The Magic of Live Disney Musical Entertainment with Michael Mastroianni

Mark Mancina and the Music of Moana

It’s a big summer for Disney in the movie theaters. The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars movie in 7 years, Toy Story 5 is out and is already breaking records, and the live-action reimagining of Moana is coming out on July 10th, just in time to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the animated film’s original release. The movie has become an instant classic due to the depth and complexity of the characters, the incredible animation, the star power of Dwayne Johnson, and, of course…the music. With songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina (who also wrote the score), the music transported audiences to the South Pacific with a focus on authenticity and storytelling. Today, we are thrilled to be joined by Mark Mancina to discuss his work on both the animated film as well as the upcoming live action release, as well as his career collaborations with not only Lin Manuel-Miranda, but Phil Collins, Elton John, and…Eddie Van Halen. Moana comes out on July 10th, and the soundtrack is available for purchase and streaming on June 26th You can find Mark at www.mark-mancina.com, on Instagram @markamancina, and on YouTube @markmancinamusic.

Legendary Composer Bruce Broughton Returns to Discuss Soarin' Across America

If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed that there is a LOT going on around the Disney parks. There are re-imaginings and updates to existing rides, and lots of news coming out about upcoming rides as well. This year, we’ve already seen the re-opening of the newly redesigned Rock n Roller Coaster starring the Muppets and news of a significant overhaul of Carousel of Progress, which is creating a lot of…dialogue amongst the Disney interwebs. But another, very significant update is now open. I’m talking about the new Soarin’ Across America, an update to the classic ride to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday (or in technical terms, our semi quincentennial). The ride, which now features scenes from across America’s most iconic sights and landmarks, has a newly updated score by legendary composer Bruce Broughton. Bruce rejoins the podcast to discuss his work on the project, as well as other Disney and non-Disney music he has been working on. You can check out all of Bruce's amazing work at www.brucebroughton.com

The Magic of Live Disney Musical Entertainment with Michael Mastroianni

On the podcast, we talk a lot about the emotional power that Disney music is able to convey, and most of the time, we experience that power passively—on a screen or through our headphones. But the real magic of Disney music happens when you are able to experience it live, and throughout the Disney parks there are exceptional musicians who play that music directly—and unfiltered—to the guests and create a stunning connection. Today, we are joined by one of those musicians, Michael Mastroianni, who you have likely seen at EPCOT, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review, or at the River Roost Lounge. Michael talks about his musical background and his experience creating live musical magic at Walt Disney World and on the Disney Cruise Line. Please follow Michael at www.mastromjm.com and on all socials @mastromjm.

A Conversation with Pixar Creative Veteran James Ford Murphy and the Music of "Lava"

This year commemorates the 40th anniversary of Pixar. Pixar was officially founded as an independent company on February 3, 1986, when Steve Jobs purchased the Computer Graphics Division from Lucasfilm. Since that time, Pixar has gone on revolutionize the industry, creating technologically groundbreaking and emotionally resonant masterpieces, including 20 short films and 30 feature films. But, what is it about Pixar that allows it to continually produce such unique and compelling stories? Today, continuing with our Pixar celebration, we are very fortunate to be joined by James Ford Murphy, who has been with Pixar for 30 of the company’s 40 years of existence, working as an animator and a director. He is also the creator, director, and composer of the Pixar short film “Lava,” which is one of my votes for the Top 10 Pixar songs of all time. Jim joins us to discuss his career, his work at Pixar, the Pixar culture, and of course, the story behind one of our favorite Pixar songs.

Haim Mazar and the Music of Disney's Versa

The amazing thing about Disney movies is how they are able to make us feel so many emotions through the use of unparalleled storytelling. With some clever or poignant dialogue, incredible voice acting and music in the background, we can feel joy, wonder, or even sadness. But what happens when someone wants to convey some of the most complex and personal of emotions—love, loss, grieving, acceptance, and healing--without any dialogue at all? In the short film Versa (which is now streaming on Disney+), Director Malcon Pierce shares his extremely personal voyage through the story of a young couple looking to start a family that experiences that gamut of emotions as they embark on an ethereal and imaginative cosmic dance of life. In the short, because there is no dialogue, music is the guiding force, along with breathtaking animation, that creates a truly exceptional visual and auditory experience. And the composer of the music for Versa is our friend Haim Mazar, who returns to the podcast to discuss his work on Versa, as well as some other amazing Disney park projects that he has contributed to since he last joined us. You can follow Haim at HaimMazar.com and on Instagram @haimmazarmusic. You can watch Versa on Disney+ and listen to the soundtrack on your favorite streaming service. And Scary Movie 6 opens on June 5th.