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Utopia's Brian Kivlen promotes to Utopia's Director of Promotions
September 01, 2010 – Utopia Entertainment, Inc. is proud to announce the promotion of Brian Kivlen to Director of Production for Utopia Entertainment’s worldwide themed entertainment projects.
Brian’s responsibilities expand to overseeing all of Utopia’s international productions and effective immediately shall lead the project teams currently in development in Hong Kong, Japan, Egypt and Korea... |
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Utopia awarded 5th consecutive design and production project for the city of Irvine and Beverly Hills
September 01, 2010 – It’s official Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has been chosen again! Utopia has recently been awarded its 5th consecutive project for the design and production of community events for The City Beverly Hills and The Orange County Great Park.Utopia Entertainment will act as the Event Producer and shall provide event planning services, production management, graphic design, décor design, production & technical services and will work directly with the City of Irvine and the City of Beverly Hills in both of their holiday Extravaganzas... |
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Utopia to produce Great Park's 5th Anniversary
June 30, 2010 – Our enthusiasm can be reflected in our bigger and better attractions, which focus on celebrating the park’s past, present and future. In addition to exciting entertainment, the event will also play host to educational venues that support the history and the original roots of the park; highlighting both its agricultural and military past. In honor of this year’s CELEBRATE 5! event we have spectacular additions such as F-18 flyovers, laser lights shows, 5 themed zones, group parachute stunts, outrageous aerial acrobats... |
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UEI produces the "World's First Interactive Laser Show" for the 2010 Anime Expo
June 28, 2010—Pulsating music, professional dancers, laser lights, and glow sticks SPJA and Utopia intend on producing an interactive anime laser show that is sure to surpass its audience with unparallel excitement… |
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LA Business Journal Article
April 5, 2010 – Growing up within miles of Orlando, Fla.’s Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Rebecca Pontius always suspected she might end up working in the theme park industry. Though she flirted with a career in public relations, Pontius’ journey into theme park entertainment began when she relocated to Los Angeles in 2002...when she was offered a position that year with Utopia Entertainment, a Newhall firm that designs and produces themed attractions, live shows and special events, she gladly accepted. Read full article at LABusinessJournal.com |
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Utopia's Rebecca Pontius promotes to Utopia's Director of Special Projects
March 1, 2010 – Utopia Entertainment is pleased to announce the promotion of Rebecca Pontius to the position of Director of Special Projects. In Rebecca’s new role as the Director of Special Projects, she will directly oversee the Production & Project Management of both Special Events and Theme Park related productions for clients throughout California and the world... |
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Utopia to produce Great Park Great Skate 2010
January 14, 2010 – Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has been selected to produce The GREAT SKATE event for the Orange County Great Park. Working in tandem with the Great Park staff, Utopia Entertainment will design, develop and produce this wintery event, which will be held on January 30, 2010 from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM... |
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Special Guest -- How Live Entertainment Can Set You Apart From Everything Else, by Norman Kahn (PDF)
November2009 Issue --
In this world of countless entertainment options, there are so many things competing for the guest entertainment dollar that it is easy to get overwhelmed with how your attaction can se itself apart from the rest of the pack. Whether it is video games, the internet or DVDs and Home Theater, the world of entertainment options is creating what we call a "cocooning" environment for people... |
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Utopia to produce Great Park Pumpkin Harvest, October 24, 2009
September 21, 2009 – Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has once again been selected to produce an event for the Orange County Great Park. Following upon the heels of the very successful Anniversary Event (July 11, 2009), Utopia Entertainment, together with the Great Park team, will design, develop and produce the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2009. |
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Entertainment Value: How to Keep an Eye on Cost While Providing Excellent Shows and Live Experiences by Norman Kahn
September 5, 2009 -- Entertainers worldwide are struggling to find the balance between cost and quality; they want to provide the best entertainment while keep expenses under control and hopefully generate revenue. Meanwhile, guests are looking for entertainment experiences that offer an escape from real life and reinforce the good stuff: time with family and friends, memories, and nostalgia. Balancing those two hemispheres is a tricky balance, but there are some common themes... |
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Utopia is awarded Design & Production of Beverly Hills Holiday Lighting Ceremony, Decor and Entertainment for Fouth Consecutive Year
August 15, 2009 – For the fourth year in a row Utopia Entertainment has been awarded the contract to design, produce and manage “Deck the Hills” holiday décor and entertainment program for the City of Beverly Hills.
In addition to producing this popular city-wide event, Utopia has once again been selected to produce the UNICEF Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony on November 21, 2009. The event is staged each year upon legendary Rodeo Drive, in the heart of the Beverly Hills... |
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Making a Splash by Daniel Burzlaff
August 2009 -- Water is essential to our existence. And for many visitor attractions, a water feature is an essential part of the experience. Water can anchor a show or an attraction (Water World: A Live Sea War Spectacular at Universal Studios), play a supporting role (the lagoon at Universal's Islands of Adventure) or in the case of Tokyo DisneySea, become the catalyst, the canvas and the medium by which... |
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International Projects 101 by Daniel Burzlaff
July 2009 Issue -- You will have to travel. I smile as I reflect upon
these words. They were offered to me by
my then perspective boss while interviewing
for my first role as Production Manager in
this industry. Though many years later these
words still echo true, and are perhaps even
more relevant now than at any other time in
my career. In fact, I would offer up the same advice... |
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Utopia Entertainment to Produce Great Park Anniversary Event
May 7, 2009 – Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has been tapped by the City of Irvine, ( California), as the Event Producer for the Orange County Great Park Anniversary Celebration. The annual event will be held on July 11, 2009 with an expected attendance of 10,000 peope and will present to the visitors an opportunity to experience the transition and growth of the Great Park. |
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Magical Starlight Parade Lights Up the Night at Universal Studios Japan
March 6, 2009 – The Magical Starlight Parade opened at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and will perform nightly, thrilling guests for years to come. A brilliant, dazzling production, The “Magical Starlight Parade” lights up the Osaka based theme park with a rainbow of stunning colors and imaginative floats, costumes, props and music. Millions of lights bring a world of fairy-tales to life, illuminating the park each night, and giving theme park guests a surreal, dreamlike experience. |
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UEI Contracted to Assist The City of Irvine With Upcoming Community Events
Jan 30, 2009 -- Utopia has been contracted to assist the City of Irvine in the Design and Production of their upcoming city events. Utopia will help manage: Event Management, Production and Technical Services, Decor and Design and Graphic Design... |
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Beverly Hills UNICEF Lighting Ceremony in People Magazine
Nov 24, 2008 - Goodwill ambassador Joel Madden plants a smooch on girlfriend Nicole Richie Saturday night as the pair share hosting duties at the 2008 UNICEF Snowflake lighting ceremony on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, an event produced by Utopia Entertainment, Inc. for the City of Beverly Hills.
Click here for more info about this event. |
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Power of the Night by Norman Kahn (PDF)
InPark October/November Issue
In the world of themed entertainment many options exists for creating spectacular guest experiences. These include rides, shows, games, experiential attractions, themed environments and special events... |
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Park World Magazine -- New Show Opens at Ocean Park
June 30, 2008 -- In a theatre overlooking the South China Sea, Ocean Park in Hong Kong has opened a new show called Sea Dreams. Produced by Utopia Entertainment in close co-operation with the park’s marine mammal and entertainment team, the show features...
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Article featuring UEI President, Daniel Burzlaff (PDF file)
March 28, 2008 --Danny Burzlaff got his start in the business in 1976 when, as a high school student, he performed and hosted ski shows at Sea World, Florida. Eventually he began writing and producing shows while studying theater at the University of Central Florida. Burzlaff contiuned his work with Sea World... |
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USJ Main Street
June 2008 - The creative team met for the first time in May 2007. Norm Kahn of Utopia, the L.A.-based production company, brought together Kahori Kanaya, a Tokyo-based live show director, Mike Davis, head of entertainment at USJ, and Ray Winkler from Stufish in London, whose work has spanned projects for Muse, and Take That, as well as last year’s Live Earth. During the course of one day, they sketched out the show concept... |
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Fantastic World Opens at Universal Studios Japan
March 22, 2008 – Fantastic World opens at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) as the world’s first outdoor musical program performed on a movable stage using visual images and video.
The story’s theme is based on the “connection and importance of all livings things on Earth” featuring two white tiger cubs on an adventure... |
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Sea Dreams! Opens at Ocean Park Hong Kong
March 21, 2008 -- Utopia worked closely with the OPHK Marine Mammal Staff to develop an innovative show – which features for the first time at Ocean Park, choreographed movements by both trainer and animal. The show features dolphins and sea lions on a set with slides; including an elevated platform that actually raises the sea lions from the pool level to a stage within the audience... |
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Peter Pan's Neverland at Universal Studios Japan wins THEA Award
February 29, 2008 – Peter Pan’s Neverland, a nightly show at Universal Studios Japan, is a Broadway-style musical spectacle that takes in the main Lagoon, with three enormous floating stages that represent London, Neverland and Captain Hook’s Ship. The vibrant, 20-minute show takes place nightly, and features stunt performers... |
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Utopia Article, Deck the Hills, in Nov/Dec Issue of InPark Magazine (PDF)
November 1, 2007 -- For the second consecutive year the City of Beverly Hills has invited Utopia Entertainment, Inc. to help usher in the holidays by wrangling herd over their entire citywide holiday production and neatly tying...
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UEI Selected to Produce Annual Beverly Hills Lighting Ceremony
October 1, 2007 – In addition to creating the extensive Holiday themed presence throughout the city of Beverly Hills, Utopia Entertainment has been selected to produce the Annual Lighting Ceremony for Beverly Hills. The Ceremony will take place on Rodeo Drive on November 17, 2007 and run...
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UEI Provides Holiday Magic for the City of Beverly Hills for a Second Year
September 4, 2007 – Utopia Entertainment and the City of Beverly Hills, CA begin the second year of “Deck the Hills” this holiday season and are carrying out their mission to do just that.
“We were approached by the City of Beverly Hills to pull the community together...
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UEI Provides 4th of July Celebration for the City of Burbank
July 6, 2007 – Utopia Entertainment and the city of Burbank joined together to create this year’s 4 th of July Celebration, Star Spangled Salute, at the Starlight Bowl. “We were approached by the City of Burbank to create a show to replace their normal fireworks... |
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Article by Daniel Burzlaff - The Onion, the Ogre and the Exhibit... (PDF)
May 1, 2007 -- A popular metaphor for the layered depths of the human psyche is that of the onion. (The ogre-protagonist of the Shrek movies even made use of it to refer to this own inner complexities.) In my opinion, a well-designed visitor attraction or museum exhibit will also resemble and onion: It will have been conceived in layers to appeal to a diverse audience. |
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UEI and Sea World San Diego celebrate 5th Year Anniversary of Pets Rule
April 3, 2007 – Utopia Entertainment originally designed and produced the domestic animal show, (which features over 200 animals), that is now entering its 5 th year of operations. Utopia Entertainment teamed with Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals and the creative team of SeaWorld San Diego to create a truly unique and world-class animal production...  |
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UEI provides Holiday Magic for the City Of Beverly Hills
January 15, 2007 – Utopia Entertainment and the City of Beverly Hills, California proclaimed “Deck the Hills” this holiday season and carried out their mission to do just that.
“We were approached by the City of Beverly Hills to pull the community together in an attempt to present a single, cohesive holiday plan,” states Norman Kahn, CEO of Utopia Entertainment. “The goal was to create a themed...
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Interview with UEI CEO, Norman Kahn -- Safety in Production (PDF)
July 3, 2006 – People enjoy watching stunt shows because they feel
like they are in the middle of the action. The sense of
danger, and the excitement that comes with it is a major
driver of why stunts are popular with the public. Stunt shows
also reveal the “how to” of creating the movie magic that
people see when they go to the theater. Often when a person
sees a great...
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UEI creates 'big bang' for groundbreaking ceremony for Americana at Brand
June 8, 2006 – In a ceremony complete with confetti and fireworks, officials and community members broke ground for the “ Americana at Brand” project in Glendale, California. Utopia Entertainment provided technical direction and special effects for the ceremony, including “blowing up” a building on the site to signal the final demolition of the project and the commencement of construction activities.
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UEI opens Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular at Canada's Wonderland
May 19, 2006 – PARAMOUNT’S HOLLYWOOD STUNT SPECTACULAR premieres in an all-new 2,500-seat Stunt Show Arena at Paramount Canada's Wonderland today, Friday, May 19, 2006. This is a limited engagement!
PARAMOUNT’S HOLLYWOOD STUNT SPECTACULAR is a live, high-action
stunt show. It features spectacular special effects, including huge, fiery explosions, pyrotechnics, unbelievable sets...
>>Click here to watch sizzle reel
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UEI commences audition search for the Hollywood Stunt Spectacular
January 15, 2006 – Utopia is looking for a few good men, and women. Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has been selected to provide the operating cast and crew for the multi million dollar production of the Mission:Impossible Stunt Spectacular. Utopia will begin casting for the show (which the company is also producing) at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland in February, 2006. The show will premiere in an all-new 2,500-seat...
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UEI appoints Brian Kivlen as Technical Director, Worldwide Projects
December 5, 2005 - Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has expanded their Los Angeles office by appointing Mr. Brian Kivlen to the position of Technical Director for Worldwide Projects. Mr. Kivlen shall oversee all technical aspects of Utopia’s upcoming production projects, including upcoming shows...
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UEI produces two Holiday Parades for Paramount Theme Parks
November 25, 2005 – Utopia Entertainment brings the magic of the holiday season to life with the “Home for the Holidays” parade presented at Paramount Carowinds and Paramount Kings Island as part of the Winter Fest Holiday Celebration. The parade will be a first for Carowinds and a long awaited return for Paramount Kings Island. Both parades feature a series...
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UEI provides Show and Stunt Director for the 2005 "Batman" Stuntshow, Six Flags Darien Lake
May 1, 2005 - Utopia Entertainment Inc., a full service design and Production Company, provided the Show and Stunt Director for Six Flags Darien Lake's 2005 "Batman Forever Stunt Show." Todd Lester, Stunt Coordinator and Show Director, was on site during the rehearsal process to remount the crowd-favorite, Dark-Knight adventure for the theme park. "We have directed Batman Shows all around the world...
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UEI provides Show and Stunt Director for the "Batman" Stunt Show, Six Flags Great Adventure
May 1, 2004 - Utopia Entertainment Inc ., a full service design and Production Company, provided the Show and Stunt Director for Six Flags Great Adventure's new production of Batman V/S Catwoman, "Catfight!" The latest production in the Batman Stunt Show genre is unveiled this season at Six Flags Great Adventure in this high-octane, action adventure show. The famous caped-crusader...
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UEI provides Show and Stunt Director for the 2004 "Batman" Stunt Show, Six Flags New Orleans
May 1, 2004 - Utopia Entertainment Inc ., a full service design and Production Company, provided the Show and Stunt Director for Six Flags Great Adventure's new production of Batman V/S Catwoman, "Catfight!" The latest production in the Batman Stunt Show genre is unveiled this season at Six Flags Great Adventure in this high-octane, action adventure show. The famous caped-crusader...
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UEI facilitates production elements, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
October 26, 2003 - Utopia Entertainment Inc, a full service design and Production Company, recently finished an installation project for Treasure Island Hotel and Casino’s newest show, The Sirens of Ti.
Utopia designed, produced and installed various thematic elements for the debut show of The Sirens of Ti, celebrating Treasure Island’s 10th Anniversary. Included in the project was a 20’ wide by 28’ tall projection screen in the shape of a sail, a multi-camera...
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Amusement Business Article 'More Action for WB's Movie World' (PDF file)
June 21, 2003 - If you’re taking Hollywood to
Europe, don’t do it half-heart -
edly; go the whole hog.
That’s the branding strategy
of Tim Ruedy, general
manager of Warner Bros.
Movie World Germany, this
season. The tagline for the new marketing
campaign, created with
U.S.-based ad agency
Ackerman McQueen, is “Hollywood in Action.” Ruedy, who joined Six Flags...
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UEI produces new shows for Warner Bros Germany
June 1, 2003 - Utopia Entertainment Inc, a full service design and production company, produced two new live shows for Warner Brothers Movie World, Germany.
Utopia Entertainment provided show design and turnkey production services for two brand new attractions, the “Wild West Screen Test Action Show” and “The Real Hollywood Stunt Show” which debuted in May 2003. “We’re very excited about these new shows...
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UEI provides spectacle for the Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular
December 3, 2002 - Utopia Entertainment Inc, a full service design and Production Company provided entertainment elements for the upcoming NBC Broadcast Special to air December 8, 2002. The NBC Special is an hour-long presentation billed as “The Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular, A Holiday Tradition.”
In addition to the traditional holiday themed floats, marching bands and nearly one hundred celebrities that parade down the famed Hollywood Boulevard...
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UEI expands California office
November 1, 2002 - Utopia Entertainment, Inc. has expanded their Los Angeles office by adding a new Special Projects Manager.
Rebecca Pontius has been appointed for the position at Utopia and shall oversee marketing projects as well as assist in event management. Ms. Pontius recently relocated from Orlando, FL and has a history in event planning and advertising. Her most recent project was the 2002 Winter Olympic Games...
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UEI opens shows for Warner Bros Movie World, Madrid
May 2, 2002 - Utopia Entertainment Inc, a full service design and Production Company has just completed work for Europe’s newest theme park, Warner Brothers Movie World, Madrid that opened on April 6, 2002.
Utopia Entertainment provided services ranging from production management, creative direction, and technical direction for several of the brand new attractions such as; “Police Academy Stunt Show”, “Lethal Weapon Stunt Show”...
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UEI to produce new pet show for Sea World San Diego
March 27, 2002 - Utopia Entertainment Inc, a full service design and production company is in production on what may be the world’s largest pet show, Pets Rule! Working in tandem with the production team of SeaWorld San Diego and with animal expert Joel Slaven of Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals, Utopia is creating a show where pets rule. The new show is being developed for an outdoor theatre...
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UEI provides technical directions for a fully animated interactive themed display
August 15, 2001 — Utopia Entertainment Inc., a full service entertainment production company is providing specialized technical direction and project management services for an exciting interactive themed display for the Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, it was announced today by Nick Drobnis, Vice President of Utopia Entertainment Inc.
The display consists of a 30 foot animated T-Rex...
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