Metro Talks With The "Disney Princess: The Concert" Cast

What started as a small cabaret show is now a global sensation in the bucket lists of the young ones and the young at heart. Disney Princess: The Concert features talented and established artists from both theatrical and mainstream media and television industries: Anneliese van der Pol, Aisha Jackson, Krysta Rodriguez, Steffanie Leigh, Adam J. Levy, and Benjamin Rauhala.

“Ariel [in Little Mermaid] dreams of the impossible and makes that happen. That really has inspired me throughout my life,” shares Disney Princess: The Concert Musical Director, Benjamin Rauhala. “This show started eight years ago as a small, unofficial cabaret show and now, I’m traveling the world with some of my best friends. That’s a lot like Ariel’s journey. She doesn’t know how she’s going to become part of that world but she knows she’s going to do everything in her power to make it happen, and it’s awesome.”

And boy are we glad he made it happen! 

Disney has been captivating audiences for years, and now the moment to hear its iconic songs live under full production has come. Audiences are in for a treat as the show promises to immerse everyone in a night of music, magic, animation, and sparkle.

Disney Princess: The Concert is happening in MANILA on November 18 & 19, 8PM, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater; DAVAO on November 21, 8PM, at the SMX Convention Center Davao, and CEBU on November 22, 8PM, at the Waterfront Hotel Cebu City.

“There are a lot of fantastic shows on Broadway, off-Broadway that teach you lessons and everything. This show does two: it teaches young people lessons and it teaches old people lessons. It gives you a sense of being at home. It makes you feel like when you are young again and a child again. It makes you feel like a child. But it’s so fun. It is exhilarating, entertaining. I haven’t met a single person who’s come to our show who’s like, 'ehhh.' Really, and you will be in tears by the end. It’s the best show out there, I’m saying it,” Anneliese describes. In a nutshell, Krysta said the concert will be all about “magic.” Aisha’s choice of one-word description was “joy,” while Benjamin teased that it will be a “S-L-A-Y-A-G-E.”

The cast will render songs like “How Far I’ll Go,” “A Whole New World,” “Colors of the Wind,” “Part of Your World,” “Almost There,”  and “Let It Go.” But before enjoying this magical event, Metro.Style got to know the cast members of Disney Princess: The Concert and their musical director, Benjamin Rauhala. 

What are your fondest memories of watching Disney princess growing up?

Krysta: I remember seeing the preview for Pocahontas when it came out, and it was so impactful because it was just “Colors of the Wind.” They just did what you were going to see in the movie, “Colors of the Wind,” and I remember loving the song and loving the animation. You know, I already loved the Disney princesses at that point but I remember that moment, really seeing the artistry around how they were creating these movies. I really love that.

Aisha: I remember seeing it first in the movie, in theaters, and at the end, when Anna was saved by Elsa [in Frozen], right? It was just beautiful to see the relationship that they had. The care and the love, and the fact that she didn’t get saved by the prince. But it was like her sister in the end who she had this true love that she shared with. And I share that with my little sister, so it was very impactful and powerful to see that message.

Benjamin: I saw Beauty & The Beast on Broadway in 1994, and that was actually what inspired me to ask for piano lessons and learn to play the piano. So, it really inspired and changed the whole trajectory of my life.

Annaliese: I just really liked watching Beauty & The Beast. I remember seeing Beauty & The Beast and I thought it was really cool that she [Belle] didn’t think Gaston was all bad. She was so annoyed by him, and my mother was a feminist and I thought that movie was really important. And how well-read she was, my gosh, how cool! I don’t know many stories about women, aside from Disney, where they speak about how educational that is, how impactful education can be, and how reading, specifically, can be for anyone, especially women. 

What traits of Disney princess resemble your personality?

Aisha: I’m going to say that Tiana [in The Princess and the Frog] is a hard worker, and I’m a hard worker. You know, we got to make our dreams come true. But also, Anna, she’s so goofy, and I can be very silly sometimes. So, I love that.

Krysta: I think a lot of Disney princesses start out with not a lot of agency, not a lot of power. And they find that throughout and they learn how to be true to themselves, and that has been really impactful to me growing up. I sing both Mulan and Moana, and they both sing about wanting to be perfect and not being able to be and how frustrating that is. And then they learn by the end that perfection is not the goal, so I’m always inspired by that. I try to keep thinking of that.

Annaliese: Yeah, I was thinking recently about Rapunzel and how “glass half-full” she is despite being trapped in that tower. How she is still so positive. It’s almost like her life is still lived without living much of her life. And I hate to bring up another credit but it reminds me of another character I played on television [Chelsea Daniels on That’s So Raven and Raven’s Home], of a girl who really saw the best in people and saw the glass half full.

Benjamin: I think Ariel dreams of the impossible and makes that happen, and that has really inspired me throughout my life. This show started eight years ago as a small unofficial cabaret show. Now, I’m traveling the world with some of my best friends and, you know, that’s a lot like Ariel’s journey. She doesn’t know how she’s going to be part of that world but she knows she’s going to do everything in her power to make that happen, and it’s awesome. 

What's your favorite lyrics from a Disney song?

Krysta: “I don’t care what they’re going to say. Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway.” [“Let it Go” from Frozen]

Annaliese: “You think you own whatever land you land on. The earth is just a dead thing you can claim.” I mean, that entire song. “Have you ever heard a wolf cry?” I mean, that entire song. The “Colors of the Wind” is stunning. Can you think of a better lyric in that song?[“Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas]

Krysta: “You’ll learn things you never knew, you never knew.”

Annaliese: Good, good. 

Aisha: “It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled you can’t get to you at all.” You know, being reminded that if you take some space away, then you can really sit it in. Those fears don’t really have as much control over you. I just thought they did.

Benjamin: I guess it’s not the deepest but I think about “I don’t know when. I don’t know how. But I know something’s starting right now. Watch and you’ll see someday I’ll be part of your world.” It’s just that excitement of knowing you’re going to figure out how you’re going to make your dreams come true. 

Annaliese: “You can own the Earth and still all you'll own is Earth until you can paint with all the colors of the wind.” Yeah, but that’s so true, especially now with the current situation. I mean, wow, how good is that lyric?

What's a Disney princess movie scene that stuck with you?

Annaliese: I guess, I loved it when Belle comes back to her father. Her father, who’s in his 80s, who’s had a life lived, she’s teaching him a lesson that people really can change and that she saw him wrong and that a beast, a beast, can really have kindness in them. 

Benjamin: In the newest Little Mermaid, there’s a beautiful scene where Prince Eric is showing Ariel his collection, which is sort of a new aspect. He’s showing her maps, showing him all the things from his adventures and you see them bonding over that part of their spirit. And I just love the bonding that happens in a scene like that. That really was a special thing to watch.

Aisha: There’s also a scene in that movie with her, her father, you know, when Ursula kissed him. But then later, she gets to save him in turn, and they have this moment of togetherness, understanding each other. I like that.

Benjamin: Very powerful.

Please tell us something about the wardrobe for the concert.

Aisha: Sparkles. You’ll get a lot of sparkles! And we try to embody the characters, so you get different colors that represent different characters as well.

Annaliese: You’re the first person to ask us about our costumes, but it’s a big deal. One of our lines... we talk about the audience if they’re in costumes, we say, “That’s too much sparkle, oh my goodness, oh my goodness! Said no princess ever.” Because there’s never too much sparkle.

Krysta: We love sparkle. Yeah, because we’re playing ourselves and we’re not playing Disney princesses, we dress in ways that make us feel great. So we’re wearing beautiful gowns and then we have a little costume change. So, there’s a little bit of variety but it’s also a lot of… it’s very classy and fun and sparkly. 

Tickets are available at TicketWorld.com.ph and TicketWorld outlets for MANILA shows, and SMTickets.com and SM Tickets outlets for CEBU and DAVAO shows. For more information, follow @WilbrosLive on social media.