Let me start off by saying that I think the single most magical event regularly hosted by Disneyland is the Candlelight Processional.

Imagine an 800 voice choir, each choir member carrying a single flickering candle walking 6 across all the way up the Disneyland Parade route. All the lights are off and the only sounds you hear are that of pure voices singing Christmas carols to the accompaniment of a pipe organ. When the group reaches Town Square they are met by a full orchestra and a massive stage crowned by a giant lit star. As choir members file into the risers on stage the living Christmas tree center stage takes shape. The backdrop to the entire stage is the main street railroad station, beautifully lit and decorated for the season.

The show begins with a row of fanfare trumpeters in medieval costumes, and banners hanging from each trumpet appearing on the top of the train station. Then all at once the entire night seems to come to life. The trumpeters play an amazing fanfare and the choir sings backed by a full orchestra. It is absolutely magical. Chills running up and down your spine and a tear in your eye kind of magical.

Downstage left there is a single podium set up on a turret the seems to be floating in a sea of white poinsettias. After the first number there is an announcement and the evening’s narrator takes the stage. This year it was Marie Osmond.

The evening goes on alternating sections of the traditional Christmas story with musical numbers. A few soloists and all round wonderful music.

Now that you kind of have an idea of what the event is… I will tell you my story.

Last year (2003) I was quite new to the department that does the big group bits of the evening. The Guest Talent department is in charge of the mass choir for this event. It’s a logistical masterpiece to say the least to move this many people into a rehearsal then on to a show all in one day. It just couldn’t be done without a team of super talented folks… and Guest Talent fits the bill. Anyway, I had been asking around a lot about who gets to do Candlelight and was always met with a “only the people with a lot of seniority” sort of response. I had pretty much decided there was no way I was going to be able to get it… but I still really wanted it. As a matter of complete chance I was scheduled to work the day of Candlelight on another Magic Music Days event. I just happened to be in that end of the world doing other things (putting my jacket on to leave for the day in fact) when one of the managers of the department asked if I could stay to work Candlelight! I jump on it! I was so excited… and freaked out. I was totally new in the department, and I still wasn’t really sure of my chops. It turns out that one of the stage managers scheduled fell quite ill and couldn’t make it. So… I went downstairs to get an assignment.

I won’t bore you with all the details of that night, but I remember every minute of it as if it happened yesterday. It will always be a memory I cherish. It was a magical night working with some wonderful people. I even spent a short time with our whole crew resting, after the event, in Walts apartment above the firehouse (I even have a picture).

So now… fast-forward to 2004. I’m no longer a part of the Guest Talent department, but I really really really wanted to work this event again. I sent several emails and talked to my old managers letting them know I was very interested in working the event. I actually thought they wouldn’t let me, since I know how much the Guest Talent crew likes to work it, but the manager in charge of scheduling the crew let me know I was in. I was totally excited! I will say that I don’t know a group of managers anywhere in the resort quite like the folks in Guest Talent. They are really great people to work for… as well as just great people to know. I miss them terribly now that I’m in my new digs.

Anyway, back to the story.

So I’m working this event again and everything is just as I remember it. I felt right at home with the crew (after some well deserved razzing for begging my way back in :-)). Since you already know a lot about the event I won’t go into a lot of details but I want to talk about the adventure that is Sunday night. Saturday went off without a hitch so that’s no big deal… but Sunday was rain, and lots of it.

It all culminated in a long rehearsal, and canceling the first show. It was really coming down so there was a lot of question on if we could do the second show. But with the cancellation of the first show, we got the chance to wrangle this massive choir of high schoolers for 3 hours in a warehouse. Somebody (super smart) called the stage manager of one of our park bands to come in to play for the bored kids. So the River Rascals came and played a few sets in the warehouse. After that the rain started to lighten up, but never stopped so the decision was made to cancel the second show too. Total bummer. As we were getting everybody set to walk out and head home there was a lot of complaining about how “it’s not raining much” and they wanted to do the show. I hope they realized that we REALLY wanted to do the show too but it just wasn’t safe. The stage was wet along with tons of electronics. And when you are working with a full orchestra you have to take into account string instruments worth thousands of dollars each… it would just be stupid to perform in drizzle with that.

Even with the show cancellations it was a wonderful and challenging day. We were on our toes all the time responding to changing conditions and situations. Its what I really love about working with a group of talented stage managers.

So that’s really my story.

Till next time,
R.