I'll be doing an interview with a puppeteer on King Kong - if you have any questions please let me know asap.

How exciting! It will be interesting to hear what is computer run animatronic and what is mechanical or direct manipulation by the puppeteers. Are the responsible for upkeep of the puppet or is there a separate crew for that? I know that often with a show like this they are separate entities of crew and performers.

How exciting! It will be interesting to hear what is computer run animatronic and what is mechanical or direct manipulation by the puppeteers. Are the responsible for upkeep of the puppet or is there a separate crew for that? I know that often with a show like this they are separate entities of crew and performers.

Well, based on the limited stuff I saw on their website, it's a bit of both. It looks as though they have puppeteers on stage, visible, to move the legs and arms with a sort of pulley/rod puppetry thing; plus animatronics probably for the mouth and eyes. On my list already is to ask them about who does what and how it all works.

I am going to guess that crew and performers are separate, but that's a good question. I'll keep that one in mind to ask.

... On a side note, my parents got some free tix to see it and said it was fantastic. They had front row seats too! We're going to all see it together next month so I'll post again - from the videos I watched though it looked really good.

Ok now I am really jealous.   I still have not had the opportunity to see any of this companies productions. Perhaps I should just pop over and visit you next month... yea like that is going to happen. 

Ok now I am really jealous.   I still have not had the opportunity to see any of this companies productions. Perhaps I should just pop over and visit you next month... yea like that is going to happen. 

I wouldn't bother. Melbourne is apparently the only Australian city they're performing in and they close in August.

Far better to wait until the American tour which will no doubt come near you.

Still I think I would have preferred to see How To Train Your Dragon. That looked a little more mind-blowing and a little less like a musical with a giant puppet. (Not that I expect it to be non-mind-blowing, it's just everyone knows the storyline and outside of the puppetry I expect it will hit on all expected technical/acting aspects.)

What intrigues me is the way they have created the puppet. A giant pulley system and visible puppeteers are not what I would have expected, and yet they do it very well from what I saw on the videos. Also, I think I saw rods at the elbows... very curious to see how it's done.

Yes, Shawn. I'm ready for a road trip...or plane trip as it were!  Just watched the promo.  Beautiful puppet.  It mentioned going overseas, I just wonder when it will hit the USA.  I haven't had a chance to see War Horse either.

Congrats Na.

Julie

Yes, Shawn. I'm ready for a road trip...or plane trip as it were!  Just watched the promo.  Beautiful puppet.  It mentioned going overseas, I just wonder when it will hit the USA.  I haven't had a chance to see War Horse either.

Congrats Na.

Julie

I would guess it would be over in the US towards the end of the year... ? They only recently extended the run until August, and I'm guessing they could do that another time if they wanted to but usually extensions mean "we want to grab the sales while we're here but we've got a booking in X months time and well, we can't keep extending forever". But then you've got to pack everything up, ship over, test everything, set it up and the new place, maybe hire some new local people...

It's interesting but the site doesn't say when it will be in other cities. Normally they usually have "opens X month in X city" at the very least.

I did just find this though:
http://kingkongliveonstage.com/blog/the-beastgod-kong-creating-a-creature/

Yes I am sure at some point it well come over here. I would still have to travel most likely since Kansas City is never a city they chose to tour things like this in. Seems like they choose St. Louis instead... not really sure why that is. We are getting War Horse here next year but more then likely I won't be able to see it. Then again if I can't it'll be because I am backstage working on the show in wardrobe so I guess I can't complain.

Come to the land of Oz guys! Na, did you catch the Kong coverage on Sunrise this morning? It really is mind blowing.

Yes I am sure at some point it well come over here. I would still have to travel most likely since Kansas City is never a city they chose to tour things like this in. Seems like they choose St. Louis instead... not really sure why that is. We are getting War Horse here next year but more then likely I won't be able to see it. Then again if I can't it'll be because I am backstage working on the show in wardrobe so I guess I can't complain.

Maybe it's cheaper to go to St Louis, given all the trucks, crew, etc. Or the venue is more appropriate or whatever. I don't know...
I didn't see War Horse so if you do see it (or work on it! :P) let me know how it is.

Come to the land of Oz guys! Na, did you catch the Kong coverage on Sunrise this morning? It really is mind blowing.

No. Annoyingly I prefer to avoid all publicity before I see a show so that I go in with no preconceived ideas. This time around I couldn't avoid some of it, but am purposefully steering clear of TV/newspaper coverage.