By the D23 Team
Last month, D23 Members were treated to a special showcase of puppet fun during D23 Day at Bob Baker Marionette Theater. From the first doors opening to the final curtain call, the weekend was filled with rich Disney history-including sampling a long-lost Sherman Brothers song, and a performance by puppets from Disney’s Escape to Witch Mountain! Guests were able to see their favorite characters come to life in new ways while savoring a hidden Los Angeles gem.
Upon entering the theater, D23 Members were greeted by lively organ renditions of iconic Disney songs, like “Under the Sea,” “Bare Necessities,” and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” These iconic tunes set the tempo for self-guided tours of Bob Baker’s archival displays around the theater, ones that highlighted their place in Disney history. Fans were face-to-face with items such as a four-foot-tall Pinocchio marionette; window-display puppets from opening day at Disneyland; and even a sculpture of Figment used in the original Journey Into Imagination at EPCOT!
The marionette magic really began when the theater lights dimmed and the curtains revealed a curated collection of puppet performances. Each sequence featured a unique connection to Disney, and audience members were delighted to see former Disney puppets dazzling in new roles! Edgar the butler-based on a Disneyland window display celebrating The Aristocats-found himself drastically transformed into a ritzy, tap-dancing Frankenstein’s monster. In another sequence, the bumblebee puppet from Escape to Witch Mountain took flight once again as a sneezy pollinator during a highlight of Bob Baker’s Something to Crow About!
Rather than performing from afar, Bob Baker’s puppeteers masterfully helped the puppets hop, run, or fly towards guests for charmingly memorable interactions. One that was particularly “on-the-nose” featured Pierre Rabbit “painting” flavors of Disneyland Park treats including Dole Whips, turkey legs, and more on… well, the noses of guests! Fans were also tickled to experience a never-before-heard Sherman Brothers song written for Bob Baker, accompanied by an equally delightful dance sequence. Finally, audience members enjoyed ice cream and were invited to take an exclusive behind-the-strings backstage tour-showing off Bob Baker’s collection of sets, puppets, and costumes!
Maybe it was the red carpet (and the red curtains and red-uniformed puppeteers), but D23 Day at Bob Baker Marionette Theater truly helped fans feel like VIPs alongside some Very Important Puppets! Seeing our favorite Disney characters perform in novel ways illustrated memorable magic and amazing artisanship-stringing Walt Disney and Bob Baker together as indelible contributors to L.A.’s creative history for generations of fans to enjoy.