Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment, Inc. 2014.
Feld Entertainment, the company that brings you the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice and Monster Jam, has added another show to its entertainment stable, and it’ll visit Birmingham for the first time Oct. 2-5. Marvel Universe LIVE! is a production two years in the making. After creating a unique story making use of an ensemble cast of characters from the Marvel Universe — including Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men and many of the most recognizable villains that challenge each — more than nine months were spent in research and development, with an additional three devoted to cast rehearsals for trained actors, stunt specialists and dancers.
Over the course of two years, the production — which takes 25 trucks to move and boasts a cast and staff of more than 100 — will visit 85 cities. “Big” is a bit of an understatement; it’s the largest production yet by a company that made its name with monster trucks and an actual three-ring act.
“The thing that I love most about this show is that it’s a show for dads,” says Feld Entertainment Company Manager Randy Foster. “So many of our productions are shows that moms end up taking the kids to, but with this one, you see dads getting excited about it, geeking out, dressing in full costume. I always want to have things to do with my kids, and this is the type of thing I’d love to do with them.”
Kids may actually marvel at the size and spectacle of Marvel Universe LIVE!: the pyrotechnics, the motorcycles, the aerial stunts, the martial arts and the special effects. But what makes the show really unusual is the floor. The special grip flooring doubles as a projection screen, which can transport the cast from deserts to snow-covered mountains to the offices of Tony Stark.
“I think [Marvel Universe LIVE!] will set the stage for the next generation of live entertainment,” says Foster. “You can see the show three different times in three different places in the arena and see different things every time because of the 3D projection mapping.”
That perspective makes each seat a unique experience. While lower-level seating allows spectators an opportunity to get closer to the action, higher-level seating allows an opportunity to see how effectively the 3D projection mapping can be used. The sprawling set doesn’t stop at the ground, as a high-wire act also allows Spider-Man to spin his web and Green Goblin to attack from his Glider; according to Feld, there is enough feeder cable powering Marvel Universe LIVE! to run across the Golden Gate Bridge in both directions.
Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment, Inc. 2014.
The production begins as Thor destroys the Cosmic Cube (also known as the blue glowing Tesseract in Marvel’s The Avengers and related movies) in order to protect humanity from its power, while his evil brother Loki collects the dust from its shattering to create his own cube. For the first 40 minutes, spectators are introduced to Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker and Wolverine as the story weaves together characters from the entire Marvel Universe. This all-star superhero lineup is tasked with stopping the threat posed by Loki’s machinations.
Just this decade, Marvel has churned out 14 films, including two Thor films, two X-Men films, two Iron Man films and this summer’s smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel Universe LIVE! manages to combine the heroes and villains of each and create an entirely new story pitting good versus evil.
“There’s no other company in the world that could have pulled this off the way that Marvel would have wanted,” says Foster. The original story was written by director Shanda Sawyer in close cooperation with Marvel’s chief creative officer Joe Quesada.
A 20-minute intermission separates the show into halves. Motorcycle stunts and a battle atop one of the nation’s most recognizable structures are the warm-up for the first appearance of the Incredible Hulk, a mechanical character that took 1,500 hours to build, requires 2.5 car batteries to run and stands at 8’5.”
Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment, Inc. 2014.
There’s expected comedy from characters known to crack wise: Spider-Man and Wolverine, especially, live up to their reputations. And all music, sound and special effects are created live — the performers’ voices aren’t being broadcast from a soundtrack, but rather by musicians hidden within the arena.
“Seeing the looks on the kids’ faces is the best part,” says Green Goblin actor Joseph Dennis of Orlando, Fla., “They get so excited. It’s the best part of doing this show. And at the end when we all run out to the edge of the floor, we’re able to see those reactions. It’s great.”
As the kids left the show, many of them could be overheard telling their parents or guardians their favorite part and that they wanted to see it again. A substantial number of them carried a piece of the Marvel Universe home: Thor’s sword, Hulk’s mask and Wolverine’s claw. Be warned: Marvel Universe LIVE! boasts an impressive souvenir stand.
Marvel Universe LIVE! comes to the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center for seven shows, Oct. 2-5. Thursday and Friday performances are at 7 p.m., while Saturday will offer three performances: 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Two performances on Sunday will close the weekend at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Family friendly tickets are available beginning at $15. Four packs are available for $29.22 and $44.62. Individual tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the venue at $36.55, $57.15 and $102.20.
