Special Effects Stage

[Red Carpet]

When it comes to entertainment at Universal, they tend to do well when they make shows that focus on stunts and action, and they tend to falter when they stray from that. Incorporating the things Universal is good at into Special Effects seems like the right move to make.

 

[Ryan]

I just... they already have a stunt show... how can they make this work in this day... unless it's like Indiana... or if it's like Waterworld, but... (brain tries processing information)

Why can't they just do the damn Horror Makeup Show in here. It's funny and incorporates Universal monsters which is heavily missed thanks to the HoH destruction and you can revive the Castle Theatre asthetic. Why does this have to be a freaking stunt show. A special effects show with stunts highlighting special effects reeks of the Indiana Jones one at DHS and everybody knows it stinks, it stinks, it stinks to high freaking heaven.

...guys, I may be in the dark, I may be proven wrong, but right now, right here, I'm downright speechless.

The entertainment director of USH needs to be replaced.

Done.

Done

 

[Allen The Actor]

I agree. There needs to be more comedy and improv. We're in frikin LA! Come on! I don't get it.

 

[Ryan]

Because action and violence makes people happy. Having people say words may lead to people taking it "the wrong way".

Ugh

 

[Allen The Actor]

Ahhhhh....of course. After all the controversy some of Universal's recent shows and characters brought, such as the situations during HHN, Universal doesn't wanna risk using too much improv that might not be 100% PC, even if it's just good hearted humor during SES.

Seriously, port an identical clone to the Horror Makeup Show or its general concept, and it will be fantastic.

Ideally, I'd love to see an attraction that's a combo of our old SES/Horror Makeup, and Singapore's Lights Camera Action show. Have Part One be makeup, props, funny audience participation, and a few clips, and then end the show with a big special effects demonstration on the scale of Backdraft or Lights Camera Action. Stand alone both can get old, but a combo of both would be incredible.

 

[Ryan]

I wouldn't be shocked at all if the stunt performers never talk during this new show and all of the "hosting" is done via screens.

I am seriously expecting that.

 

[hhnfan1997]

I wouldn't be shocked at all if the stunt performers never talk during this new show and all of the "hosting" is done via screens.

I am seriously expecting that.

Special Effects Stage: Hosted by Jimmy Fallon™

 

[Wesker69]

In regards to Horror Make-up, even though the jokes are scripted with some occasional improv, I feel that people are way too overly sensitive even for the humor used in the show. Trust me, they'd find something to complain about. Also, HMU would never work in the Castle Theatre. The theatre is too large, you need a smaller more intimate theater (like what is used in Orlando). Its one of the reasons why SES fails in the Castle Theatre (besides the fact that its just bad). Even the old Special Effects show on the Lower Lot was a more intimate venue despite being inside a SS.

The Castle Theatre needs an actual musical-based theatrical production. Japan had a 30min version of Wicked for several years, I vote for Phantom! Seriously, if Vegas was able to have a 90min version, USH could have a 30min version. Of course, even though it won't happen, I've been wanting it for YEARS.

I'd really love to see Singapore's former "Monster Rock" show be resurrected here, but I know people would have a total cow over the Phantom being on the flamboyantly gay side. It fits the character, makes for great interaction with Dracula, but yea... if people were offended by Superman in 2013, this totally would too. lol

 

[Allen The Actor]

Special Effects Stage: Hosted by Jimmy Fallon™

My....god....

 

[Ryan]

I'd really love to see Singapore's former "Monster Rock" show be resurrected here, but I know people would have a total cow over the Phantom being on the flamboyantly gay side. It fits the character, makes for great interaction with Dracula, but yea... if people were offended by Superman in 2013, this totally would too. lol

That situation still is godawful. Attention-seeking, leeching, overtly-PC blogger goes to halloween event, sees show, writes up inflammatory article and basically shames a show written by, directed by and even starring, a good chunk, gay people as being homophobic. And then gets them all fired. Then goes, "sorry, not sorry." 

Of course, there's Universal's side of it but I'm not going to waste my energy and that anger.

Anyways... what would fit in Castle Theatre that would be popular? I actually don't know. I would like Beetlejuice to come over here, but unless that sequel happens I doubt it. Maybe they should just take a page from DHS and make it the world's largest air conditioned theme park lounge. Everybody knows the best part of SES was the A/C in the summer.

 

[Allen The Actor]

I wanna give this new show a chance, but if it was me, I'd shutter the Castle Theatre and Animals Actors and fast track a new attraction that would take up the space, as is pretty much planned on the Evolution Plan.

 

[Ryan]

Oh my god I forgot Animal Actors still exists.

When Potter opens, AA will feel like such a huge throwback. After all, aside from the tour it'll be the oldest attraction on property. The complete failure of a retheme still cracks me up.

I wonder if they still play that clip of S1 Community while loading... nothing says current like a clip from a show that has been cancelled on your network for over a year now!

 

[Wesker69]

I'm against the thought of removing the Castle Theatre or Animal Actors Threatre.... especially in favor of a new ride/attraction. Parks need to have shows, not everyone that goes to the parks wants to or can do the rides/attractions that are offered due to whatever reason. And in a park that is already limited on everything (except dining/retail), it can't afford to sacrifice two stages.

Its just like HHN not having entertainment offerings, you need shows to balance out your time. The sooner Comcast realizes this, the better.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Well, there will be an entertainment flex space within the new HoH replacement, and I would like to see Shrek eventually replaced with a show and be rethemed to an art deco theatre to match Universal Plaza, and have a new special effects or musical show inside, and then shutter the castle theatre and AA for a new ride.

 

[Wesker69]

Shrek would never be able to provide the same capacity or production scale as the Castle Theatre... also, I'm not sure I'd want to see it go after all the work they did to the front queue & exit. But the size of Shrek would be perfect for a Horror Make-up show though. I'm just not sure how much space the building would allow for backstage areas.

Also, I'd like to point out that Orlando's HMU show is a shell of its former self. I've always been hoping they'd give it an update, but also bring back some of its original gimmicks to enhance the experience. When it first opened it was "Phantom of the Opera Horror Make-up Show", which featured an introduction by the Phantom himself (live actor) and the Chandelier in the lobby (which is still there) would flicker & shake. The Phantom would then make an appearance via a trap door beneath the stage during the show as well. During the "Gory, Gruesome, & Grotesque Horror Make-Up Show" years there was a finale based on "The Fly" which replaced The Phantom's appearance.

heh... I don't care for HMU, but I'd see it depending on who was working that day. Since HMU was inspired by USH's "Land of a Thousand Faces" show (in the Castle Theatre), I wouldn't mind seeing HMU brought here inspired by Orlando's version.

 

[Ryan]

Shrek would never be able to provide the same capacity or production scale as the Castle Theatre... also, I'm not sure I'd want to see it go after all the work they did to the front queue & exit. But the size of Shrek would be perfect for a Horror Make-up show though. I'm just not sure how much space the building would allow for backstage areas.

Actually prior to Shrek this was the huge "Panasonic Theatre" which was close to the Castle Theatre capacity. (I think CT holds 1500 and Panasonic used to hold over 1200) I agree that the recent changes make the idea of it changing back unlikely, but if they wanted they could still rework the theater to show a massive live show. Here's a clip from the old Flintstones show back in the 90s to give you an idea of scale:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mQ7Mnp1lCXQ?feature=oembed
And yeah, it looks like Castle but it's shockingly not:

(back then Castle was still open-air, so this was USH's only full-blown indoor theater back then)

And the Studio Tour fansite has a great pic of the old blueprint: http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/attractions/panasonictheater.php

What throws people off is how much they cut the theatre down to size for Shrek, and those immense, blocky D-Box seats do not help, either. There's also a bit of the theatre cut off to make for backstage area and the pre-show, I'm pretty sure.

 

[Wesker69]

Ah okay... for some reason I thought they had completely torn down that theatre when they built Shrek. I guess its just the way the park is laid out now. Yay blueprint porn! Its so hard to compute that its the same theatre seeing the blueprint & having been inside there. Crazy. Now I want to tour Shrek's building haha

 

[Allen The Actor]

Yay blueprint porn!

 

[Ryan]

The park definitely needs shows.

I would like it if they had, y'know, good shows.

 

[ItsAtrap]

It's a touchy subject because of the nostalgia that so many have with Castle Theater, the Animal Actors Stage, and the shows themselves. But let's face it, both are extremely dated and are very low when it comes to public opinion as well as attendance.

It seems to me that during peak seasons SES if always full. Almost every show.

I'm in the "we need shows" camp. Not a touchy subject for me, just my opinion. I look forward to a more special effect oriented show. Hopefully less video clips.