The illustrious lineup of Corbin Bleu, Jodi Benson, and the iconic voice of 'Hercules', Susan Egan, graced the stage of 'Disney's 80s-90s Celebration in Concert,' an event that transported audiences back in time with a pair of nostalgic concerts held at the legendary Hollywood Bowl over the weekend.
Disney delved into its rich tapestry of decades-old masterpieces, presenting a mesmerizing spectacle of live performances by artists who had intimately woven their talents into the fabric of Disney's golden era. Benson, the enchanting voice behind Ariel in the beloved 1989 classic 'The Little Mermaid,' Bleu, a High School Musical sensation, Bill Farmer, the inimitable voice of Goofy and Pluto, Krysta Rodriguez from 'Smash,' Aisha Jackson who breathed life into Anna in Broadway's 'Frozen,' and Susan Egan, the embodiment of Meg in 'Hercules' and the original Belle in Broadway's 'Beauty and the Beast,' united to serenade the crowd with timeless melodies.
As the night unfolded, the air was filled with the resonating harmonies of era-defining songs such as "A Whole New World" from 'Aladdin,' "Colors of the Wind" from 'Pocahontas,' the stirring "Circle of Life" from 'The Lion King,' and the quirky "What's This?" from Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' all brought to life by the majestic Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Benson, stepping into the spotlight to perform 'The Little Mermaid's' anthemic "Part of Your World," shared a heartfelt anecdote, reminiscing about her early encounter with the late visionary producer Howard Ashman, who ignited her journey as Ariel's voice. "I was blessed with the miraculous opportunity to embody Ariel, and it's an honor to have cherished this role for all of you, spanning 37 years," she told the captivated audience. "It's a privilege that transcends words. Howard imparted invaluable lessons, but most cherished is how he taught me to embrace vulnerability, authenticity, and reality behind the microphone—not striving for perfection, but being perfectly suited for Ariel."
During Bleu's segment, he joined forces with Adam J. Levy, who mischievously teased him about his iconic role as Chad in 'High School Musical' by crooning a snippet of "Get'cha Head in the Game," igniting a spark of camaraderie between the two. Bleu playfully responded, "Nice job, buddy," adding a touch of humor to the already enchanting evening.
