Walking With Dinosaurs
After 65 million years of ruling the earth, life-size dinosaurs come to life in an unprecedented theatrical presentation. “Walking with Dinosaurs — The Arena Spectacular,” based on the award-winning BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) series, will have eight performances March 25 to 29, where dinosaurs will roam El Paso County Coliseum.
The show originated in Australia in January 2007 with unheard of acclaim, bringing its $20 million production to the United States on July 2007. Fifteen dinosaurs will represent 10 species from the 200-million year reign of dinosaurs, including the fear-inspiring Tyrannosaurus Rex as well as the Plateosaurus and Liliensternus from the Triassic period, the Stegosaurus and Allosaurus from the Jurassic period, Torosaurus and Utahraptor from the Cretaceous and the largest of them, the Brachiosaurus, which is is 36 feet tall, and 56 feet from nose to tail. The show depicts the dinosaur’s evolution, complete with climactic and tectonic changes, which lead to the extinction of many species. With cinematic realism, the audience will engage and learn how carnivorous species evolved to walk on two legs, and how herbivores fended with their more agile predators.
“Walking with Dinosaurs” also presents the history of the world starting with the splitting of the earth’s continents, and the transition from the arid desert of the Triassic period is given over to the lush green prairies and forces of the later Jurassic. Oceans form, volcanoes erupt, a forest catches fire — all leading to the impact of the massive comet, which struck the earth and forced the extinction of the dinosaurs.”The show is unique — it is not only entertaining, it’s educational — you can learn with a smile on your face,” said Jerry Baker, production director, who is currently working with U2 on the rock band’s new concert tour. “Walking with Dinosaurs” won the 2007 THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Touring Event, in recognition of the creation of compelling educational, historical and entertainment value.
In 2008, the show received the Billboard Touring Award for Creative Content. It took 50 artists and technicians one year to build the show. “Walking with Dinosaurs” was directed by Scott Faris, a Broadway veteran. The creatures were designed and built by Sonny Tilders, who has worked in “Star Wars: Episode III,” while the set and projected image was designed by Peter England. The show’s lighting, which provides a sense of mystique was creatively put together by by John Rayment and the original score was composed by James Brett, while Warner Brown coordinated it with the script. The 15 dinosaurs were originally “hatched” by Tilders, considered one of major creative minds in high-tech and animatronics, in a Melbourne Docklands workshop big enough to park a 747 airplane.
For the North American tour, the only building large enough to house rehearsals for the dinosaurs — some as large as 36 feet tall by 56 feet long, was the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. “To make it appear that these creatures are flesh and blood weighing six, eight or even 20 tons, we use a system called “muscle bags,’ made from stretch mesh fabric and filled with polystyrene balls, stretched across moving points on the body. These contract and stretch in the same manner that muscle, fat and skin does on real creatures,” explained Tilders on a press release. Baker said the biggest challenge with “Walking with Dinosaurs” is “to make sure we can get into the building.” Although the ancient protagonists of this spectacle are of mammoth proportions, Baker explained the show is adapted to every arena, to maintain the quality and high standards.
“The BBC Series was a brilliant blend of special effects, escapism, excitement and information,” expressed Carmen Pavlovic, CEO of The Creature Production Company, in a news release. “Our show brings together all of that, plus something extra — it’s live! In this production, 15 roaring, snarling “live’ dinosaurs mesmerize the audience, and are as awe-inspiring as when they first walked on earth.” Contact the Pulse editor at pulse@lcsun-news.com
If you go
What: “Walking With Dinosaurs — The Arena Spectacular” When: 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. March 26; 7 p.m. March 27; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. March 28; and 1 and 5 p.m. March 29 Where: El Paso County Coliseum, 4100 E Paisano Drive, in El Paso How much: $29 to $59, available at Ticketmaster.com and coliseum’s box office Info: (915) 534-4229
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