Candelit Processional at Walt Disney World

"A lovely opportunity to mesh my profession with my faith"
Angela Bassett shares the actors' craft behind the Candlelight Processional

You may have seen Angela Bassett ignite the big screen in a spectrum of roles including Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It? You may have watched Courtney B. Vance conquer Shakespearean drama or get justice done on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. When this talented couple gets together, you get electrifying chemistry on E.R., touching memories in Friends: A Love Story—and this December 27–30, you can experience both live at Epcot® in the renowned Candlelight Processional*.

"Usually they just have a single person as the Narrator," said Angela, who originally did the presentation as a solo performer. "Courtney would watch every show, three shows per night, and really enjoyed it. So we broached the possibility of doing it together. They wound up liking it very much, so much so that they invited us both to return and do it again."

Angela, who has fond memories of Walt Disney World® visits and Grad Nite during her Florida youth, sees the Candlelight Processional Narrator as a full-fledged dramatic role. "Some actors may just 'straight read' it, but I approach it with a great deal of reverence because it is the Word of God, but also because it is my profession—and I am a big ham!

"I like to make it as dramatic as I can. There might be pauses, hand movements or far off glances&as if I actually see the star of Bethlehem. I just try to let the wonder build."

An unforgettable presentation

Part of Epcot® Holidays Around the World, the Candlelight Processional features a celebrity narration of the Christmas Story and John Allen Francis' 1926 verse, "One Solitary Life" with magnificent music from a mass choir and a live, 50-piece orchestra. Angela makes a point of toning her performance with the musicians and singers.

"I try to keep in mind the importance of tone, pace and inflection, as well as the inherent tension in the piece, along with attempting a smooth transition with what's coming next musically," she told us. "If they do an up-tempo song, I might want to speed the dialogue along and end it in an upward inflection. If it is a very soft, plaintive song, then I will change my tone. Together we are more of a marriage, truly working in concert."

Using the voice to create

Angela is using the power of her voice a lot lately. Not long ago, she was the voice of Mildred in Walt Disney Pictures' Meet the Robinsons. "I had a wonderful time with that," she commented. "I think it was about three years of work before it finally came out. That was an opportunity to add my voice to the idea of caring for foster children. I even get teared up watching that sometimes, when he finds his family."

She just voiced none other than Michelle Obama for The Simpsons, as well as Billie Holiday for an upcoming album saluting the songstress that includes artists like Patti Austin, Esperanza Spalding and Freda Payne. "It's harder than you think," Angela explained. "When it is just the voice, I am always sort of hyper-vigilant about it. I am always trying to get it just right, as perfect as possible." And when Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance perform the Candlelight Processional it's a highly emotional experience—for the audience and the performers on stage.

"There are just some moments that can just bring you to tears, especially with music being such a universal language," she said. "Some chords just reach in, grab your heart and squeeze it. I have to explain that to my kids, when they say, 'Don't cry, Mom!' Three year olds can barely grasp the concept of 'tears of joy.'"

*CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL NARRATOR SCHEDULE

Isabella Rossellini Nov. 27–29
John O' Hurley Nov. 30, Dec. 1–2
Steven Curtis Chapman Dec. 3–5
Anika Noni Rose Dec. 6–8
Andy Garcia Dec. 9–11
Vanessa Williams Dec. 12–14
Abigail Breslin Dec. 15–17
Whoopi Goldberg Dec. 18–20
Brian Dennehy Dec. 21–23
Edward James Olmos Dec. 24–26
Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance Dec. 27–30


Entertainment subject to change without notice.

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