merican Idol Aexperience! In February 2008, the unnamed project officially came out of the shadows and was dubbed "The American Idol Experience," and was set to debut at disney's Hollywood Studios. Walt disney World Entertainment had long been adept at turning the company's own animated features into live park stage shows. Often working with their partners at Walt disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment in California, they'd done it with everything from Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid to The Lion King and, most recently, Finding Nemo. but this was different. This was taking a television program- featuring humans, not animated characters-and transforming it into a live stage show that replicated a Tv show experience. Further complicating matters, the inspiration for the project The set for The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios recreates the look and feel of the Season 7 television show. S P R I N G 2009 theatre design & technology 49