennis Fischer
Dennis Opitz
Enrico Spinuzza
Fabian Riesle
Felix Nopper
Florian Steiert
Frank Baumgartner
Fridolin Lickert
Kai Hülswitt
Katharina Meßmer
Lena Kreutzer
Martin Zaworski
Matteo Ruf
Maximilian Singler
Nicolas Bennek
Oliver Gebhardt
Philip Enderle
Raphael Reichenbach
Rudolf Fleig
Simon Kaltenbach
Tarek Winterhalter
Thorsten Martens
Walter Benzel
IB Weiss
Mike Schneider
Philip Steinhausen
Robert Liebezeit
Intrasys GmbH
Simon Glaab
Tobias Hollmer
Jora Vision
Arjan van der Meij
Arjen Kunnen
Arnoud van Went
Gary Kruger
Gerrit Schonenveld
Jan Maarten de Raad
Kevin Sebregts
Maartje Walhof
Mohammed El Mazouz
Ricardo Bloemendaal
Richelle de Mooij
Robin van der Want
Roy Ravensbergen
William Clicker
Kraftwerk
Atakan Güleryüz
Christoph Heinzl
Fritz Hammer
Martin Poisel
Michael Fux
Peter Greinecker
Roland Zauner
Ride Construction Service
Dominik Kluszczynski
Dominik Walczak
Jacek Garst
Kamil Tomaszek
Kryspin Zurek
Lucky Garst
Max Eberhard
Piotr Durski
Piotr Komasa
Sorin Urzica
Zbigniew Skweres
Outdoor Factory
Cahit Karakoc
Dila Alkir
Emrah Yücel
Emre Tokmak
Kemal Sengüler
Sedat Özer
Suphi Aydiner
Sally Dark Rides
Andrew Beger
David Jones
Devin Mcdonagh
John Salsbury
Logan Zawacki
Lyudmila Budnik
Michael Conger
Natalya Koroleva
Nicholas Michael
Robert Braddock
Robert Jacoby
Russell Hall
Steven Phillips
Todd Gillrup
Stercom Power Solutions GmbH
Benedikt Eham
Michael Houzer
Streublau Kunstmaler
Alvaro Terroba
Angela Kittner
Anja Hentze
Christin Pinzer
Lisa Schubert
Nora Ferl
Peter Busch
Steffen Griebsch
Suzy Riffel
Valentin Hammermeister
Universal Rocks
Bertrand Lucat
Cristiano Maiuri
Dirk Engelhardt
Fabio Maiuri
Fernando Castro
Francisco Araujo
Helder Lopes
Helder Pinheiro
Henrique Ferreira
José Lopes
Pedro Santos
Ricardo Carvalho
Tomas Hudec
Wētā Workshop Ltd
Cameron May
Chris Williamson
Jack Taylor
Jordan Thomson
Omelia Iliffe
Richard Taylor
Zoilo Abad
Additional suppliers
A.Chini
Adams Blitzschutz-System GmbH
Algeco Baustelleneinrichtung
Anwaltskanzlei Dr Thoma
AP+M Architekten
Aquila Wasseraufbereitungstechnik GmbH
B+N Tortechnik
Becker Gerüstbau
Becker Lichttechnik
BS Klima GmbH
Bühler Fensterbau
Büro für Hydrogeologie, Eugen Funk Eugen
Butbah
C. Kempf Rollgitterbau die Bauingenieure dq Fliesenbau, Volker Decoux
Drillexpert GmbH
EDV IT- WLAN UNITBYTE
EHBS Knecht GmbH & Co. KG
Ferdinand Kindler GmbH
Friedmann Großküchen
Gerhard Herrmann
Sanitärtechnik
Göppert Beratende Ing. Grässlin,Kälte-Klima Gewerbekälte
Heinrich Schmid
Hewe Fenster
Holzbau Mingolla
Huber Gebäudetechnik
K.-H. Wagner
Kantwerg Trockenbau und Brandschutz
Karl Schies GmbH
Keller planen + bauen
Kessel und Vertec
Kirchenkamp GmbH
KRÄ- Gewerbekälte
Kuhner Metallbau
Landschaftsökologie Laufer
Magic Box, Elke Kies
Manfred Obert
Maier – Kaufmann GmbH
Marc Berle
Marko Stuckateuerbetrieb
Mau GmbH
Michael Berger
MSG-Kran
NBK-Natursteine und Baustoffhandel
Netze BW
O & H Druckvisionen GmbH
Paul Becker GmbH
Peduzzi
Penzel
Perrot Turmuhren
Peter Gerber GmbH
Pfeifer Consult
Reck Metallbau
Rendler Bau GmbH
Ringswald & Beck
Robers Lampen
Sauter-Cumulus GmbH Freiburg
Sautter Industrietechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Schindler Aufzüge und Fahrtreppen GmbH
Schmider Bauservice
Schwarzwaldelemente
Semak Sarl
Soustronic Sicherheitstechnik GmbH
Stehle Björn
TAA Industries
Take Care Company, KarlFriedrich Kempf
Total Feuerschutz
Vertec GmbH
Weingärtner
Werbefabrik
Werner Hebing Huber
Wolfsperger
Zaunteam Ortenau
Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac has been honored with the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement! A special shoutout to Europa-Park for receiving this great award and our family member MACK Rides for pushing the boundaries of innovative engineering.
We are proud to push experiences beyond, blending high-speed thrills with immersive storytelling – made possible by the visionary collaboration of one big team.
CHEERS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED AND ALL OTHER WINNERS. www.mackone.eu
The first ever Zootopia-themed land at a Disney Park authentically brings the world of the film to life, achieving a unique level of authenticity, immersion and storytelling. Zootopia opened in late 2023.
Following in the footsteps of Judy Hopps, guests journey to the mammal metropolis of Zootopia. Arrival is on the day of the annual Zootopia Day Concert where the city comes to life in celebration of predator and prey living together peacefully. The outside world gives way to this immersive, storydriven environment packed with rich detail and fun, where anyone can be anything.
This themed land features a new dark ride experience and innovative entertainment program, as well as themed retail, food and beverage. The signature attraction, “Hot Pursuit,” is a trackless dark ride that takes guests on a thrilling chase with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde through Zootopia’s different districts on all-terrain cruisers. From racing through the streets of Sahara Square, to falling from the forest canopy in Rainforest District, the ride leverages the many flavors of the world.
Live entertainment on the upper floors brings a variety of beloved characters to life. The show combines live puppetry, special effects, and music from the film's soundtrack as well as a guest-favorite original song. Experience windows spring to life, showcasing the daily interactions of our cherished Zootizens. From chatting and taking selfies to meditating, the entire street
becomes imbued with the delightful atmosphere of Zootopia! The themed retail shop, Fashions by Fru Fru, offers over 200 products.
In an effort to create an incredibly diverse themed environment, Zootopia combines futuristic technology, immersive theming, and a sense of humor to provide a magical experience. There are rich storytelling and world-building opportunities at every turn.
Walt Disney Imagineering
Project Management
Tim Warzecha
Jin Wang
Annie Zheng
Sophia Song
Liang Zhou
Lin Hua
Language Support
Frank Peng
Jasmine Wang
Creative
Stan Dodd
Dustin Schofield
Chang Xu
Ride
Kelly Johnson
Jun Luo
Samuel Lu
Noah Jiang
Allan Wang
Hana Pan
Jeff Zhao
Show
Eunice Roy
Lincoln Hui
Richard Ma
Sharon Ren
Billy Song
ShaoJian He
ChengKai Yan
Jason Zhang
Jake Wu
Joyce Chen
Freddy Ge
Jim Xia
Qing Hu
Kris Wang
Eric Chen
Carol Xu
Winnie Xu
Swee Keat Ng
Adam Chen
Susan Du
Hedi He
Jack Wang
Jiatu Li
Xianfeng Lu
Josh Hong
Asha Xue
Megan Mi
Eric Wang
Alex Wang
Architecture, Design &
Engineering
Philip Shen
Leo Yu
Eric Li
Tina Yang
Enya Huang
Wenshu Lin
Tim Lin
Joanne Peng
Ray Shi
Gary Wu
Ming Zhang
Emma Shan
Guilin Yu
Junhao Jiang
Baolong Li
Rachel Tao
Xialing Lu
Johnson Zhuang
Project Development
Willis Huang
Lin Li
Nicole Jiao
Wendy Wu
Hongwei Zheng
Jerry Lu
Office Services
Irene He
Kevin Li
Riley Feng
Daria Miao
Planning
Lance Xiang
Catherine Liu
Jethro Zhao
Finance
Sharon Jiang
Janet Jin
Ethan Wang
Anthony Wu
Lucy Zhang
Communications
Frank Reifsnyder
Estimating
Daneo Shen
Trista Sun
Michael Xue
Construction Management
Tony Yang
Aries Gao
Hock Song
Bin Xia
John Chen
Billy Sun
Yongqiang Zhu
Zhiguang Jin
Danson Du
Bob Jiang
Vicky Wang
Max Zhou
Winter Wang
Maggie Min
Oliver Zhu
Yong Zhang
Jessie Chen
William Zhou
Minjie Zhu
Man Yang
Arthur Wang
Kevin Wang
Angus Huang
Shihui Wang
Terry Yan
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
Seven Shen
Kelly Zhu
Xiaohui Bu
Contract Administration
Bernie Yu
Kathy Lou
Peggy Kwok
Rainbow Wu
Xin Yang
Design & Show Quality
Tzuyin Lu
Danqing Zhang
Sharon Wang
Imagineers in US who Supported Zootopia over 700 Hours
Aaron Arendt
Thanh Nguyen
Kathryn McChesney
Stuart Calder
Jared Kleier
Janice Wiener
Jensen Lin
Christopher Matinas
Reona Toney
Archie Te
Gregory Mooney
Corbett Brown
Steve Fu
Rachel Miller
Hlynur Snorrason
Edward Zeigler
Ken Chan
Alexander Mendoza
Siyao Kong
Brandon Franco
John Harvey
Laurel Jean Scribner Abbott
Paul Lahaise
Juanita Estrada Henao
Walter Hurtarte
Melaniya Ayrikyan
Le Chuong
Rick Won
Alexander
Euce Chuang
Genevieve S Sheehan
Nicole Gonzalez
Laura Nicole West
Cheryl Chi
Luis Barrios III
Andrew A Sanchez
Tiffany M Anguiano
Donald Troy Leverton
Gary Gold
Wesley H Dewberry
Sidney A Fox
Paul A Beasley
Wendy Gish
Jeffrey D Wiley
Heather S Greene
Jeanne Angel
Delaney M Bales
Louise Pang
Steven M Chapman
Michael W Horen
Jacob D Patrick
Pamela A Johnson-Gill
Sean M Robb
Eric S Hirota
Blaine P Kennison
Matthew T Staley
Mayumi A Davies
Marnie R Burress
Patrick J McNaull
Christopher W Hastings
Xiaoning Zhou
Neal M Emery
William Edward Bredberg
Daniel T Ridgers
Lujan I Decima
Kathleen E Gore
Dennis Villanueva Bayot
Star Higgins
Michelle A Tritt
Bryant D Boyle
Terence Michael McDonald
Kimberly Lau
Rosa B Duran
Ronald R Hamming
Angie N Ramirez
Alex Guerrero
Corban Wyatt Prim
Franklin T Batino
Christopher J Mazzella
Joseph Kadin
Mike Kutcher
John D Bielat
Melissa Villanueva
Thomas M Fotie
Emily Ann Gavol
John A Argo
Megan S Duncan
Andrea Lawler Baker
Dino A Fauci
Calvin Lee Walsten
Nicole Herr
Edward J Rektorik
Pasqual Sebastia Redon
Soumya K Iyer
Matthew J Strandskov
Rodrigo Banuelos Torres
Kenneth C Doyle
Dan C Pacholski
Emilio Loza
William K Swapp
Augie T Agustin
Nicole C Calero
Louisa M Kwan
Corey D Drake
Michael J Fracassi
Barry S Golding
Thomas E Child
Morgan K Montalvo
Frank Tran
Taralyn Omolara Von Der Linden
Marques Fallejo
Jeffery N McCain
Christopher Emory Brown
Kaitlin C Harper
Morgan L Richardson
Rick L Wullschleger
Halsey Paige Edmunds
Christopher Bunao
Gate Wanchalerm Margrod
David P Goldberg
Donald Matheson
Freddie Bufford
Gary Hill
Mariko A Cataldo
Victor Alfonso Perez Garcia
Josh Lemar
Kelly Lemar
Vendors
Show Production
Shawn Shao, Zootopia
Show Elements Design and Fabrication, Hexagon Tower (Tianjin) Technology Co., Ltd.
Pan Guihua, ZOOTOPIA SUPPLY OF SHOW AUDIO VIDEO SYSTEM, Shanghai Acetec Audio Amplifying System Technnology Co., Ltd
Matthew Wang, Zootopia MPC for Dome, Shanghai Hirain Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd. & Nanjing Kaben Technology Co., Ltd.
Cui Chao, Zootopia MPC for Dome, Shanghai Hirain Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd. & Nanjing Kaben Technology Co., Ltd.
Zhou Xiaojun, ZOOTOPIA
MATERIAL PROCUREMENT CONTRACT PROJECTION
SOFT SCREEN SUPPLY, Nanjing Fagoo Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
Zhang Ting, MATERIAL PROCUREMENT CONTRACT
DESIGN AND SUPPLY OF LED DISPLAY SCREENS FOR ZOOTOPIA, Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Co., Ltd. Winson To, MATERIAL PROCUREMENT CONTRACT for Show Control Equipment, Nam Wah Intelligent Automation Limited
Micey Chen, Show Control Field Support Services for Zootopia, BIRKET ENGINEERING (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
Maggie Peng, MPC for Graphic S3-OS of Zootopia, Shanghai TIFF Signs Co., Ltd.
Raymond Chung, MPC for Graphic S2-MO of Zootopia, Zhong Shan Runze Display Products Ltd.
Sarah Tse, MPC for Graphic S4-OS of Zootopia, Zhongshan City Successful Metal's Product Company
Raymond Xu, PO for Themed Lighting Fixtures of Zootopia (Local), Crystallize. Me Ltd.
Richard Gui , Theme Lighting Package 3 of Zootopia (Local), Boardwalk Home Furnishings Co., Ltd.
PO for Themed Lighting Fixtures of Zootopia (International), Environmental Lighting For Architecture, Inc.
PO for Themed Lighting Fixtures of Zootopia (International), NERI NORTH AMERICAN INC.
PO for Themed Lighting Fixtures of Zootopia (International), ROBERS-LEUCHTEN GMBH & CO. KG
PO for Themed Lighting Fixtures of Zootopia (International), LASPEC Lighting
Vehicle Production
Roush Entertainment Systems
DAIFUKU AIRPORT AMERICA CORPORATION (formally known as Jervis B. Webb Company)
Wayside Equipment
Rockwell Automation (China) Co., Ltd.
RCS Engineering
Doors/Gates/Tilt wayside ride equipment, Prism Systems, Inc.
Shanghai Shangdian Mechanical & Electromechanical Equipment Engineering Co., Shanghai Shangdian Mechanical & Electromechanical Equipment Engineering Co., Ltd.
General Contractors and Subcontractors, Suppliers
General Contractors, Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd
Decorations Contractor, Jiangsu Xutian Construction Engineering Co,Ltd (TSG)
Steel Structure Contractor, Shanghai Mechanized Construction Grolp Co. Ltd.
Theme Construction (Theme
Plastering, Rockery, Epoxy), Shanghai D&B Landscape and Construction Co.,Ltd GRP, GRC supplierss, Beijing Unique Internationl Exhibition Co., Ltd.
Theme Construction (Theme Painting & Outdoor Railing), Shanghai Changhao Construction Engineering Co., Ltd
Theme Construction (Theme Concrete), Beijing Orangestone Science and Technology Co., Lid
Landscaping Construction, Shanghai Gardens (Group) Co.,Ltd.
Theme Construction (453 Façade & Theme Plastering on Retaining Walls), Fujian Haoye construction Engineering Co., LTD
Security Technology Construction, Shanghai International Trade and Technology Co., Ltd
Show Set Construction, Hexagon Tower (Tianjin) Technology Co., Ltd.
Light Tower Contractor, Shanghai lEREN Construction Engineering Show Set Electrical Contractor, Shanghai Acetec Audio Amplifying Technology Engineering Co., Ltd.
Dome installation Contractor, Shanghai Hirain Digital Technology Group Co., LTD
LED Screen Installation Contractor, Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Co., Ltd.
DigiWave showcases cutting-edge prototypes and digital innovations through an immersive, multi-sensory journey. Set against the backdrop of a science fiction storyline, the experience unfolds using advanced 5G AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) technology and a combination of software engineering, including musictech, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and visual computing.
Participants interact with the environment in real time by touching and engaging with devices, receiving immediate audio and visual feedback that brings the space to life in an evolving experience that adjusts according to the individual's and group's choices, blending technology with regional culture.
The venue is divided into six thematic zones, inspired by human sensory organs - Detection, Synapse, Brain, Eye, Hand, and Heart - connected to the overarching narrative, "Awake the Giants." Before entering the experience, participants set up a personal ID through the Line app, which allows them to create a custom AI character named "Echo," that helps guide them through the venue.
DigiWave’s synergy between storyline, soundscape, and lighting effects responds to participant collaboration, generating a unique version of the venue every time. By integrating advanced technology with regional cultural elements, the festival redefines how we experience technology in daily life, offering a one-of-a-kind, immersive art-tech exhibition that blends science and creativity.
The seamless blend of technology with participant input creates a deeply engaging experience while remaining cost-effective by focusing on a few key, well-integrated systems. The personalized storytelling with the ability of participants to create their own AI companion makes the event feel tailored to each individual, increasing emotional investment without the need for set changes.
These two features - interactive, real-time technology and personalized engagement - demonstrate how DigiWave delivers an award-worthy immersive experience, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a limited budget.
Project Development
Adviser Organizers: Kaohsiung City Government Ministry of Digital Affairs
Adviser Organizers: Ministry of Economic Affairs
Official Organizers: Economic Development Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government Administration for Digital Industries
Executive Organizer: Taiwan Academia Industry Consortium
Executive Crea&ve Director, Ar&st & Curator: Dolce Wang
Producer: -act- Itd.
Sponsor: Brogent Technologies
Sponsor: Funique VR Studio
Sponsor: Moondream Reality
Venue Design and Production Design
Technical Design: Fugu Fish Creations
Technical Design: Dolce Wang
Interactive Integration & Production: Fugu Fish Creations
Interactive Integration & Production: MoonShine Animation
Interactive Integration & Production: Shooting Lab
Interactive Integration & Production: Dolce Wang
Music & Sound Design: Dolce Wang
Interior Designer: Hsu Fu Chih 徐福治
Production
Venue Construction: RC ASIA Ltd.
Technical System Integration: Ctrls Ltd.
Light and Sound Real-time Interactive Control: Brogent Technologies Inc.
Production Affiliates: Eighty Four Eighty Five
Production Affiliates: Pulse Hyper Media
Production Affiliates: Sample Animal
360 Projec&on & 5G Live Streaming: Shooting Lab
Audio Vendor: WL.TECH CO., LTD.
Projection Systems Vendor: Raymesolution Ltd.
Projection Systems Sponsors: Brogent Technologies Inc.
Media Production
Media Production: Synthetic Dosage Digital Sense Ltd.
Media Production: MoonShine Animation
Media Production: Shooting Lab
Live Entertainment Production
Live Performers: Dolce Wang
Live Performers: DJ DindinChang
Vendors
Marketing: A Star Hub Co., Ltd.
Marketing: KKDAY.com international company limited (Taiwan)
The Time Travel Agency at the Electric Forest Festival originated from a playful spirit and a thirst for adventure. What started as a few character actors leading festival-goers on whimsical chases has blossomed into a beloved institution. The Electric Forest Festival is an immersive music and arts festival held annually in Rothbury, Michigan. Known for its stunning natural surroundings, the festival transforms a picturesque forest into a vibrant playground of creativity, interactivity and community. Attendees can explore intricately designed art installations, participate in workshops, and engage in themed activities.
The Time Travel Agency took the form of a “Hero’s Quest” in 2019 and has since emerged as the festival's most popular attraction. Players are greeted by lively and fully costumed Time Travel Agents who recruit the “true of heart,” guiding them through the quest details. Equipped with Quest Guides, participants set off to explore the enchanting forest and to solve six interactive puzzles. The experience also includes the opportunity to interact with live storytellers.
On their return after completing all six puzzles, participants return to be celebrated by the Time Travel Agents and rewarded with a special keepsake pin that doubles as a passport to an exclusive secret space theater and bar. These exclusive pins have become highly sought-after collectibles, enticing fans to return and engage once more.
With fresh puzzles introduced each year, players eagerly anticipate the new challenges. The Time Travel Agency quest has become a highlight
of the festival, sparking increased annual visitation and forming a strong social and viral movement. Half of festival patrons (total annual attendance is 50,000) participated in the Time Travel Agency Experience in 2024, representing a 357% increase from 2019. The success of this experience shows the importance of understanding consumer behavior, highlighting the appeal of tactile entertainment that can compliment large-budget technological productions.
Project Development & Production
Ariel Rubin, Creative Lead, Production Lead & Show Lead, Wild Optimists
Juliana Moreno, Creative Lead & Production Lead, Wild Optimists
Nova Han, Creative Director of Electric Forest Music Festival, Nova Han Productions
Travis Flournoy, Show Lead
Alyssa Prince, Casting Director & Costumer, Artist
Ramble Productions
Art & Writing
Ariel Rubin, Interactive Design, Narrative & Script Writing
Juliana Moreno, Interactive Design, Narrative & Script Writing
Travis Flournoy, Video Art
Ryan Sowers, Art, Rutherford Art
Construction & Show
Alissa Kolom, Construction Lead & Show Manager
Elliott Lamborn, Construction & Show Manager
Lenn Karahalios, Construction & Show Assistant
Divinia Foye, Construction & Show Assistant
Candy Carter, Construction
Brett Kuehner, Prop Fabrication, That Guy With The Puzzles
Nicole de Ybarrondo, PA
Taylor Brink, PA
Collen McMillan, PA
Savannah Bulger, PA
Cast
Terence Leclere, Storyteller
Matthew Edick, Storyteller
Karlie Leclere, Cast Lead
Theresa Carranza-Fulmer, Cast Lead
Katey Foley, Cast
Lian-Hua Nitani, Cast
Catherine Stone, Cast
Melana Odegova, Cast
Christin Wright, Cast
Aislinn MacFarland, Cast
Tasha Wall, Cast
Dani Herandez, Cast
Amanda Brewer, Cast
Rachelle Kasten, Cast
Brenna Larks, Cast
Juliette Antony, Cast
Shelby Kinard, Cast
Brianna Corrigan, Cast
Tiffany Romo, Cast
Tanario Riggins, Cast
Festival Production: Forest Ops
Patrick Balduchi, Forest Leader
Brad Lyman, Forest Leader
Paul Gussack, Forest Production Manager, Lambda Productions
Tessa Rochon, Forest Ops
Kristina Rusch, Forest Ops
Sarah Lauce, Contract Administrator, AEG
Special Thanks
Tommy Honton
TEA Recognition of Merit Award
Attraction - Limited Budget
Treasure Hunt: The Ride is a unique, interactive family attraction/piratethemed dark ride open since July 2023 and located on the boardwalk of historic Cannery Row in Monterey, California. It was built exclusively for Cannery Row, and its storyline touches on the real pirate history and local lore of Monterey.
The team that created Treasure Hunt wanted to offer something new to the Cannery Row entertainment mix. They had the vision of a world-class dark ride using the kinds of special effects and immersive storytelling found in the best theme park attractions.
This project achieved a creative and challenging, highly successful retrofit of an 8,145 square foot basement level space that formerly housed a wax museum. Hand-crafted set pieces, animatronics and special effects blend seamlessly with interactive media in this four-part, multi-level, 20-minute experience (15-minute pre-show and 5-minute ride). Guests are invited to go on an expedition into a newly discovered system of caverns located beneath Cannery Row in Monterey Bay. (Legend has it that the caverns were once a secret pirate hideout where treasure was hidden in 1818.) Using onboard interactive “Treasure Collector” devices, guests engage in interactive gameplay to help solve this mystery and find the treasure, while defending themselves from pirate ghosts and other creatures.
Throughout the journey aboard unique “Cavern Cars,” guests are immersed in a richly themed environment of sounds, scents, light mist, themed lighting, hand-crafted set pieces and realistic
animatronics. Treasure Hunt: The Ride met its goals, offering a unique adventure to the millions of annual visitors to historic Cannery Row. Creatively connecting the storyline to Monterey’s real pirate history enhances the authenticity and educational value of the attraction. Guests can discover new elements and clues each time, encouraging repeat visits.
Project Development
Ron Daniels, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Co-Developer
Co-Concept Creator
Co-Creative Director
Co-Producer
Show Director
Script Writer
Dialog Producer
John Daniels, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Co-Developer
Co-Creative Director
Co-Producer
Senior Art Director
Lead Scenic Artist
John Wood, Sally Dark Rides
Partner
Rich Hill, Sally Dark Rides
Co-Creative Director
Co-Concept Creator
Master Planner
Show Director
Art Director
Script Writer
Lauren Wood Weaver, Sally Dark Rides
Public Relations Manager, Marketing
Venue Design and Development
Rich Hill, Concept Architect, Sally Dark Rides
Michael Torres, Concept Architect, Sally Dark Rides
Josh Rudloff, Interior Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Keith Hall, Architect of Record, Pacific Coast Design Center
Keith Hall, Architectural Lighting Designer, Pacific Coast Design Center
BOSE, Acoustical/Audio Designer
Attraction Design and Production Design
Rich Hill, Production Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Miles Woods, Production Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Keith Jones, Production Designer, Sally Dark Rides
John Daniels, Set Designer, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
John Daniels, Rockwork Designer, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Craig Fraser, Concept Artist/Lead Painter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Edward Wilcox, Concept Artist, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Rich Hill, Character Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Rich Hill, Costume Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Josh Rudloff, Vehicle Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Luda Budnick, Costumes and Character Finish, Sally Dark Rides
Natalya Koroleva, Costumes and Character
Finish, Sally Dark Rides
Tony Hanson, Character and Show Lighting Designer, Technilux
Tony Hanson, Lighting Programmer, Technilux
Lisa Hanson, Lighting Programmer, Technilux
Rich Hill, Media Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Mike McCormick, Media Programmer, Pure Imagination
Rich Hill, Music Director, Sally Dark Rides
Rich Hill, Special Effects Designer, Sally Dark Rides
Leo Dorado, Special Effects Programmer, Sally Dark Rides
Rich Hill, Animatronics Designer, Sally Dark Rides
David Jones, Animatronics Programmer, Sally Dark Rides
John Stegall, Technical Director, Sally Dark Rides
John Stegall, Media Systems Designers (Audio, Video, Projection), Sally Dark Rides
Rich Hill, Technical Writer, Sally Dark Rides
Etienne Sainton, Interactive Systems Designer, Alterface
Charles Berg, Design Consultant, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Engineering
Travis Bergstrom, Show Electrical Engineer, Sally Dark Rides
John Stegall, Show Control Engineer, Sally Dark Rides
John Salsbury, Animatronics Engineer, Sally Dark Rides
Gosetto, Ride Systems Engineer
Gosetto, Ride Controls Engineer
Gosetto, Vehicle Engineer
Mike McCormick, Show Mechanical Engineer, M2Designs
Jeff Wilson, Show Mechanical Engineer, Fabricator, Extreme Engineering
Phil Wilson, Show Mechanical Engineer, Fabricator, Extreme Engineering
Production
Todd Gillrup, Show Production Manager, Sally Dark Rides
Leo Dorado, Show Systems Manager, Sally Dark Rides
Ric Hostetter, Scenic Painter, Sally Dark Rides
Russell Hall, Sculptor, Sally Dark Rides
Animatronics Fabricators - Sally Dark Rides
Wesley Parvin, Steve Phillips, Andrew Berger, Nick Michael
Travis Bergstrom, Special Effects Manager, Sally Dark Rides
Special Effects Fabricators - Sally Dark Rides
Leo Dorado, Travis Bergstrom, Matt Lopez
Audio Installers - Sally Dark Rides
Leo Dorado, Travis Bergstrom, Matt Lopez
Video Equipment Installers - Sally Dark Rides
Leo Dorado, Travis Bergstrom, Matt Lopez
Projection Systems Installers - Sally Dark Rides
Travis Bergstrom, John Stegall, Rob Braddock, Ric Hostetter
Show Action Control Programmers - Sally Dark Rides
David Jones, Leo Dorado, Matt Lopez
Travis Bergstrom, Show Control Fabricator, Installer, Sally Dark Rides
Leo Dorado, Show Control Fabricator, Installer, Programmer, Sally Dark Rides
Josh Combs, Scenic Artist, Lighting, Controls Technician, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Mark Sylvestre, Shop Foreman, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Doug Dobrinin, Site Foreman, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Mark Krutsinger, Lead Carpenter, Scenic Fabricator, Animatronic and Ride Technician Lead, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Hector Gonzales, Carpenter, Techinican, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Fabian Arellano, Carpenter, Techinican, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Pedro Arellano, Carpenter, Techinican, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Frank Feliz, Scenic Carpenter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Chance Willis, Scenic Carpenter, Electrician, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Tim Palanek, Scenic Carpenter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Mike St. John, Scenic Carpenter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Dwight Bagby, Concrete, Scenic Carpenter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Kevin Bean, Scenic Carpenter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Mark Van Klaveren, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Joey Nilges, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Jon Harms, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Carly Evanson, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Sheccid Castrejon, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Andrew Gator, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Hanah McKnight, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Tyler Phelps, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Chad Peterson, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Jim Daniels, Scenic Artist/Fabricator/Welder, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Caleb Ayhens, Sculptor, Scenic Artist/Fabricator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Nathan Hammers, Welder, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Richard Ruth, Welder, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
James Blatz, Welder, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Tim Lovegren, CAD Design, CNC Operator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Simon Fraser, CAD Design, 3D printing, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Rob Hart, Graphcs and Signange, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Bill Scruggs, Wood Carver, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Mechanical Systems
Lisa Gosetto, Ride Systems Manager, Gosetto Gosetto
Ride Systems Fabricator
Ride Control Programmer
Vehicle Fabricator
Propulsion Fabricator
Ride Controls Fabricator
Ride Systems Installer
Media Production
Joshua R. Wexler, Executive Producer, Pure Imagination
Sanjee K. Gupta, Executive Producer, Pure Imagination
Nick Soffa, Media Programmer, Pure Imagination
Michael McCormick, Media Director, Producer, Sound Designer, Pure Imagination
Steve Tavernia, Associate Producer, Pure Imagination
Eric Juneau, Associate Producer, Pure Imagination
Matt Goodman, Associate Producer, Pure Imagination
Dean Soto, Voice Actor, Pure Imagination
Michael McCormick, Motion Capture, Pure Imagination
Asi Ben-Avraham, Art Director, Animator, Pure Imagination
Franck Louis-Marie, Graphic Designer, Pure Imagination
Yanni Roussos, Graphic Designer, Pure Imagination
Wasi Ali Khan, Animator, Pure Imagination
David Wurst, Music Composer, Wurst Brothers
Eric Wurst, Music Composer, Wurst Brothers
Dean Soto, Voice Talent
Clark James, Queue Video Producer/Director/Editor, Metaphor
Padraic O'Meara, Queue Video Camera Man, Metaphor
John Sage, Queue Video Voice Actor, Metaphor
Project Management
Donna Gentry, Project Manger, Sally Dark Rides
Chris Weaver, Project Manger, Sally Dark Rides
Logan Zawacki, Project Manger, Sally Dark Rides
Michael Muse, Project Manager, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Jess Muse, Project Coordinator, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Operations (Opening Crew)
Jeff Moser, Operations Manger, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Shelby Daniels, Chief Treasure Hunter, Daniels Wood Land, Inc
Vendors
BOSE, Audio Vendor
Epson, Projection Systems Vendor
Technilux, Lighting Vendor, Technilux
David Graves, General Contractor, David Graves Conctrucion, LLC
Susan Storey, Public Relations Support, Storey to Story Communications
Willrich Owner, D J Willrich Ltd.
Lynn Willrich was the unanimous choice of the Past Presidents Council for the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service award in 2025. The impact that Lynn’s volunteer support to TEA Events has had over the past 10 years extends beyond international borders to create a global impact.
If you have ever been alone attending your first TEA event –particularly TEA SATE Europe and TEA SATE Asia, an IAAPA show somewhere in the world or some other kind of TEA activation, Lynn will be the first person to introduce herself, learn more about you and your company and then introduce you to TEA members who would be the best connections for you and your business. At the TEA booth on a trade show floor, she might convince you of the benefits of membership and sign you up. She’ll welcome you at the registration table and make sure you feel as comfortable as possible in what might be unfamiliar circumstances.
For more than 10 years, Lynn has been connecting people and always offering to help, whether that be with set-up, signing in, badge printing and distribution, wristbands, or other myriad tasks. She knows everyone (and most everyone knows Lynn) so she is also a great resource for wrangling speakers and sponsors when it’s their time to shine. Lynn also typically acts as the timekeeper for SATE Europe and Asia conferences – a thankless task that is critical for the program’s success. For members lost, confused or alone she is the first person to step in and help them feel welcome and part of the group.
Lynn is a Director at DJW (based in Beaulieu UK), who wears many hats - running finance, HR, Health & Safety and general administration for the company. Lynn, who says DJW has been a member of TEA “forever,” has really come into her own as an active, albeit firmly behind-the-scenes volunteer in the past 10 years.
Lynn learned the importance of volunteering from her family - spending 40 years as a Brownie and Guide Leader along
TEA recognizes that its members are crucial to the success of this volunteer-driven organization. The Distinguished Service Award was created in 2012 to recognize individuals who have gone “above and beyond” in their contributions of time, effort and talent to the association. In 2017, the Award for Distinguished Service was renamed for TEA Past President Peter Chernack whose spirit of service embodied the award, and awarded (posthumously) to Peter that same year.
Recognizing exceptional volunteer service to the association, the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award nominations are recommended to the TEA Past Presidents Council who review submissions and vote on a candidate to be presented for approval by the International Board. The recipient of the Service Award is honored during the annual Thea Awards Gala.
with her sisters, following the example of their mother. Her natural instincts of selfless service were honed over many years.
What many people don’t know about Lynn is that she is also a talented Japanese embroidery artist, creating incredibly intricate and stunning pieces, some traditional designs, many of her own creation. Her talents were recognized in 2018 when she was invited to attend a Master Embroidery Workshop in Japan.
When asked why she volunteers, Lynn responds: “TEA is about networking. I like meeting people and connecting people, so it feels completely natural to me to make sure everyone is comfortable. Once I learn a little bit about someone new, it is an easy next step to introduce them to people they should know.”
TEA Event Producer Lindsey Cran has worked with Lynn on events for the past 8+ years. “It’s impossible to imagine SATE Europe without Lynn Willrich. She’s an integral part of the team, always available (and always cheerful!) to support us and the attendees onsite. I’m delighted that she’s being recognized for her exceptional contributions to the event and to the TEA.”
Lynn’s selfless volunteerism and unwavering commitment exemplify the spirit of the Peter Chernack Award for Distinguished Service. The Past Presidents Council congratulates Lynn on this award.
JW Marriot | Orlando Grand Lakes
29 APRIL - 2 MAY 2026