DID YOU KNOW: Before she DEFIED GRAVITY. showed us that ONCE UPON A TIME HAS NEVER FELT MORE RIGHT, took us OVER THE MOON, and got us WAITING IN THE WINGS, Broadway favorite Eden Espinosa began her professional career performing in the Entertainment at Disneyland. As mentioned in interviews, the California native grew up going to the parks and had family members who worked there. The WICKED, Brooklyn, Rent, Falsettos, and Tangled: The Series star appeared as a performer doing mainly the shows in the park. She debuted as a Disney performer in the mid-90’s performing in the A CHRISTMAS FANTASY PARADE as a caroler before moving on to appearing in a variety of the park’s former stage shows.
One of the most notable productions she performed in the park from the late 90’s was the original Disney musical revue ANIMAZEMENT. Running from 1998-2001 in the Theatre at Fantasyland in the park, the show was a celebration of art and bringing the magic of Disney Animation to life. It featured a full variety of musical numbers from your Disney characters recreating their big moments bringing it all to life.
We are so happy to have a video of that show in action during one of the performances. Her big moment is at 14:26 during the show’s highlighted trio YEARNING MASHUP. This unique medley features 3 of Disney’s most beloved heroes and heroine performing their big I WANT song. It consists of Espinosa herself playing “Pocahontas” singing JUST AROUND THE RIVERBEND, “Hercules” singing GO THE DISTANCE, and “Quasimodo” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame singing OUT THERE.
FUN FACT: Espinosa later on during that show’s run played The Little Mermaid herself “Ariel”.
Espinosa’s other major Disney show she performed at the park was a later musical revue called STEPS IN TIME that opened the Hyperion Theatre at Disney California Adventure.
When her Broadway career began to takeoff, Espinosa would still find herself part of the Disney family later on in life. She went on to be the voice in the sky for Disneyland’s 2009-2014 fireworks show MAGICAL. She also voiced “Orizaba” in the Animated series Elena of Avalor. However to this day, she is now earning rave reviews and buzz for her performance as the voice of “Cassandra ” in TANGLED: THE SERIES. Her character’s big song WAITING IN THE WINGS recently won a Daytime Emmy Award for OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG IN A CHILDREN’S, YOUNG ADULT, OR ANIMATED PROGRAM giving its composer Alan Menken an EGOT.
Even when she’s back home in California, Eden always returns to the park to visit a guest. When you work for Disney, that is forever.
How amazing is this?!!!
