Apparently this show ran here before going down to Tampa. It was performed in The Magic Lantern Theater, which we now know as the Abbey Stone. The show in Tampa started in 1986, so I would assume ours ran in the early 80's, late 70's.
"Kaleidoscope was the most lavish Broadway style musical to ever play in a theme park. The cavernous Moroccan Palace Theater, which even contains a balcony, was built to accommodate the show. Most of "Kaleidoscope" was transplanted from Busch Gardens Williamsburg, where the show was performed at the Magic Lantern Theater years earlier. However sections, like Busby Berkeley, were taken from another Busch Entertainment show entitled "Hats Off to Hollywood," which also played in Willimasburg. Busch Gardens engaged in a national talent search, auditioning thousands of young singers and dancers. The show operated with a swing cast. Accordingly, about twenty performers were available to fill the twelve roles which comprised the show. Many of the performers were required to learn more than one role, and could therefore "swing" into another part as needed. As a result, Kaleidoscope was performed four times a day every day for over five years.
Many of the talented cast also would swing into other shows within the park that were running concomitantly like "Music Express" (a 1940's Big Band Era song and dance show), "Sounds of the 60's" (a 60's review," the noted Country Music Show, and the even the German Dance show at the Festhause. "Kaleidoscope" had impressive sets, costumes, and special effects. A dazzling Las Vegas style opening number where show girls wore huge multi-colored feathers and strolled down illuminated stairs while lasers filled the theater was followed by a Busby Berkeley section in which a giant slot machine hits the jackpot spilling tap dancers through the slot. A 1940's big band section had a giant Champaign bottle pour bubbles into an over sized glass to the song of Blue Champaign," a huge Showboat sailed on the stage for the old South section, while the 1950s was represented with an oversized juke box and records. The patriotic finale contained fireworks illuminating the sky over the Capitol. In addition, two giant kaleidoscopes were placed on either side of the stage. They were constantly shifting creating intriguing shapes and colors that mirrored the shifting musical scenes and corresponding eras being performed on the stage. Kaleidoscope ran for over five years to packed houses and standing ovations. No other show that Busch Gardens has captured such spectacle, grandeur, or had the talent level of "Kaleidoscope.""
"Kaleidoscope was the most lavish Broadway style musical to ever play in a theme park. The cavernous Moroccan Palace Theater, which even contains a balcony, was built to accommodate the show. Most of "Kaleidoscope" was transplanted from Busch Gardens Williamsburg, where the show was performed at the Magic Lantern Theater years earlier. However sections, like Busby Berkeley, were taken from another Busch Entertainment show entitled "Hats Off to Hollywood," which also played in Willimasburg. Busch Gardens engaged in a national talent search, auditioning thousands of young singers and dancers. The show operated with a swing cast. Accordingly, about twenty performers were available to fill the twelve roles which comprised the show. Many of the performers were required to learn more than one role, and could therefore "swing" into another part as needed. As a result, Kaleidoscope was performed four times a day every day for over five years.
Many of the talented cast also would swing into other shows within the park that were running concomitantly like "Music Express" (a 1940's Big Band Era song and dance show), "Sounds of the 60's" (a 60's review," the noted Country Music Show, and the even the German Dance show at the Festhause. "Kaleidoscope" had impressive sets, costumes, and special effects. A dazzling Las Vegas style opening number where show girls wore huge multi-colored feathers and strolled down illuminated stairs while lasers filled the theater was followed by a Busby Berkeley section in which a giant slot machine hits the jackpot spilling tap dancers through the slot. A 1940's big band section had a giant Champaign bottle pour bubbles into an over sized glass to the song of Blue Champaign," a huge Showboat sailed on the stage for the old South section, while the 1950s was represented with an oversized juke box and records. The patriotic finale contained fireworks illuminating the sky over the Capitol. In addition, two giant kaleidoscopes were placed on either side of the stage. They were constantly shifting creating intriguing shapes and colors that mirrored the shifting musical scenes and corresponding eras being performed on the stage. Kaleidoscope ran for over five years to packed houses and standing ovations. No other show that Busch Gardens has captured such spectacle, grandeur, or had the talent level of "Kaleidoscope.""
