Grab your ponchos and find your place in the splash zone! This week on The Backstage Kingdom Podcast, host Michael Saint Gregory dives deep into the "cockroach" of the theme park industry: Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular.

How did a stunt show based on one of the most notorious box-office flops in cinema history survive for over 30 years? Michael breaks down the fascinating "Rust-Tech" aesthetic that makes the show nearly immortal and explores the evolution of the "Action Corner" at Universal Studios Hollywood—from the meta-theatrical 80s cheese of the A-Team Live Stunt Show to the neon-noir logistical nightmare of Miami Vice.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The 1995 Shift: Why Waterworld felt like an artifact the moment it opened alongside digital pioneers like Toy Story.
• Accidental Genius: How project manager Norm John realized that a set built out of scrap metal and corrugated iron would actually look better as it aged in the California sun.
• The Anatomy of a Stunt: A beat-by-beat look at the show’s dramaturgy, from the tribal energy of the "Soak Zone" pre-show to the high-stakes physics of the Slide for Life and the High Fall Burn.
• The 2,200lb Projectile: The terrifying engineering behind the seaplane launch that puts the audience inches away from a literal ton of flying metal.
• The Dark Times: A candid look back at the 2006 "Slaughterworld" experiment—Universal’s "edgy" Halloween Horror Nights misstep.
• Global Reach: Why the show's success in Osaka, Singapore, and Beijing proves that the language of fire and water is universal.

Whether you're a "Director’s Chair" regular in Row 10 or a front-row thrill-seeker ready to be aggressively drenched, this episode is a love letter to the tactile, visceral, and very real friction of live stunt theater.

Subscribe now to The Backstage Kingdom Podcast to hear the stories the press releases left out!

Follow Michael on social media everywhere @TheBackstageKingdom

Follow Pat Dooley (Announcer) @YoursTrulyPatDooley (Threads/Instagram)

Join host Michael Saint Gregory as he breaks down the unwritten contract of the Disney-MGM Studios: You aren't just here to watch the movies—you’re here to be in them.

In this episode, we open the operations manual for The Great Movie Ride to uncover the logistical nightmare and theatrical triumph of the "Moving Theater." We deconstruct the famous "A/B Split" to explain why you probably only ever saw the Gangster scene, reveal the gory stunt that was cut before opening day, and explain the chemical reality behind that specific "burnt rubber" smell in the Alien scene.

Topics Covered:

• The Red Light vs. The Green Light: How a simple traffic signal determined whether you faced a mobster or an outlaw.
• The Myth of the Cowboy: Why "Capacity Reduction" turned the Western scene into a rare luxury.
• The Kill Zone: The terrifying speed of the Sarcos-equipped Wicked Witch animatronic.
• The Lost Stunt: The "bloody shirt" effect that was deemed too dark for a Disney attraction.
• The Decline: How the TCM sponsorship and the "Robert Osborne" update fundamentally broke the ride’s immersive theater concept.

Next Week: We are heading to Pleasure Island to discuss the Colonel, the Yakoose, and the secrets of The Adventurers Club.

What if you held the door for the biggest deal in entertainment history and didn't even know it? Join former Cast Member Michael Saint Gregory as he peels back the curtain on the chaotic, sweaty, and unglamorous reality of Disney's Hollywood Studios during the "Live Stream Era" of 2011.

In this premiere episode, Michael takes us back to May 20, 2011—the Grand Opening of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. While George Lucas and Bob Iger were publicly celebrating with Jedi and Stormtroopers, Michael was backstage in a polyester costume, surviving on caffeine and adrenaline. Listen in as he reveals how a chance encounter at the Hollywood Brown Derby turned him into an unwitting witness to the secret breakfast that sparked Disney's $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm. It’s a story of theme park history, corporate destiny, and the bagels that fuel it all.

Subscribe now to The Backstage Kingdom Podcast to hear the stories the press releases left out!

Follow Michael on social media everywhere @TheBackstageKingdom

Follow Pat Dooley (Announcer) @YoursTrulyPatDooley (Threads/Instagram)

Watch - 'Star Tours - The Adventure Continues' Grand Opening Webcast

They say you should never look behind the curtain because it ruins the illusion. We think they’re wrong. Once you see how the gears turn, the magic actually gets better.

Welcome to The Backstage Kingdom, a new weekly podcast exploring the incredible intersection of professional theater, theme park design, and the operational wizardry that brings artificial worlds to life.

In this introductory trailer, your host Michael Saint Gregory covers:

• Why understanding the "mechanic" enhances the "magic."
• His journey as a Walt Disney World Cast Member (2010–2012) from the drawing boards of Animation to the galaxy of Star Tours.
• What you can expect every week: Deep dives into the "Triple Threat" of park operations—Technology, Performance, and Logistics.
• A raw, honest look at the industry without the fluff.

Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast, a curious newcomer, or a fellow industry pro, there is a seat saved for you here. Grab a churro, mind your head and arms, and let’s take a look backstage.

📅 New Episodes: Every Monday.

Connect with The Backstage Kingdom:

• Subscribe on YouTube
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• Support the Show

Credits: Hosted by Michael Saint Gregory. The Backstage Kingdom is an independent podcast and is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, or any specific theme park corporation.