“The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” nighttime show debuted at the Rivers of America at Disneyland Park on the evening of September 29. The limited-time offering features several water, lighting, and projection effects and tells the story of a small frog from the Lousiana Bayou who is enchanted by and drawn to the bright lights, music, and culture of New Orleans.
‘The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural’ Debuts
The show is set to jazz score and features animation modeled after original artwork by Disney Live Entertainment graphic designer Marcella “Marci” Swett.
The show starts with a brief narration in which we learn about our amphibious protagonist and his dreams of visiting New Orleans. After the frog is inspired to take the leap into “the heartbeat of New Orleans,” the jazz score starts to play.
Horns, strings, and pianos play in harmony as an animated sequence is projected in front of the audience. The short appears to blend traditional and 3-D animation, with the frog bouncing between vibrant scenes showcasing musicians playing different instruments.
Multi-colored water effects occur simultaneously and complement the projected sequence.
The show concludes with the frog returning home but taking solace in the knowledge that New Orleans is just a few hops away.
The show lasts roughly five minutes and is played several times per night. It will run on select nights this fall and nightly throughout the holiday season; the official Disneyland mobile app lists the scheduled showtimes as 7:35 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 8:40 p.m., 8:55 p.m., and 9:50 p.m.
Watch “The Heartbeat of New Orleans” show in our video below.
The Rivers of America
The Rivers of America is an artificial river located in the Frontierland section of Disneyland Park. Shows have long been performed along the river, with current entertainment options including “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” and Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band. It was also one of several Disneyland Park locations to host the “Wondrous Journeys” show earlier this year.
Fantasmic!, when running, is performed along the Rivers of America and on Tom Sawyer Island, a body of land at the river’s center. The show debuted in 1992 but is currently on a hiatus due to a fire in April of 2023 that completely destroyed a large prop depicting Maleficent in her dragon form. Fantasmic! is on hiatus through at least Spring 2024 due to the fire.
Will you be checking out the new “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural” nighttime show at the Rivers of America? Let us know in the comments.
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