Join us for an evening of Disney history and colorful characters at the beautiful Bowers Museum - February 7th, 2020
In celebration of MiceChat/MiceAge's 17th Anniversary, we are offering a fabulous weekend of events. We kick off the festivities with an evening at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA.
We have a funtastic evening planned for you:
NEW DISNEY EXHIBIT
This spring, the Bowers Museum will launch an exhibit titled "Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic." You'll be among the first to hear the spectacular details at this event. Moderating this special panel is the Director of Disney Corporate Communications, Jeffrey Epstein. He will be interviewing Head Curator for the Walt Disney Archives, Robert Maxhimer.
The Marvelous Mike & Patty!
We'll chat with and view an audio/visual presentation from our dear friends and beloved Disney creatives Mike & Patty Peraza. Be prepared for a rollercoaster ride, because these two are unpredictable and hysterical together:
David Derks Presents "The Voices of Disney Animation"
David Derks, Vice President of the ASIFA Hollywood Animation Society, will be hosting a panel of Disney voice artists. See and hear the voices by some of Disney's most iconic characters. Surprise guests include someone goofy, someone who will quack you up, and the fellow who has his image on nearly everything.
PANELIST BIOGRAPHIES:
Jeffrey Epstein is Director of Corporate Communications at The Walt Disney Company. Jeffrey oversees communication strategies for The Walt Disney Archives, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, D23 Expo—the largest Disney fan event in the world, and Disney’s franchise priorities, as well as cross-company initiatives domestically and internationally. He oversees the day-to-day editorial operations of D23, including its publication, website, and social media. A former magazine editor, Epstein also writes for D23’s publication and website, and during his time at Disney he has interviewed Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Josh Gad, Emily Blunt, Ellen DeGeneres, Bette Midler, and Sigourney Weaver, to name a few. Prior to joining The Walt Disney Company in 2008, Jeffrey served as West Coast Entertainment Editor of Us Weekly magazine and West Coast Editor for Out magazine. He is originally from Newton, Mass.
Robert Maxhimer serves as the Exhibitions Manager and Head Curator for the Walt Disney Archives, where he has just celebrated his five-year anniversary. During his time at The Walt Disney Company, Robert has curated and managed a vast array of exhibitions and displays that have traveled both internationally and domestic to more than 20 major cities and five continents. Recently, Robert was responsible for spearheading the start of the Walt Disney Archives first traveling exhibitions program premiering at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California: Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic. Robert earned his B.F.A from Carnegie Mellon University and recently obtained a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from Harvard University. He is an active member of the American Alliance of Museums and enjoys developing and growing relationships within the museum industry.
Mike Peraza is an award-winning artist who has logged nearly four decades of incredible work in Disney’s creative departments, from Animation to Imagineering. He worked with eight of Walt’s Nine Old Men, as well as with Don Bluth, Tim Burton, George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, among other heavyweights. Mike was the Art Director on the Little Mermaid, and designed not just DuckTales, but much of the famous “Disney Afternoon” TV animation that fans so fondly remember. Mike is still actively working on Disney projects all over the world and his fine art is displayed and sold in the Disney Parks and cruise ships.
Patty Peraza was hired straight out of Cal Arts by Walt Disney Studios, the first woman to do so. The first female effects animator in Disney history, Patty’s work on the original TRON film was groundbreaking. She also animated Fox and the Hound, Black Cauldron, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Great Mouse Detective (among others, and had creative projects at both EPCOT Center & Tokyo Disneyland before taking a break to raise two beautiful daughters. Today, Patty’s Disney art is displayed at Disneyana on Main Street USA, and her new pieces are highly coveted by fans and collectors alike.
David Derks is the Vice President of the Animation Society (ASIFA-Hollywood) and helps produce the Animation industry's annual ANNIE AWARDS. In his years producing Television, David was involved with shows like Desperate Housewives, LOST, Alias, Grey’s Anatomy, According to Jim, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Divorce Court, Judge Alex, The New Ricki Lake Show, Dish Nation, as well as television miniseries like Muppets’ Wizard of Oz and Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital. Additionally, David is producing animation for an independent film that’s currently in post production. His online Web comic String Theory Cartoons looks at the lighter side of life.
Event Parking: Parking for this event is free. Please use the lot on the North side of the building, closest to the main enterance. If that lot is full, there's another lot on the South side of the building.
Suggested Attire: This is a casual event. We just want you to enjoy your time with us.
* Event program subject to change
