Inside Live Entertainment

July, 2002

Cedar Point, while known for their amazing roller coasters and thrill rides, is also home to some of the greatest live entertainment in the amusement industry. Cedar Point shows have been recognized with awards from trade groups like the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). We sat down with Cedar Point's "live E" vice president, Marje Cronenwett, to talk about success, schedules and more.

GTTP: Cedar Point has live entertainment?

MC: Yes!  Lots of it... Snoopy Rocks on Ice at the Good Time Theatre, Hooray for Hollywood, The Sequel at Centennial Theatre, America Rocks and Karaoke Party at the Red Garter Saloon, Heart of Rock & Roll at the Place Theatre, Splash! 2002 at the Aquatic Stadium, Campground Capers and Campground Karaoke at Camp Snoopy Theatre, Jammin' DJs at the Millennium Force, Magnum and Raptor and Snoopy also appears in the Summer Spectacular and at Hotel Breakers for the Goodnight Snoopy interactions with kids. Breakfast with the Peanuts happens at T.G.I.Fridays.

GTTP: Snoopy Rocks on Ice is new this year. Why an ice show?

MC: We have been looking for something new and exciting for the old IMAX,  and something that would be fun for the whole family.  Our sister park, Knott's Berry Farm, had presented this show which we thought would be an ideal fit for our space, our park, our guests.  No one in this area offers anything like this show.   Ice shows seem to be universally popular, as do the Peanuts characters, so we were certain this show would be a winner here!

GTTP: Did the IMAX theater just run its course?

MC: Definitely, at least for our amusement park situation.  Cedar Point had one of the first IMAX installations, back in 1975.   At the time, it was a new and exciting technology... thrilling and entertaining.   Now there are IMAX and OMNIMAX theatres in most nearby cities, i.e., Cleveland, Columbus and Detroit.  The movies being made now are targeted for museums and extra pay attractions.  That means that most are much longer than our guests wish to sit (with so many other things to do here!) and they don't have the "adrenaline rush" level that our guests desire.  Plus, with the advances in technology, our 1975 equipment was showing it's age in terms of reliability and availability of replacement parts.  It was great entertainment for more than two decades, but it had, at least for Cedar Point, definitely run its course.

GTTP: The performers in some shows (especially at Red Garter the last few years) have been insanely good, as the awards from IAAPA confirm. What does it take to get and retain this top-shelf talent? What kind of reputation does CP have in the performing community?

MC: We are very proud of our entertainers and definitely appreciate their talent and hard work.  Getting and retaining our multitalented people is a multifaceted effort.  I'm very proud of the reputation Cedar Point Live Entertainment has built over the past 26 years that I've been here. With all of the recruiting efforts we do, it's probably word of mouth that brings us the best people.  We make every effort to insure that when people come to work for us that they will be treated well, personally and professionally, that they will perform good material that will challenge them, that they can learn, not only from the performances of the shows, but also from the numerous workshops we offer, so that they'll increase their professional show biz skills.   All of our entertainers who have gone on in the business have looked back on their experiences at Cedar Point and recommended the experience to other young professionals.  Whenever possible, the pros come back and do show biz chats with our current entertainers.  Next Monday, for example, Doug Coates (who just completed the national  tour as conductor of Scarlett Pimpernel) will be here.  Greg Reuter, just recently on Broadway in Fosse and Chicago, was here last summer and will come back if he gets a break before the L.A. company of Producers opens.  It's a great opportunity to learn and network.

GTTP: How much time does your staff have to compose a show, including songs, scripts, lighting, costumes, etc.? Is it a tough schedule to meet?

MC: Time... it seems there's never enough!  Show development is actually a year-round activity. We're always looking for new ideas, and working to refine the ones we have.  Our shows are very much a collaborative effort of our production team which includes both fulltime staff and production partners. Officially, we meet in August for three days of brainstorming show concepts. Then we come back together in October with more developed ideas.  By the end of that session we need to have the basic concepts set so that we can know what talent we need to hire on audition tour.  The ideas are then refined throughout the winter.  Sets are designed by December , with building beginning in January. Costume fabric is purchased in New York in November, with designs ongoing and construction beginning in February.  Music arrangements are developed throughout the winter months, with instrumental tracks for the Palace and Centennial recorded in the studio in March and April.  Lights are basically designed by January, so orders can be placed for our rental package by February. It seems that we always come down to the wire in terms of getting everything done...but somehow the show always manages to go on! I'm very proud of our creative team!

GTTP: Halloweekends gets bigger and better every year. Why the growth for this event?

MC: When we first came up with the idea to have a HalloWeekends, I'm not sure any of us envisioned that it would grow to be such an amazing event.   I think it's grown because it's just great fun, and because Cedar Point has such a terrific (imaginative/scary/weird) staff who keep coming up with new and fun ways to entertain and thrill our guests.

GTTP: Has "Knott's Scary Farm" been an influence since acquired by Cedar Fair?

MC: Absolutely!  Our Fright Zone that opened last year with the Screamsters was based on Knott's after dark terror areas.   Their Hollywood makeup artist even came here to teach our staff how to do the marvelously creative facial makeup. The Cedar Point "signature" for our HalloWeekends, however, is that we stress entertainment that is family oriented.  We have lots of activities for the little ones, medium scares for the braver, and big scares for the bravest.   Even in the "creepiest"  areas, we've gone for low gore, high scare.   We've been able to adapt many of the atmosphere and haunted house ideas from Knott's for use at Cedar Point.   Knott's has developed a marvelous product over the years and their staff has been terrific about sharing ideas and technologies.

GTTP: Is there any potential for live entertainment to mix with ride technology for an immersive themed ride experience?

MC: We're always looking at new ideas, so there's always that potential.

GTTP: What tradition does the park have regarding its live entertainment, as it relates to types of shows, the venues, etc.?

MC: Our shows are upbeat, positive, fun.  Each venue has it's own personality, which has evolved over the years.

GTTP: With Cedar Point's strong reputation for rides, do you ever feel that live-E is underrated by the public?

MC: I don't think we're underrated, perhaps just under recognized, but that's certainly changing!  My past experience is that sometime people weren't aware of what Live Entertainment offered,  particularly in terms of quality. But in general I've found that once someone experiences our shows, they get a major "a-ha" and keep coming back for more.  And winning the Big E Awards (from IAAPA) has certainly helped our recognition factor!

GTTP: Who are the shows targeted to?

MC: With the variety we offer now, I think we have something to appeal to just about everyone.  Even the thrill seeking teenagers, who probably wouldn't be interested in sitting for 30 minutes to watch a show, can be entertained by our Jammin' DJs at the Millennium Force, Magnum and Raptor.

GTTP: What's your background and how did you get to your current position?

MC: Education-wise I have a B.A. from Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, post graduate work at University of Hawaii, M.A. from Bowling Green State University, theatre major, dance minor.  I've worked professionally as a performer in various mediums and continue to free-lance occasionally. This helps me keep a finger in the professional pie, so I can share experiences and pro tips with our entertainers. I started here in 1976 as a show writer/director/choreographer/production coordinator/assistant manager/...(go-for, coach, cheerleader, etc.).  I was hired by Jack Aldrich (my predecessor and boss for 15+ years) and Dick Kinzel (our President and CEO)  It was all rather serendipitous. They'd been talking to me about coming on staff the following  year.  At that time Charles Meeker and his production team from Texas were contracted to create the shows.  Cedar Point was interested in producing the shows in-house.  To make a long story short, two weeks before the park was to open, Mr. Meeker died of a heart attack.  At the same time, I had "irreconcilable differences" and resigned the position I'd held.  I contacted Mr. Kinzel, just to let him know that for future reference I could be contacted at home instead of my former employer location, and to invite him to a 1776 show I had choreographed for the city schools.  He then told me about Mr. Meeker and asked me if I could come in the next day to talk.  That was Friday, I started Monday, and the park opened two weeks later.  What still amazes me is that had I not already quit my old job, I couldn't in good conscience have accepted Cedar Point's offer of employment.  Cedar Point needed me immediately, I was available, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Updated: 7/23/02