Pokémon Live!: Difference between revisions

'''''Pokémon Live!''''' was a musical based on the {{pkmn|anime}}, though it is not in the same continuity. It ran in {{pmin|the United States}} from September 2000 to January 2001. A Portuguese language version played at the Pavilhão Atlântico in Lisbon, {{pmin|Portugal}} from March 21 to March 27, 2002, and a Dutch version at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, {{pmin|Belgium|Belgium}} on April 6 and 7, 2002. A {{pmin|the United Kingdom|United Kingdom}} tour was planned for 2002, but was canceled. The U.S. version of the musical did, however, have a brief tour in {{pmin|the Arab world|Dubai}} in March 2001 as part of the annual {{wp|Dubai Shopping Festival}}, which usually lasts for thirty days. The musical was positively received, despite the Pokémon-related controversies that followed just shortly after.<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/young-and-old-enjoy-pokemon-1.411320 Young and old enjoy Pokemon - ''Gulfnews'']</ref>

Two of the actors in ''Pokémon Live!'', [[Darren Dunstan]] (Giovanni) and [[Andrew Rannells]] (James) went on to become voice actors for the [[4Kids Entertainment|4Kids]] [[dub]] of the series.

''Pokémon Live!'' is most notorious for featuring far more [[Shipping|heavy romantic overtones]] than the series on which it is based. In particular, Misty's feelings for Ash are [[PokéShipping|outright stated]] and a large source of angst for her character. The show was also the inspiration for [[DiamondShipping]], named after the Diamond Badge Giovanni offers to Trainers. During the events of the story, Delia reveals to Professor Oak that she once dated Giovanni when they were teenagers, though she left his gang after meeting Ash's father. This backstory, however, outright contradicts the Japanese-only audio dramas on the origins of Team Rocket.

*[[Rachael Lillis]] - Jigglypuff (voice;uncredited)

*[[Michael Haigney]] - Psyduck (voice;uncredited)

The idea for ''Pokémon Live!'' was conceived by the president of 4Kids Productions, [[Norman J. Grossfeld]]. The show was directed and choreographed Luis Perez, and was written by Michael Slade. Musical Direction was done by [[John Loeffler]] and [[John Siegler]], who have both written songs for the ''Pokémon'' anime. Set production was done by Hotopp Associates Limited, and Lighting Design by David Agress Lighting, Inc. Costumes for ''Pokémon Live!'' were designed by Yvette Helin Studios, who also assisted Geppetto Studios in creating seventeen standee Pokémon puppets.

* Dee Roscioli and Patrick Frankfort, who portray Delia and the Professor in the original English version of the production, were in a romantic relationship. This is referenced by Ash telling Professor Oak, "Don't bring my mom home too late!" Roscioli would later move on to play Elphaba in the Chicago and Broadway productions of ''Wicked''.

* According to the show's program, [[Ikue Ohtani]], [[Maddie Blaustein]] and Jay Goede reprised their roles of {{AP|Pikachu}}, {{MTR}} and Mewtwo respectively. Goede is credited by his real name in ''Pokémon Live!'' instead of his stage name, Philip Bartlett, which was used in ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]''. Jigglypuff and Psyduck's voices are uncredited but are possibly archive recordings of [[Rachael Lillis]] and [[Michael Haigney]], respectively. No other voice actors are known to have reprised their roles from the anime in this production.

* Both Pokémon Insider and [[Pokémon.com]] at the time claimed ''Pokémon Live!'' was to be aired on television and released on home video in the United States, but no such broadcast or release ever occurred.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20011019041628/http://www.pokemon.com:80/events/live.html  Pokémon Live! - ''Pokémon.com (archived)'']</ref> Producer Chris Mitchell later confirmed that a high definition professional recording was indeed made.