This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:13] David Alpert: Welcome to E-Ticket to Broadway, where Broadway meets Main Street.

[0:19] David Alpert: Here's your host, my pal, David Alpert.

[0:25] David Alpert: Thanks for choosing to listen to E-Ticket to Broadway, where your favorite Broadway stars reveal which classic Disney Parks's attractions make them nauseous.

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[1:03] David Alpert: Also on the website, you can learn how you can become a VIP listener by becoming a Patreon of E-Ticket to Broadway.

[1:11] David Alpert: There are five different levels of giving, all to support the podcast, plus a portion of all the funds raised goes directly to Gilana's Fund, an organization created in 2007, shortly after my oldest sister Gilana passed away.

[1:25] David Alpert: This fund honors her legacy by helping organizations across the country whose missions align with the fund's core values.

[1:32] David Alpert: Inclusion, justice, and acceptance.

[1:39] David Alpert: She's been seen on Broadway in Kiss Me, Kate and currently stars as Nala in The Lion King.

[1:44] David Alpert: Get ready to feel the love tonight.

[1:47] David Alpert: Here's Adrienne Walker.

[1:56] David Alpert: Adrienne, thank you so much for joining me on this episode.

[1:59] David Alpert: I saw a photo of you in middle school, big smile wearing a Nala shirt.

[2:03] David Alpert: So I think it's safe to assume we have a lot of Disney love to talk about.

[2:06] Adrienne Walker: Oh, so much love.

[2:09] Adrienne Walker: So much love.

[2:09] David Alpert: Okay, so take me back in time to Jonesboro, Georgia. Were you a fan of the Disney movies as a kid?

[2:15] Adrienne Walker: Oh, absolutely. It was the thing to watch. Like we had the VHS classic Disney cover, you know.

[2:23] Adrienne Walker: It was just beautiful to see them all lined up and everything. But we didn't have them all because I mean we didn't grow up with that much, you know, extra cash, but Lion King, definitely, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast.

[2:35] Adrienne Walker: Um, I'm thinking there was Angels in the Outfield in there somewhere.

[2:41] Adrienne Walker: Uh The Great Mouse, like was it the great The Great Mouse Detective?

[2:41] Adrienne Walker: The Great Mouse Detective, yeah, definitely. That was a favorite of ours.

[2:49] David Alpert: Okay, this is the first time I think on the podcast someone has talked about Angels in the Outfield.

[2:53] Adrienne Walker: Oh, yeah. You can do it.

[2:55] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh. And like waving your arm, like flapping your arms in that is really wonderful.

[3:02] David Alpert: What about like the classic Disney movies? Snow White, Cinderella, Peter Pan, any of those movies?

[3:07] Adrienne Walker: You know what? Those were later for us. Like I saw bits and pieces, maybe if I went up to a sleepover, but the main group for us would definitely like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King.

[3:22] Adrienne Walker: Like those were on rotation. And um anything else we saw was at someone else's house.

[3:28] David Alpert: Did you relate to any of the characters in those movies?

[3:31] Adrienne Walker: Ooh, that's a good question. I related to Beauty and the Beast.

[3:36] Adrienne Walker: Um, I related to Belle because um I was such an introvert.

[3:40] Adrienne Walker: Um, and and and my head was always in a book, like it still is.

[3:44] Adrienne Walker: I love to read. And so I related to that part of Belle, but the part of her that was, you know, she's so brave and everything, that took some time, you know.

[3:53] Adrienne Walker: I still don't know that I'm extremely brave, but um the reading for sure.

[4:00] David Alpert: Well, we love Belle. What about any of the songs? Did was there like a signature song when you were a kid walking down the street?

[4:06] Adrienne Walker: Yeah. Oh yeah. For I mean, anything would you know how Peeble Bryson was like the only one singing all of the songs?

[4:15] Adrienne Walker: So basically anything Peebo Bryson was doing, we were listening to.

[4:19] Adrienne Walker: But um, uh oh, The Little Mermaid, duh.

[4:22] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh. So part of your world, for sure.

[4:25] Adrienne Walker: Anything from Beauty and the Beast, like anything from Beauty and the Beast, they were classics.

[4:31] Adrienne Walker: And um, just can't wait to be king.

[4:33] Adrienne Walker: Can you feel the love tonight?

[4:35] Adrienne Walker: Uh Aladdin.

[4:36] Adrienne Walker: Oh my god, we love Aladdin so much.

[4:38] Adrienne Walker: And by we, I mean my sister Jacqueline and I were only 18 months apart, and so we were watching these movies together.

[4:45] Adrienne Walker: But yeah, uh um, we probably watched Aladdin too much.

[4:45] Adrienne Walker: We probably watched Aladdin a lot.

[4:52] Adrienne Walker: Yeah. That's I mean, like those VHSs, we watched them all the time, of course.

[4:56] Adrienne Walker: We didn't have internet or YouTube or you know, that's what you would watch.

[5:00] Adrienne Walker: You just pop in a movie, just you know, sit down, get snacks.

[5:05] Adrienne Walker: Commit.

[5:06] David Alpert: And you commit, yeah.

[5:07] David Alpert: You and I both share a love for Mulan.

[5:10] Adrienne Walker: Yes.

[5:10] Adrienne Walker: I love Mulan.

[5:12] David Alpert: Would you say that she's your favorite Disney princess?

[5:14] Adrienne Walker: Yes, hands down.

[5:16] Adrienne Walker: I loved that cartoon.

[5:17] Adrienne Walker: Yes.

[5:17] Adrienne Walker: I understand it's problematic, but I loved it.

[5:20] David Alpert: Did you have any favorite songs or moments that you would quote as a kid?

[5:24] Adrienne Walker: Ooh, I don't know that I quoted anything.

[5:28] Adrienne Walker: There's a lot of great quotes.

[5:29] Adrienne Walker: There, yeah.

[5:30] Adrienne Walker: Just from Mushu alone.

[5:31] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[5:32] Adrienne Walker: But I think for me it was um, I liked um I'll make a man out of you and Reflection.

[5:40] Adrienne Walker: And I um and I haven't seen the film in so long.

[5:44] Adrienne Walker: I feel like I'm gonna be so rusty with like my favorite things.

[5:48] Adrienne Walker: But honestly, what I loved is that she made this huge decision for her family.

[5:53] Adrienne Walker: And um, yeah, that's why I've always enjoyed Mulan.

[5:57] Adrienne Walker: But yeah, I I mean, hey, if we want to talk about Disney problems like later on, when you know, in hindsight, I I totally get that too.

[6:04] David Alpert: Yeah.

[6:05] David Alpert: We can acknowledge the problems while also remembering our childhood.

[6:07] Adrienne Walker: Yes.

[6:08] Adrienne Walker: You know, but it's interesting.

[6:09] Adrienne Walker: Mulan and Belle both sacrifice for their father.

[6:12] Adrienne Walker: They're both, you know, they're kind of odd in their own way, and they really like make positive change.

[6:19] David Alpert: That's true.

[6:20] Adrienne Walker: I I I I guess I can get down with those those kinds of uh characteristics, those qualities.

[6:27] Adrienne Walker: There's a lot of differences, but I think at their core, I I love that both Mulan and Belle are, you know, they sacrifice so much.

[6:34] Adrienne Walker: Their other princesses kind of want something and they just go for what they want.

[6:38] Adrienne Walker: But these two are really trying to protect their family and their honor.

[6:42] David Alpert: That is so true.

[6:43] David Alpert: What look at you just breaking that down?

[6:46] Adrienne Walker: You know, I spend a lot of time thinking about Disney with this podcast.

[7:02] David Alpert: Okay, when was the first time that you remember going to a Disney theme park?

[7:07] Adrienne Walker: I believe that I must have been in middle school and we went with our family.

[7:14] Adrienne Walker: And I think that this was the first time.

[7:16] Adrienne Walker: And and I I'm a little like blurry on it just because uh I get I get all of the the vacations out of sequence in a little bit.

[7:25] Adrienne Walker: But um yeah, I remember we went with my sister Keisha, who's older than me, she's 15 years older than me, um, and her kids and uh my parents, and we went to all of the parks.

[7:39] Adrienne Walker: Well, not all, because we didn't go to the water parks or anything like that, but we went to the main parks, and so I don't know what year that was, but I think I was like 12.

[7:49] David Alpert: Do you remember any of the rides that you went on that you loved?

[7:53] Adrienne Walker: I loved everything.

[7:56] Adrienne Walker: I did. I remember thinking this is really cool because I'm from Jonesboro, Georgia, so the only theme park we had gone to at that point was Six Flags, uh, you know, outside of Atlanta.

[8:07] Adrienne Walker: And so um I was just I remember thinking it was clean, you know, and um that the that the all the shops had such great treats and everything, and um, and as far as rides, I'm I'm thinking Tower of Terror stayed with me for sure.

[8:24] Adrienne Walker: Um it's a small world, definitely.

[8:27] David Alpert: Those are two extremes.

[8:28] Adrienne Walker: You just mentioned like this like thrill ride that drops you in this very peaceful boat ride.

[8:34] Adrienne Walker: I love the range.

[8:36] Adrienne Walker: To be honest, they they both kind of scared me because to be in it's a small world with all these small little faces singing the same song over and over.

[8:46] Adrienne Walker: I it was I was just really in my head about it.

[8:48] Adrienne Walker: But now that I've gone recently, I'm like, oh, this is really cute.

[8:51] Adrienne Walker: This is really sweet.

[8:52] Adrienne Walker: But but at 12, I was like, oh, I'm kind of scared of these dolls like figures with their mouths moving.

[8:59] David Alpert: That would be scary, I think.

[9:00] Adrienne Walker: And there were so many of them at Disney.

[9:02] David Alpert: You know.

[9:03] David Alpert: No, you're talking about Walt Disney World.

[9:05] David Alpert: Have you ever been to Disneyland in California?

[9:07] Adrienne Walker: I've never been to Disneyland.

[9:08] Adrienne Walker: I've never been.

[9:10] Adrienne Walker: No, I want to go.

[9:15] David Alpert: Well, look under your chair.

[9:19] David Alpert: That's where we're going.

[9:20] Adrienne Walker: Are you Oprah?

[9:21] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh.

[9:22] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh.

[9:23] Adrienne Walker: I wish.

[9:25] David Alpert: Wouldn't that be fun?

[9:26] David Alpert: See, because I grew up going to Disneyland.

[9:28] David Alpert: So the first time I went to Disney World, I was an adult.

[9:31] David Alpert: And it was a totally opposite experience.

[9:32] David Alpert: And you'll have that experience when you go to Disneyland with me tomorrow.

[9:51] Adrienne Walker: I believe that someone very close to you is a huge Disney fan.

[9:54] Adrienne Walker: What was that like when you married Austin and his love of Disney?

[9:58] Adrienne Walker: Austin is a huge Disney fan.

[10:02] Adrienne Walker: So much so that he thought that he couldn't like talk about it.

[10:06] Adrienne Walker: You know?

[10:07] Adrienne Walker: He was like, I I don't want you to know how big of a Disney fan I am, but it's just time for you to know.

[10:14] Adrienne Walker: Like, I love Disney.

[10:15] Adrienne Walker: And I was like, it's okay.

[10:16] Adrienne Walker: You can you can love Disney.

[10:18] Adrienne Walker: Um I I think um that his love for Disney came out of his mom's love for Disney.

[10:24] Adrienne Walker: So his mom, like, like legit loves Disney.

[10:29] Adrienne Walker: I remember the first time I went to their house in Kansas City, uh, it was Christmas time, and she had all of the figurines um out everywhere, like anywhere you could decorate that was Christmas related was also Disney related.

[10:46] Adrienne Walker: You know, all the mugs, she had different uh themed mugs, all the princesses in a mug and all, you know.

[10:53] Adrienne Walker: Um, and so he loves Disney, and I think for him it's just the that it's uh uh a culmination of beautiful art and beautiful storytelling and excellence, and he just loves all of that, you know.

[11:09] Adrienne Walker: That when you go to Disney, there are certain parameters that that are that they're always gonna hit, and he does he's never let down, he's never disappointed by Disney.

[11:17] Adrienne Walker: So yeah, I've gone to Disney more since we've been together than before in my entire life before that point, you know.

[11:25] Adrienne Walker: So, like we went on a Disney cruise, we were supposed to go on a Disney cruise last year, and that got canceled, and then we moved it to this year, and then it also got cancelled again.

[11:34] Adrienne Walker: So we still have this big Disney cruise to go on to take his mom and everything, but um, yeah, I've gone to the park so many times since Austin and I have been together.

[11:44] David Alpert: Yeah.

[11:45] David Alpert: So many of I mean, me included, and so many of our listeners, you know, we do have that moment of being like true Disney nerds and feeling, you know, a little embarrassed, like Austin is so I appreciate what you did for him by saying it's okay, and if you can just tell our listeners right now that it's okay as well.

[12:01] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, it is.

[12:02] Adrienne Walker: It is okay to love Disney.

[12:05] Adrienne Walker: You you're allowed, like you're allowed to love Disney for the rest of your lives.

[12:25] David Alpert: Adrienne, you shared online that your dream is to voice an animated character.

[12:29] David Alpert: Is there any Disney character that you wish you had given voice to?

[12:33] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh, I've never even thought of that.

[12:36] Adrienne Walker: If there was a Disney character I could have given voice to, I have no clue.

[12:41] Adrienne Walker: I have never thought of that.

[12:43] Adrienne Walker: Um Hercules would have been pretty cool.

[12:49] Adrienne Walker: Like the god Hercules.

[12:51] Adrienne Walker: No, no, not to be Hercules, but one of the um the muses.

[12:55] Adrienne Walker: Yes, those muses.

[12:57] Adrienne Walker: We love those muses.

[12:58] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, that would have been pretty amazing.

[13:00] Adrienne Walker: But I mean, honestly, I the women that did it, like they killed it.

[13:03] Adrienne Walker: So of course.

[13:04] David Alpert: Yeah, and that's why it's a hard question to answer because everyone's already done such a great job.

[13:09] Adrienne Walker: Like, what am I gonna do?

[13:10] David Alpert: Yeah.

[13:11] Adrienne Walker: Well, like a revival, you know? Just be like, okay, that was I I I honor the original, I want to try it again.

[13:11] David Alpert: You know.

[13:17] Adrienne Walker: I like that. If you could create an animated Disney character that you could give voice to, what would the character be? Would it be a villain, a hero, you know, royalty, a sidekick, animal? What do you think your character would be?

[13:31] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh. I love the idea of being a sidekick because I I just I feel like they have the best jokes. They're always the one to come in the clutch and save the day. And so, yeah, I would love to be the sidekick and like take a little weight off like being the like any kind of leading character, you know. Um, yeah, the sidekick for sure.

[13:55] David Alpert: Do you have any favorite sidekicks from Disney?

[13:57] Adrienne Walker: I mean, I think we mentioned Mushu already.

[14:00] David Alpert: Yeah, yeah.

[14:01] Adrienne Walker: And Abu.

[14:02] David Alpert: Oh, yeah. A boo is a he's a man, he's a solid friend, right?

[14:06] Adrienne Walker: Yes, a friend like me.

[14:08] David Alpert: Yeah, yeah.

[14:09] Adrienne Walker: Not like me, but you know, you know where I'm going with that. So speaking of using your artistic side for Disney, let's talk about the fact that you play Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Do you remember what it was like when you saw Circle of Life for the first time on stage?

[14:21] David Alpert: Oh my gosh. Was that before you were cast?

[14:24] Adrienne Walker: Yes. It was in uh 2009. I was in Atlanta. I saw the tour. Um I can't remember the name the theater. It wasn't at the Fox. It was at a different theater. But uh I my mind was blown. I could not believe that they were parading down the aisles, that we were looking at animal like I just remember being so overcome.

[14:48] Adrienne Walker: I hadn't seen any piece of theater like that before. I I just thought it was so beautiful. And now knowing how tours work, because at that time I didn't know anything about touring shows or anything. Now knowing how touring shows work, like just the simple fact that they can tour something like The Lion King is crazy to me, you know. Um so yeah, Circle of Life took my breath away.

[15:11] Adrienne Walker: And and Rafiki, just seeing that Rafiki had been rewritten as a female role was like mind blowing to me too. You know, I'm like, hey, anything can change.

[15:21] David Alpert: Yeah, of course. Do you sometimes on Broadway try and sneak your way into that number?

[15:26] Adrienne Walker: Oh yeah. Well, not into it, but I watch it from the back of the house.

[15:34] David Alpert: And you're like I would get trampled so fast.

[15:38] Adrienne Walker: That's right. That that backstage Choreo is just as intense as the on stage choreo, you know, like everyone has their place.

[15:44] Adrienne Walker: And one time I was uh because I was social media captain for a while, so I was always taking photos behind the scenes, and uh one time I was like, you know, I really need to get some of this stuff, this pre-show stuff, and I stayed until the end of Circle of Life, you know, the blackout. It is a complete madhouse back there.

[16:02] David Alpert: No one knows.

[16:03] Adrienne Walker: Like I really thought you were gonna say it's a complete zoo.

[16:06] David Alpert: Oh, that would have been perfect.

[16:07] Adrienne Walker: It's a complete zoo. We can edit it if we want.

[16:11] Adrienne Walker: So it is a complete zoo back there. Like, literally. But um, everyone is like running around and and they're not used to extra bodies being back there. So you really have to be just, you know, out of the way.

[16:24] David Alpert: Yeah.

[16:24] Adrienne Walker: They're gonna pull a Mufasa.

[16:26] David Alpert: Yeah.

[16:27] Adrienne Walker: That's wrong. I shouldn't say that. Um, is there a favorite moment that you have during the show when playing Nala?

[16:34] Adrienne Walker: Hmm. I love the argument scene with Simba because it's the one bit for me that I feel like changes every night. It's the scene that it's just so the pace can change, um, ha the inflections change. It's just the one piece that I do that feels different. Everything else feels so regimented and care it has to be um we have to be precise just so that we don't hurt each other.

[16:59] Adrienne Walker: But that moment, that moment always really feels real, you know, like this is happening live and live in color right now.

[17:07] David Alpert: Is there any song from the show that you don't sing but wish that you could?

[17:11] Adrienne Walker: Oh man, Endless Night.

[17:13] Adrienne Walker: It's a great song. I love Endless Night. I actually sing it with him backstage every night. He has no clue. Um but yeah, Endless Night is such a beautiful song. But honestly, I love all the music.

[17:25] Adrienne Walker: I also sing uh the lioness chant all the time too. Uh because like, man, the music is just so great. I haven't even gotten tired of the music.

[17:35] Adrienne Walker: And I've done a lot of shows where I'm like, all right, I'm kinda sick of this song. Never in The Lion King. There's not one song I'm tired of.

[17:42] Adrienne Walker: Well, maybe maybe Chow Down.

[17:47] David Alpert: Chow chow down is a is a bold choice.

[17:50] Adrienne Walker: I I'm with you.

[17:52] David Alpert: So, you know, The Lion King ends, curtained down. Spoiler alert, Simba ascends to the throne. What do you think Nala does next?

[18:00] Adrienne Walker: Oh man, Nala, I feel like is Simba's right hand person. So she's leading and guiding. I she's not a quiet companion. Uh so I think Nala's next move is to keep the kingdom uh safe and and to never let what happened or what occurred with Scar happen again.

[18:22] David Alpert: Right.

[18:22] Adrienne Walker: I'm sure she becomes like some sort of government official as well. Like she's leading the cabinet or something.

[18:27] David Alpert: Oh, I like that.

[18:27] Adrienne Walker: Yeah. Like let Simba be like the royalty, and then she's like, cool, cool, cool. I'm gonna make the government, I'm gonna make sure everything's fair and equal.

[18:35] David Alpert: We love Nala.

[18:37] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, she's totally like Michelle Obama, but as a lion.

[18:41] David Alpert: Yeah.

[18:42] Adrienne Walker: Yes. In an interview, you mentioned that Nala makes bold decisions and bold choices. Have you ever made a bold decision at a Disney theme park?

[18:51] Adrienne Walker: Ooh. You know what? I am gonna, you know, punch one of those small world dolls in the head. You know what? I think the boldest I've ever been at a Disney park is um like, you know what? I am just gonna walk in the rain in the pouring rain and wait for this ride. I'm not gonna cower and go somewhere. I'm not pulling out my poncho.

[19:14] David Alpert: I mean, that's bold.

[19:15] Adrienne Walker: That's about as bold as I've gotten. Um I did try to drink around the world, but um I I wish I hadn't.

[19:25] David Alpert: That's right.

[19:26] Adrienne Walker: That was a bold choice you maybe regret.

[19:27] David Alpert: Yes.

[19:28] Adrienne Walker: Got it. I love asking this question. If you had to get a job at the parks, which job would you choose?

[19:34] Adrienne Walker: Oh, I like the idea of being a greeter.

[19:37] David Alpert: Yes.

[19:38] Adrienne Walker: Um what else? Like you could work um in one of the stores, you could work in an attraction, custodial has a great job because they have to go everywhere.

[19:49] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, I think I'd want to be a greeter. Because you're getting a chance to see a bunch of people come to Disney maybe for the first time, and like that's gotta be a great experience to see their eyes just open up and take it all in.

[20:03] David Alpert: I'm with you. That that's my job.

[20:06] Adrienne Walker: Oh, for all right.

[20:09] David Alpert: Oh, I'm swearing swear.

[20:30] David Alpert: It's time for fast pass answers. I'm gonna put 30 seconds on the clock after I ask you the first question to answer as many as you can. Are you ready?

[20:38] Adrienne Walker: I'm ready.

[20:40] David Alpert: Okay, here we go. Adrienne Walker, name any song from The Lion King.

[20:46] Adrienne Walker: The Circle of Life.

[20:47] David Alpert: Name any country in Epcot.

[20:50] Adrienne Walker: Canada.

[20:51] David Alpert: Favorite snack in the parks.

[20:54] Adrienne Walker: Ooh, Dole Whips.

[20:56] David Alpert: True or false, you can feel the love tonight.

[20:59] Adrienne Walker: True.

[21:00] David Alpert: Name any character from Mulan.

[21:02] Adrienne Walker: Mulan.

[21:03] David Alpert: Name a Disney villain.

[21:05] Adrienne Walker: Gaston.

[21:06] David Alpert: Favorite Broadway musical.

[21:08] Adrienne Walker: Ooh, Carolina Change.

[21:10] David Alpert: Name any Disney feline that speaks English.

[21:14] Adrienne Walker: Nala.

[21:15] David Alpert: Yes.

[21:17] Adrienne Walker: It was the question mark.

[21:18] David Alpert: It was the Nala question.

[21:19] Adrienne Walker: Yes, that's right.

[21:21] David Alpert: I was like, wait, feline. I don't know.

[21:23] Adrienne Walker: Great job, though.

[21:25] David Alpert: Great job.

[21:26] Adrienne Walker: Short circuiting right there.

[21:27] David Alpert: I mean, Canada, bold choice.

[21:31] Adrienne Walker: And you love a Dole Whips.

[21:33] David Alpert: Yeah, who doesn't love a Dole Whips?

[21:36] Adrienne Walker: You know, I famously have never ordered one at a Disney park.

[21:40] David Alpert: Really?

[21:41] Adrienne Walker: That's like a big deal. Like I tried it. Austin and I just recently went to uh Hawaii.

[21:47] Adrienne Walker: And so we stayed at Alani for five nights. And this woman was upset because the Dole Whips counter didn't open until 11.

[21:57] Adrienne Walker: And you know, their their time difference between uh the East Coast and Hawaii is six hours, and so you know, it's 8 a.m. and it's 2 p.m. in her brain, and she's like, Where's my Dole Whips? You know.

[22:08] David Alpert: Yeah, it's people love their Dole Whips.

[22:10] Adrienne Walker: They do.

[22:17] David Alpert: Hold on, you're finging ears. It's trivia time.

[22:20] Adrienne Walker: Oh boy.

[22:23] David Alpert: Okay, it's trivia time. At World's Showcase in Epcot at Walt Disney World sits the China Pavilion. After passing through a beautiful traditional gate, one enters the courtyard, which is dominated by a replica of the Temple of Heaven, which contains the entrance to Reflections of China, a Circle Vision 360 movie exploring China's history and scenery, as well as a museum containing several ancient Chinese artifacts.

[22:46] David Alpert: Also in the pavilion, gift shops and restaurants, because it is Disney after all. There are also ponds crossed by bridges, and Chinese acrobats performing in the pavilion. This pavilion served as the backdrop for the music video of this song Reflection, performed by a then unknown singer from the 1998 Disney film Mulan. What is the name of this singer?

[23:09] Adrienne Walker: I believe the name of this singer is Christina Aguilera.

[23:13] David Alpert: That is correct.

[23:24] Adrienne Walker: Wow.

[23:25] David Alpert: Bold choices.

[23:27] Adrienne Walker: That is.

[23:28] David Alpert: She's like, look, I'm going to be a star. You just don't know it yet.

[23:31] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[23:31] David Alpert: Well, she was like, I was on the Mickey Mouse Club momentarily.

[23:35] Adrienne Walker: But I am ready for this music video.

[23:53] Adrienne Walker: Adrian, audiences in New York have seen you in both a classic Broadway musical as well as a Disney animated classic brought to the stage. These two areas are, of course, very dear to our hearts here at E-Ticket to Broadway. One of the songs you sang on Broadway is Another Opening, Another Show. So in this game, another opening, another Disney show. I'm going to ask you about some of the shows at a Disney park, and I'll be sure to mention their opening nights and need you to answer. Are you ready?

[24:21] Adrienne Walker: I am ready.

[24:23] David Alpert: Cross your fingers and hold your heart because as a special twist, each show has to do with a former E-Ticket to Broadway guest.

[24:30] Adrienne Walker: Oh.

[24:31] David Alpert: Whoa.

[24:33] David Alpert: Well, well, it's curtain time, so away we go.

[24:33] Adrienne Walker: Away we go.

[24:38] David Alpert: Okay, here we go. Number one for another opening, another Disney show. This wonderful show opened in Tokyo Disneyland on October 2nd, 1995, and then transferred to Disneyland in 1998. One of the stars of the show was Eden Espinoza, who played both Ariel as well as this Disney leading lady who sang just around the riverbend.

[24:59] Adrienne Walker: Pocahontas.

[25:00] David Alpert: That's right. Pocahontas.

[25:01] Adrienne Walker: So Eden opened it in Disneyland.

[25:05] David Alpert: And we love just around the riverbend.

[25:07] Adrienne Walker: Oh, yeah.

[25:08] David Alpert: And also Brooklyn the musical.

[25:10] Adrienne Walker: Oh yes, of course. Come through.

[25:12] David Alpert: Brooklyn didn't Brooklyn the Musical did not appear at a Disney Parks, though.

[25:16] Adrienne Walker: It did not.

[25:17] David Alpert: And it also didn't appear very long.

[25:19] Adrienne Walker: That's right.

[25:20] David Alpert: Yeah, but I I do have a soft spot for it.

[25:25] David Alpert: Number two for another opening, another Disney show. Festival of the Arts has brought many wonderful E-Ticket guests to Walt Disney World ever since the first festival kicked off on January 13th, 2017. I'm talking Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Carrie Butler, Michael James Scott, Kara Lindsay, Gavin Lee. Now, which part at Walt Disney World does this festival take place?

[25:48] Adrienne Walker: Ooh, that's a good question.

[25:52] Adrienne Walker: Well, I don't know the answer, but I would say Epcot.

[25:58] David Alpert: Well, you do know the answer. It is Epcot.

[26:01] David Alpert: It makes sense because it's a festival, and I don't know. They have room.

[26:04] Adrienne Walker: You just lied to me.

[26:05] David Alpert: You're like, I don't know the answer, but this is it.

[26:09] David Alpert: Okay, you're two for two. Number three, on February 23rd, 2004, this enchanting new musical opened at Disneyland and later starred a young Drew Galen who was incredibly charming in the show. Which princess starred in the show, the first ever Disney princess?

[26:27] Adrienne Walker: Oh, the first ever?

[26:27] Adrienne Walker: It must be Cinderella.

[26:31] David Alpert: Close.

[26:33] David Alpert: You said charming.

[26:34] Adrienne Walker: Uh I oh, first ever, not Broadway Disney princess, first ever princess.

[26:41] David Alpert: Snow White.

[26:42] Adrienne Walker: Yes, it is Snow White, an enchanting musical.

[26:45] David Alpert: Okay.

[26:45] Adrienne Walker: And I I saw it when I worked there in 2005. I loved it. And Drew Galen starred as The Prince.

[26:52] Adrienne Walker: And at some performances, The Huntsman.

[26:54] David Alpert: Wow.

[26:56] David Alpert: That is that is pretty awesome. We love it. Okay, number four.

[27:00] David Alpert: We love Jody Benson, who of course gave voice to Ariel. At Disney's Hollywood Studios is Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which opened on January 7th, 1992. The movie of The Little Mermaid is one hour 25 minutes, but how long is this musical?

[27:16] Adrienne Walker: This musical is 22 minutes.

[27:19] David Alpert: I love how confidently you answered that.

[27:19] David Alpert: You are close. You're only five minutes off.

[27:23] Adrienne Walker: Okay.

[27:26] Adrienne Walker: It's 17 minutes.

[27:27] David Alpert: 17.

[27:28] Adrienne Walker: Okay. I wasn't sure which way we it was going.

[27:30] Adrienne Walker: But we love a strong and wrong. Well done.

[27:33] David Alpert: Okay, number five for another opening, another Disney show.

[27:37] David Alpert: The Festival of the Lion King opened on April 22nd, 1998 in Animal Kingdom, and though it's been relocated, still performs to this very day. Which Emmy Award nominated actor who also starred as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid on Broadway once appeared in the show?

[27:55] Adrienne Walker: You know what? This is so crazy. But I just learned this.

[28:01] Adrienne Walker: Titus Burgess.

[28:03] David Alpert: That is correct. It is Titus Burgess.

[28:05] David Alpert: Can you imagine being at Walt Disney World, you know, the four o'clock show, and you're like, this guy can really sing?

[28:11] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[28:12] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, because he can. And you know, crazy fat uh little fun fact over here is that my friend was just on the Netflix show Sing On and uh got to do the show with Titus.

[28:24] David Alpert: Oh yeah.

[28:26] Adrienne Walker: The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a wonderful Disney movie and opened as a musical on June 21st, 1996 at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but then it also ran at Disneyland under the title The Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools and starred Olivier Award winner Leslie Margarita in the Hunchback of Notre Dame. What is the name of Esmeralda's goat friend?

[28:45] David Alpert: This one's tricky.

[28:51] Adrienne Walker: Kid.

[28:57] David Alpert: I don't know.

[28:57] Adrienne Walker: That is a solid guess.

[28:59] Adrienne Walker: It's Jolly.

[29:01] David Alpert: Jolly?

[29:02] Adrienne Walker: But it's spelled DJ A L I.

[29:06] David Alpert: Oh, Jolly.

[29:07] Adrienne Walker: Okay.

[29:09] Adrienne Walker: You're teaching me new things.

[29:11] David Alpert: I know.

[29:11] David Alpert: On E-Ticket to Broadway, it's about education and entertainment.

[29:15] David Alpert: Okay, number seven for another opening, another Disney show.

[29:19] David Alpert: Beauty and the Beast, live on stage, did something amazing and opened their show on the same day the movie came out, November 22nd, 1991. Jessica Rush has appeared as Belle in the show. And in addition to Belle, which is the only other character in the show to sing live?

[29:31] Adrienne Walker: Gaston.

[29:44] David Alpert: Yes.

[29:46] Adrienne Walker: Am I right?

[29:47] David Alpert: Yes, because no one sings live like Gaston.

[29:52] Adrienne Walker: That's I wish Mrs. Potts sang live, but no.

[29:56] Adrienne Walker: Oh man.

[29:57] Adrienne Walker: I just think it's so cool that it opened the same day as the movie.

[30:00] David Alpert: Like that's cool. Great marketing.

[30:02] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[30:02] David Alpert: Okay, number eight.

[30:03] David Alpert: This one's actually a parade. The Hercules Victory Parade opened at Disneyland in 1997, and I saw it. And although she didn't appear in the parade, we love Susan Egan, who gave voice to Meg in the movie. In Hercules, Susan famously sings that she won't say she's in what?

[30:23] Adrienne Walker: I have no idea.

[30:26] Adrienne Walker: She sings that she won't say she's in love.

[30:29] David Alpert: Is it really she's in love?

[30:30] Adrienne Walker: I thought, no, this just it can't be that easy.

[30:33] David Alpert: I know.

[30:33] David Alpert: Sometimes it is.

[30:35] David Alpert: Listen, when you go back and re-record as one of the muses, you'll you'll know then.

[30:39] Adrienne Walker: I'll know everything then.

[30:42] David Alpert: Okay, two more.

[30:43] David Alpert: Okay. Number nine.

[30:44] David Alpert: Though she didn't appear in this theme park musical version, Idina Menzel gave voice to Elsa in Frozen, and Frozen Live at the Hyperion opened on May 27, 2016. Kristen Anderson Lopez and Bobby Lopez wrote the score to Frozen, as well as a musical which officially opened January 24th, 2007 in Walt Disney World and stars which very cute small orange fish?

[31:10] Adrienne Walker: Nemo.

[31:11] David Alpert: That is correct.

[31:12] David Alpert: Finding Nemo the musical.

[31:14] Adrienne Walker: Yes.

[31:15] Adrienne Walker: Oh wow, I didn't know that they wrote the music for that.

[31:18] David Alpert: They're very busy.

[31:19] Adrienne Walker: They are very busy.

[31:21] David Alpert: Okay. Are you ready for the last one?

[31:23] Adrienne Walker: I'm ready.

[31:24] Adrienne Walker: Another open another show. Out of the hat.

[31:26] David Alpert: Number 10. Our friend Didi Magno Hall starred as Witch Princess when this show opened at Disney California Adventure on January 16th, 2003, and ran all the way until 2016 at the Hyperion Theater.

[31:42] Adrienne Walker: Is it is it Jasmine?

[31:44] David Alpert: It is Jasmine.

[31:45] David Alpert: And yes, she was the original Jasmine in California Adventure.

[31:50] Adrienne Walker: That is awesome.

[31:51] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh. Adrian, you did so well on another open and another Disney show.

[31:56] David Alpert: Thank you so much for playing.

[31:58] Adrienne Walker: Thank you for creating that game for me to play.

[32:00] David Alpert: I didn't create it.

[32:01] David Alpert: I actually, it's a book it's a very popular board game that people can purchase at the parks.

[32:04] Adrienne Walker: Oh, really?

[32:05] David Alpert: Yeah.

[32:06] David Alpert: But as your prize, if you look under your chair, you might see a dole whip.

[32:09] Adrienne Walker: Oh my gosh.

[32:11] Adrienne Walker: Look at this.

[32:12] Adrienne Walker: How did you do this?

[32:13] David Alpert: Magical.

[32:14] David Alpert: Disney magic, Disney Magic.

[32:16] Adrienne Walker: It was Kelly O'Hara.

[32:17] Adrienne Walker: She put it there.

[32:22] David Alpert: Now let's hear from some of you.

[32:24] David Alpert: Oh Adrian, we put it on Instagram and your fans are ready with their Disney questions for you.

[32:35] David Alpert: Here we go. Stephanie asks, what has been your favorite part of being part of the Disney family?

[32:41] Adrienne Walker: Oh man, just being a part of a story that I believe in. Being part of a story that changes lives that resonates all over the world.

[32:50] Adrienne Walker: Um the Disney perks, of course.

[32:54] Adrienne Walker: There's always Disney perks.

[32:56] Adrienne Walker: I mean, to have loved Nala enough to wear, you know, her in a school photo and then do playing it on Broadway.

[33:03] Adrienne Walker: I mean, that is quite the journey.

[33:04] Adrienne Walker: It's quite the journey because I didn't even remember how much I loved Nala.

[33:08] Adrienne Walker: You know, you sometimes you forget so much of your childhood, you put it away, life happens.

[33:12] Adrienne Walker: And my mom sent uh my mom was trying to organize uh a collection of school photos in order.

[33:19] Adrienne Walker: And and I guess I looked a little similar in a few years, and she was like, I don't know what year this is, put them in order for me.

[33:25] Adrienne Walker: And then I looked at that one, I was like, oh my gosh, I'm wearing a Nala shirt.

[33:29] Adrienne Walker: So much so that I wore it for picture day, you know, like I cared that much.

[33:33] Adrienne Walker: So yeah, life is crazy like that.

[33:36] Adrienne Walker: That would be like if I ended up starring on Broadway as Dopey.

[33:39] Adrienne Walker: Because I have so many photos of me wearing dopey shirts in school photos, of course.

[33:44] David Alpert: But that's not gonna happen.

[33:47] David Alpert: Okay.

[33:47] David Alpert: Uh Samantha asks, what went through your mind when you were selected for the role of Nala?

[33:52] Adrienne Walker: I couldn't believe it.

[33:54] Adrienne Walker: I couldn't believe it.

[33:55] Adrienne Walker: I had gone on a two-day audition process, and uh it was actually it was actually really fun.

[34:02] Adrienne Walker: It was a really fun process.

[34:04] Adrienne Walker: You know, auditions can be nerve-wracking.

[34:05] Adrienne Walker: And um, so I packed up from the audition and got on the train, and by the by the time I got to the airport, I had a voicemail from my agent, and I just could not believe that they chose me out of nowhere.

[34:20] Adrienne Walker: Like, you know, I didn't I didn't know anything about anything.

[34:23] Adrienne Walker: And they were like, Come on, come do come do this Disney show.

[34:27] David Alpert: Deontay wants to know your favorite Disney film, either musical or non-musical.

[34:33] Adrienne Walker: Oh, favorite Disney film.

[34:36] Adrienne Walker: Which could be one of the animated classics.

[34:38] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, well, I mean, I love Mulan and I love what they did with the new one.

[34:42] Adrienne Walker: Um, so I'll just say that for sake of time because I could just think, think, think, and we don't have time for that.

[34:49] David Alpert: And finally, Philip asks, what made you fall in love with Disney in the first place?

[34:54] Adrienne Walker: Oh man, it's just it's one of the first animations that you see as a kid, and it's it's you know, the the way that they draw everything is so round and friendly and colorful.

[35:11] Adrienne Walker: I think in a child's eyes, it just seems welcoming and the music is there, and um even as an adult, it's still worth watching.

[35:22] Adrienne Walker: So um, it's that it's it's there's so much to fall in love with.

[35:27] David Alpert: It's time for some tough choices.

[35:29] David Alpert: Let's play Tweedledee or Tweedledum.

[35:35] David Alpert: It is time for Tweedledee or Tweedledum. I'm gonna give you two options. Let me know which one you prefer. Here we go. Tweedledee or Tweedledum, the teacups, or Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

[35:39] Adrienne Walker: Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

[35:45] David Alpert: Yes, and I as I am chatting with you more.

[35:47] David Alpert: Why do you like Dumbo the Flying Elephant so much?

[35:50] Adrienne Walker: Well, I'd rather be like up in the air and floating and feeling the air.

[35:54] Adrienne Walker: I mean, yes, of course, I love Dumbo and I love elephants, but I really like that rather than like rolling around in the teacups.

[36:02] David Alpert: Yeah, somebody look at that motion sickness.

[36:03] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[36:04] Adrienne Walker: I love it.

[36:05] Adrienne Walker: It's part of you know, it's part of the Disney tradition.

[36:07] David Alpert: Okay, Tweedledee or Tweedledum, watching a parade down Main Street or watching fireworks over the castle.

[36:13] Adrienne Walker: Oh, the fireworks.

[36:14] Adrienne Walker: The fireworks.

[36:15] Adrienne Walker: It's so magical.

[36:17] Adrienne Walker: And like just the way they do the lights, now they have lights on the castle to change everything up.

[36:22] Adrienne Walker: It's oh, it's just spectacular.

[36:25] David Alpert: So yeah, the fireworks.

[36:32] David Alpert: Where's the music? Where why isn't this sequenced with something? Where are the drones?

[36:35] Adrienne Walker: Okay, Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Hakuna Matata, or too darn hot.

[36:43] Adrienne Walker: Ooh.

[36:47] Adrienne Walker: Tune our not.

[36:48] Adrienne Walker: Sorry.

[36:50] David Alpert: Okay, follow-up, too darn hot or chow down.

[36:54] Adrienne Walker: Oh, to our not.

[36:57] David Alpert: Final Tweedledee or Tweedledum.

[36:59] David Alpert: Space Mountain, or Expedition Everest.

[37:03] Adrienne Walker: Ooh.

[37:04] Adrienne Walker: Ooh, that's good.

[37:07] Adrienne Walker: Oh man, I love both of those.

[37:10] David Alpert: Okay, you don't have to choose.

[37:11] Adrienne Walker: I don't wanna I don't want to hurt you.

[37:12] David Alpert: No, I won't be hurt.

[37:13] Adrienne Walker: I'm gonna go with Everest.

[37:15] David Alpert: Okay.

[37:16] David Alpert: Yeah.

[37:16] David Alpert: That's fine.

[37:17] Adrienne Walker: I'll take Spice Mountain then.

[37:18] David Alpert: Okay.

[37:19] David Alpert: Love it.

[37:34] David Alpert: Adrian, what's the first thing you want to do the next time you go to a Disney park?

[37:43] Adrienne Walker: Depending on the park.

[37:46] Adrienne Walker: Right? So if it's, I believe these are at Magic Kingdom.

[37:52] Adrienne Walker: A turkey leg is is in my future.

[37:54] David Alpert: Okay.

[37:55] David Alpert: You're going straight to that turkey leg cart.

[37:57] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[37:58] Adrienne Walker: Over there by Peter Pan.

[38:00] Adrienne Walker: It is gonna be 8 a.m.

[38:02] Adrienne Walker: Yeah.

[38:03] Adrienne Walker: And they're gonna be open.

[38:03] Adrienne Walker: I'm gonna say, do you have turkey legs?

[38:05] David Alpert: Yes, and they're gonna say, you know what? We do.

[38:06] Adrienne Walker: We do.

[38:07] Adrienne Walker: You're a magical day.

[38:09] Adrienne Walker: Have a magical day.

[38:11] Adrienne Walker: Can I have a couple of napkins?

[38:12] Adrienne Walker: Thank you.

[38:13] David Alpert: Yes.

[38:14] David Alpert: And then you go to get a dole whip right after that.

[38:16] Adrienne Walker: Yeah, yeah.

[38:17] Adrienne Walker: Would you consider dunking the turkey leg in a dole whip?

[38:20] Adrienne Walker: Absolutely not.

[38:22] David Alpert: Yes.

[38:22] David Alpert: I think that's the correct answer.

[38:24] Adrienne Walker: But live your life if that's what you want to do.

[38:27] David Alpert: Well, Adrian, this has been so much fun. Thank you for joining me. Talking about your love of Beauty and the Beast and Mulan, and of course Lion King and Dole Whips and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

[38:36] Adrienne Walker: Thank you so much again for joining.

[38:38] Adrienne Walker: Thank you for having me.

[38:40] Adrienne Walker: This has been great, David.

[38:41] David Alpert: Of course.

[38:42] David Alpert: And we will see you at the parks.

[39:05] David Alpert: Oh boy.

[39:06] David Alpert: Thanks for listening.