KaTonga

Broadway is coming to Tampa Bay in a whole new way as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay presents KaTonga, a world premiere theatrical event in April 2004. Inspired by Busch Gardens’ rich animal tradition, KaTonga’s simple tales, told through music, dance and lavish stage spectacle, carry you to the heart of the jungle. KaTonga takes guests on a journey to the heart of Africa in a 35-minute musical celebration of animal folklore. The show follows a day in the lives of aspiring storytellers, called Griots, as they strive to become masters of their craft. To accomplish this rite of passage, the performers evoke traditional African stories to mesmerize and entertain the audience. Masterful puppet design, magical folklore, energetic original music and spectacular African-inspired dance combine to create the first theme park show of Broadway-production caliber.“KaTonga is the only one-act original musical commissioned by a corporation for the theme park environment,” said producer Don Frantz. “As impressive, Busch Gardens’ Moroccan Palace Theater is the only legitimate full scale Broadway-style theater in a theme park on the entire East Coast.”A cast of eighteen including the Griots, puppeteers, dancers and acrobats combine amazing talents to bring the show to life. In addition to featuring elaborate and whimsical costumes, the production uses larger-than-life animal puppets to create imagery sure to awe viewers. The show closes with musicians, singers and drummers surrounding the audience for a giant finale.The stories reveal life in the jungle through the life-changing experiences of four African animals. Spectacular set design evokes the voyage of the sun, the beauty of the African forest and the mesmerizing power of a river’s flood. A cute adolescent monkey, “Whirly,” learns confidence requires risk to succeed. “Kipopo,” the caterpillar, looks inward to find her true self before morphing into a beautiful butterfly. An overbearing bullfrog, “RokRok,” is taught the treasure found in respecting and listening to others. “Kilinda,” an African crowned crane, brings together animals and people in a survival story of epic proportions.KaTonga’s creators include some of Broadway’s most renowned and experienced talent, among them famed puppet designer Michael Curry. Best known for his award-winning work on Broadway’s The Lion King, Curry’s signature giant puppets were featured in New York City’s Times Square Millennium Celebration and Broadway shows including Kiss of the Spider Woman and Crazy For You. Curry’s puppets are brought to life through Tony-award-winning lighting designer Don Holder’s magic. Choreographer Abdel Salaam, founder and artistic director of New York’s Forces of Nature Dance Theater Company at Cathedral of St. John the Divine, lent his spiritual combination of traditional African and pop dance to the production. Broadway producer Don Frantz and director Chase Senge complete the creative team. KaTonga premieres in Busch Gardens’ Moroccan Palace Theater in April 2004.The Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks include SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and Williamsburg, Va.; Discovery Cove in Orlando; Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; Water Country USA in Williamsburg; and Sesame Place near Philadelphia. To learn more about the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks, visit www.4adventure.com or call toll-free (800) 4ADVENTURE. Additionally, the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks created the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fun, a non-profit, private charitable foundation committed to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation, research education and animal rescue programs worldwide.# # #