Created by Felipe Gamba Paredes, the show’s creative producer and co-writer, and Thaddeus McWhinnie Phillips, its director and co-writer, the production stands apart from traditional Disney shows by blending an original narrative with the most iconic themes from its soundtrack.
“I wanted to create a new show that would be a summary of the full Disney experience, not just the Broadway shows, but many of the movies that have yet to be adapted to the stage,” Felipe Gamba Paredes told PLATAFORMA. “I knew I wanted the show to represent a vast majority of the Disney catalogue, yet not be literal, and feature Mickey & Friends at the core of it in a highly theatrical and original way.”
The story follows Mara, a young girl who discovers a mysterious music box that transports her through different worlds—a journey driven primarily by music. “Our show is mainly told through music and features fragments from nearly 80 songs from the Disney catalogue, spanning more than a century of song-writing. Therefore, we have very little dialogue, as I am firm believer in the power of music to tell stories on their own across cultural borders.”
The production’s theatrical language combines puppetry, music, and visual storytelling. For the creator, this is also a deeply personal project. “In a way, “The Magic Box” is a reflection of my own and very personal relationship with the Disney content […] So, in conceiving the show, what I did was summon up my own inner child and let him guide me through the emotional rollercoaster of what the movies meant to me when I first saw them.”
On stage, 18 performers—including dancers, singers, and puppeteers—bring the show to life. The choice to cast multi-talented artists was intentional, tied to the goal of crafting an inclusive experience. “The result is a show that embraces everyone regardless of age and their own relationship with the material – it is meant to be a joyful journey for all.”
The version staged at The Venetian Theatre features an international cast alongside a local technical team. “The technical crew and team of the Venetian Theatre in Macau have been a real joy to partner with in order to deliver what is a very complicated show from a production point of view. They have ben super professional and engaged, and a joy to work with every step of the way. My team and I are very impressed by the level of every individual who has partnered with us on all technical and production aspects”
Presented as part of the International Children’s Arts Festival—co-organized by Sands China Ltd. and supported by various partners—the show has previously toured cities like Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, and Doha. Macau marks its debut in China.
“Like every show, ours evolves through the eyes of every new audience. Theater is a collective experience, created together by the authors, the on-stage talent and crews – and, very importantly, the audiences. “The Magic Box” has been enriched and its creative aims fulfilled with help from the nearly 200,000 audience members across the five countries where it has been presented, including now the amazing and multi-cultural Macau audiences, who last weekend put their imaginations together with ours to deliver a unique experience.”
Audiences can still catch the show on July 18 and 20, with performances at 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets are available through Cotai Ticketing, Macau Ticket, and Damai.
