Two questions:
1 - Are they using that word correctly? Is this really the final season for the abomination that usurped the great Imaginique show? And if so, what will replace it next season?
2 - The website also says that this year's incarnation will feature a more cirque-themed show. How close will this be to the Imaginique of old, and how much can I expect it to be American Jukebox with trampolines, as it has been for the last 5 years?
To answer my own questions:
1- I sure hope not...it's just getting good...
2 - The show is alot more similar now to the old Imaginique show, and, in someways is better, because it likely appeals to a more American mainstream audience. There is a team of chinese acrobats (stylistically, not nationally...I don't want to assume they are Chinese if they're Korean or whatever and make the world angry) who do some AMAZING things. The singing has moved into a supporting role (which may still be the thorn in the shows side - I went with some people who'd never seen either Imaginique or the Kinetix show, and they HATED the singing) and the lighting is fantastic.
Why oh why couldn't it have been like this in the beginning?
Add a short-subject story line to this thing and you'd have a really wonderful show.
If these changes are a sign of things to come with Kinetix, we can expect to see less entertainers on stage each year. Please remember that they used entertainers from the other shows in Kinetix. If the other shows are gone, there will be less talent in Kinetix. I suggest voicing your opinion to Guest Relstions before it is too late.
The Starlight Orchestra and other music shows were boring. I don't believe most people spend 55 dollars to come in and listen to standards played by semi-pro musicians (I mean, they work in a theme park instead of in an orchestra or whatever). I've never been a big fan of music shows, and have always preferred to ride rides or watch the more spectacular or effects-driven offerings.
Music is everywhere in our daily lives. We're able to go out and see live music any night of the week, basically for free in most cities, and with the advent of the mp3 player, we can listen to our old favorites any time of day. The music shows are, in many ways, irrelevant today because of all of this, except for some dinner shows or cultural productions (Emerald Beat, for example).
I think that Busch Gardens is smart to cut some of the music shows. They've always seemed like fillers to me, they are expensive to produce I assume (people are a high cost commodity), and they are kind of long, which keeps people from walking around spending money.
People go out to theme parks to have an experience. You have to put money into making something really interesting (visually or sensory) and it will come back to you.
Imaginique was the best show ever at Busch Gardens. Absolute, hands down. I would love to see another Cirque show in that space, and not some concert from a washed up 80's band.
You don't get to the top by playing to the lowest common denominator. I know these chintzy song/dance shows are passable and cheap entertainment for the ham and eggers of the world, but they don't dazzle anyone. GO BIG!
Compare "Glory at the Gardens" with "Fantasmic"...see my point?