Alex Yarde and family assembled to see Feld Entertainment’s new show, Marvel Universe LIVE!
I’ve just seen Marvel Universe LIVE! at the IZOD Center courtesy of my friend and college at The Good Men Project Marie Roker-Jones and Alexa Wilberton of the fine folks at #SuperheroMOMS/At The Moms: Mamarazzi VIP event and my kids weren’t the only ones thrilled by the experience. First up was a “Superhero Training Camp” where youngsters were photographed and created personalized Superhero ID cards listing hero names powers and other pertinent information before they were let loose practicing archery and kickboxing routines in between playing dress up and photo ops with super friendly cast members. My kids ate it up. But once we had a snack and entered the expansive IZOD Arena they were spellbound.
Marvel Universe LIVE! was an absolute delight for children of all ages and full of jaw dropping technological advances. You do feel like you’ve stepped into a Marvel blockbuster film with nonstop movie style action and over the top stunts. The easy to follow story is framed around the battle over the Cosmic Cube, the source of ultimate power and one of the most feared and coveted treasures in the Marvel Universe, that has been shattered into pieces by the Mighty Thor in an ill advised bid to prevent one being from wielding its power. With the pieces scattered across the globe, it’s not long before earths villains led by Thor’s brother Loki devises a scheme to clone its powers, inciting a threat that could not only decimate Earth but also obliterate the Universe. To defeat Loki, Marvel’s biggest Super Heroes must band together, including The Avengers along with SHIELD, Spider-Man and Wolverine, must trek across the globe to retrieve the Cosmic Cube fragments and unite them. Basically cleaning up Thor’s mess. As the Super Heroes track the Cube shards, they encounter some of their biggest adversaries including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Red Skull, Madame Hydra, Aldrich Killian, Electro and more, in the quest for the very same fragments. These foes have no problem teaming up if it gets them closer to their ultimate goal of world domination.
All your favorite Marvel characters all using their signature powers and moves in a live stage show that’s likely to attract not only comic fans, but also those seeking the latest action-packed uses of infrared theater technology & set design. The new Marvel Universe LIVE! show has an arsenal of innovative stage technology that includes 3-D projection, practical effects and clever use of staging. The production design by Joe Stewart, costumes by Cynthia Nordstrom and the impressive action and stunt coordination by Andy Armstrong are highlights for me and deserve special notice. The SHIELD hellicarrier configuration was super impressive. My favorite moments in the show were the transitions, leaving New York City in a Quinjet and rocketing to HYDRA Island to take on the Red Skull via 3-D projection mapping, flying around the world with a detailed overview of New York City while traveling to locations within the Marvel Universe: Avengers’ Tower, AIM, and of course, Loki’s Fortress.
The cast is trained in everything from martial arts to motocross in order to bring the Marvel Universe to the live action arena. The surreal ness of Bruce Banner and Wolverine crossing the Himalayas on Motocross bikes while trash talking and pulling of tricks was astounding (the Hulk eventually makes a spectacular third act appearance and is terrifically pulled off as he towers appropriately over every other character) The expansive production is supported by a unique blend of aerial stunts, pyrotechnics and state-of-the-art special effects, but it’s the performers who were uniformly terrific from the scene chewing Loki to an amazingly agile Black Widow that sold me on the show. You’ll see some of the world’s most gifted athletes and performers including professional snow-skater and three-time X Games champ Phil Smage (Captain America), Romeo Brown (a badass Nick Fury) WMX Pro National champion and two-time X Games winner Ashley Fiolek (Hydra Agent), and 2012 X Games Silver Medalist Louise Forsley (best Black Widow since Scarlett). To depict the superlative athleticism of some of Marvel’s most renowned heroes, Feld Entertainment also signed martial arts expert and AAU Junior Olympics/National Champion Kirk Jenkins (a show stealing Wolverine) and long-time American Ninja Warrior professional course tester Eric Foster (a believable Hawkeye).
I can only say we were very entertained and impressed with the production from start to finish and if you’re as big as a Marvel Comic Geek as I am with young children Marvel Universe Live! is really a no brainier for fun, family friendly entertainment.
For an inside look at the audition process click here: http://youtu.be/gPh0IdAxf58
For a complete cast list and more information, visit the Marvel Universe LIVE! website (http://www.marveluniverselive.com) and stay current on the latest developments through social media, including:
Facebook: (www.facebook.com/MarvelOnTour)
Twitter: (@MarvelOnTour/@JulietteFeld (show’s producer twitter feed))
YouTube: (www.youtube.com/MarvelOnTour)
Instagram: (@MarvelOnTour)
Google+ :(http://gplus.to/MarvelOnTour)
There are tickets still available in the New York Area at : www.MarvelUniverseLive.com
East Rutherford, NJ: 8/6/14 -8/10/14 Izod Center
Brooklyn, NY: 8/13/14 – 8/17/14 Barclays Center
Uniondale, NY: 8/21/14 – 8/24/14 Nassau Coliseum
All photos: Marvel