Pokemon Live! Part 03 of 07

Pokemon Live! was a multi-million dollar musical stage show featuring the adventures of Ash, Brock, Misty, Pikachu, Giovanni, Team Rocket and the mechanical Pokemon, MechaMew2. It premiered on Broadway at Radio City Music Hall in September of 2000 and then toured the United States and Canada. I was the Production Stage Manager on the show. The video is a full stage shot with no close-ups, but the lighting is good and the quality of the video makes it easy to follow the action of the musical. The show is divided into 7 parts. The show was directed by Luis Perez of Broadway renown.

[@felixraphael4558]

12:55 I love being a pokeshipper

[@TCGRichard]

me too

[@xil216]

in this episode ash, misty, and brock run into a deaf child leading to a creepy scene involving misty confessing her undying love to a sleeping ash

[@chrisscm]

Nope, but I personally didn't see anything wrong with it. I am fluent in American Sign Language, very involved in the Deaf Community and have many deaf friends. I was the in-house Sign-Language Interpreter for Cirque du Soleil for two years at LA NOUBA in Orlando, Florida where one of the clowns is deaf. This was in addition to being one of the Stage Managers.

[@seniorqueen08]

I couldnt hear what Misty was saying before she started singing her feelings to Ash.

[@Zack91974]

She said: Look at you, covered in Jigglypuff's drawings, your hair all messed up, it's so easy to talk to you when you're asleep.

[@mysticstrikeforce5957]

Does james sounds like that guy from yugioh the duel creator.

[@lightningmaster3383]

MysticStrike ForceSSJ3 Yup. It's the same guy, Darren Dunstan. In fact, this production was what gave him a spot as a voice actor/director at 4Kids. It's a small world!

[@EdwardSanchezProductions]

Amazing

[@dileshamcwashington2430]

haa i knew it wait then who plays james he sounds familiar too

[@TCGRichard]

any pokeshippers ? 12:35 is the best part

[@danialhaidil8723]

even 4kids want pokeshipping happen

[@TCGRichard]

Danial Haidil yep

[@dawnhikari8437]

Richard yup

[@dawnhikari8437]

Danial Haidil mhn got dat right boi

[@ThePokeman92]

The actor and actress for professor oak and delia have such good chemistry on stage! I really liked their duet, such a good song :)

[@archerboy58]

***** They were dating in real life at the time of the show

[@pikachu7391]

archerboy58 O_O

[@chrisscm]

Yes, "Misty's Song" is very lovely. The actress that you see on this video performing it is the understudy, Abbey O'Brien. The actress that normally played Misty, Heidi Wehymueller, was sick. I actually liked the understudies performance better than Heidi Wehymueller's because Abbey played Misty with a nice sense of vulnerability whereas Heidi played Misty with too much of a harsh edge. I wondeer if Ash and Misty will ever grow up and get together? I hope so too. :)

[@jonkeiser6092]

Is Abbey Lip Syncing to Heidi's singing voice?

[@chrisscm]

Jon Keiser Yes. She could have sung it if they had rehearsed her. She has a beautiful voice.

[@PokeDude011]

2:45 - 3:04 BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLE SHOW

[@delaneyford2106]

I'm so confused

[@HetaliaHostclub]

When prof oak asksed dielia if she wanted ash to stay a littel boy forever well he does he'll always stay ten

[@34jacymn]

i knew it i knew it i knew it!!! misty likes ash!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahaha

[@pyrolord1620]

Yugi boy

[@chrisscm]

The twist with Giovanni knowing Ash's Mom was created by Michael Slade, the script writer for Pokémon Live!.

[@abbienarutogirl]

Also, I want to just say that I'm a huge (past) shipper of Giovanni/Delia, and Sam/Delia. :3

[@tsubasawokudasai3473]

Delia: you're wrong! I've changed! Giovanni: Have you? LOL. Giovanni was like totally nonchalant when he said that.

[@AnimeStargrl15]

Fun fact: The person playing Delia here went on to play Elphaba in Wicked.

[@kasumi8483]

ooh, "Everything Changes" is my favorite track, Delia's voice is so beautiful

[@JustAPrinnyDood]

Giovanni and Delia, what a fucking twist

[@mothvials]

RIGHT?

[@matthewcruz5460]

OMG CONFIRMED GIOVANNI IS ASH'S DAD!!!!

[@g0blinbug946]

The musical not cannon so Giovanni is not Ash's dad but Giovanni is Silver's dad.

[@jaydemlowe]

Wrong. Ash’s Mom left Giovanni to get with Ash’s father

[@TheRealMorry]

Its a awesome song it makes this 25 year old guy still tear up. I just wished they kept Misty in the anime and focussed on growing relationship between Ash and Misty. Ever since they took Misty out i felt the anime is going down and now Brock is out...

[@ZakWolf]

Love Psyduck's walk-on role at 2:45!

[@haileyshannon7548]

Giovanni is Ash's father, OMG this just turned into Star Wars!

[@AlterWolfMedia]

"*giggle* How about a hand...tall, purple and LAZY!!" I had to pause it and laugh for like 3 minutes straight. That line and delivery was GOLD.

[@BradRLee]

Was the psyduck transition really nesersary?

[@chrisscm]

"Necessary?" No. But the writer and director thought it was cute.

[@kingraysgamingkingdom]

+happymask118 No, but it was funny.

[@obiblu2523]

Psyduck is an icon

[@ToruKun1]

This made me like DiamondShipping (Giovanni/Ash's Mom) >////>

[@cameronjr8]

Misty's Song reminds me of the song "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic"

[@frognote380]

The background dancers are extremely talented woah

[@chrisscm]

It is Heidi's voice that can be heard. Abbey O'Brien is lip-syncing to Heidi Weyhmueller's voice. It is the only time in Pokémon Live! that we EVER had lip-syncing was when we had an understudy on. Actually Abbey O'Brien could have sung the HECK out of it, but the show's producers had set a policy so I had to follow it. I would have LOVED to allow her to sing it. She would have knocked it out of the park! She is such a wonderful actress, dancer and singer.

[@MirellaKFS]

"Everything changes" is the best song forever, I love the voice of Patrick and Dee

[@KB-zq9ny]

Why was Meowth's voice perfect but Jessie and James's voices very very off? Especially Jessie's voice?

[@chrisscm]

The women who did Meowth for the Anime series did Meowth's voice for Pokemon Live!. Glad you liked all the characters. :)

[@WakoDoodle]

Granted this musical lost a lot of money but I don't seen why fans think of it as bad (beyond the loss of money), I even giggled at the trap sketch despite not being an easy to impress kid anymore.

[@dhynna1128]

So this is why people has the theory of Giovanni is Ash dad Silver: Nope Ash is never gonna be my brother

[@chrisscm]

I liked that line too. I loved doing the rehearsals because I would do all the different voices for the Pokémon, like voicing Meowth, Psyduck and Pikachu. It was a lot of fun to try and get the voices as close to the anime as possible.

[@cringenetwork3962]

MISTY'S SONG IT MAKES ME BE SO SHOCKED I NEVER KNEW SHE LIKE LOVED ASH I KNEW SHE LIKED ASH BUT I DIDN'T KNOW SHE LOVED HIM

[@towelgirl21]

Two guys and a girl in the woods... lost and freaking out... one guy throws the map in the river... It's the Blair Witch Project!

[@meiko9161]

#FindPokemonLive

[@noticefire7589]

#FindPokemonLive

[@chrisscm]

Yes! He has a great voice. He was also our Musical Director while we were on the road. He coached all the actors on their songs and did vocal warmups before every show. Darren Dunstan is VERY talented!

[@twilightnite13]

umm did anyone else see Mew when Misty was singing her song? 13:22

[@Cassius335]

This section is extremely funny in hindsight...

[@Ene-Chan]

GIOVANNI IS PEGASUS

[@umbreoniswatching4859]

Misty's voice... Wow. I still get shivers every time I hear her song. Misty's actress sounds familiar, any ideas?

[@chrisscm]

No. I doubt you ever heard her before or after PML.

[@umbreoniswatching4859]

Oh, so she didn't get far then? Maybe I just heard someone that sounds like her then.

[@FireStormBaller]

Her name is Yvette Laboy. Laboy is a Puerto Rican-American. She toured as a choreographer, dancer and background vocalist under the name Diva LaBoy with IFA, Deskee and D'bora, and appeared in music videos of songs by Full Force, Jody Whatley, and Deskee. Her first single, My Teddy Bear, was released in 1988. She recorded Misty's Song, and received a Billboard music award for the "Best Vocalist For Kid Audio" category. The song is also featured on Laboy's CD, Carino. More recently, she performed at Caroline's Comedy Club in New York City.

[@VictoriaAlmeida]

james sounds like harley from hoenn

[@mothvials]

8:19 shoots myself in the head

[@chrisscm]

NOT FUNNY!

[@cameronjr8]

Chris Mitchell 13:25 Is that Mew?

[@WakoDoodle]

cameronjr8 No it's a ditto taking on the appearance of a mew :)

[@hcstubbs3290]

Anyone else think James sounds a lot like Harley in the anime?

[@suzzyrothmeyer6277]

Hannah Stubbs no he kinda sounds like andrew rannels tho

[@aribelle4357]

suzzy rothmeyer idk if that was a joke, but James literally is Andrew Rannells… he’s one of my biggest role models so you can see how this is hilarious

[@TheCheese06z]

holy shit is giovanni ash's dad

[@imcintyre01]

Here come the seizures again.

[@julieporter7805]

8:13 the gasp from every Pokemon fan heard round the world.

[@dhynna1128]

Lol

[@Gryzeus]

Oh, now we're laughing along with deaf people because of how funny their language looks. This totally is relevant to Pokemon.

[@user-wk6pg7wn8v]

Is this really for kids I mean first geovani trying to get back with...ASHES MOM then misty sing about ash gees no hate but

[@chrisscm]

Well, there is something to be said about dwarfs running around in Pokémon costume to make me say 'yes,' it's a kids show. 😃

[@nathanjoerndt8804]

i have a question!!!! was squritle a part of this production ????

[@CaptainScarletFan1]

why was pokemon live for the uk tour cancelled?

[@CaptainScarletFan1]

They decide not to do it

[@grevevondy8530]

Did you just anwser yourself

[@CaptainScarletFan1]

No, I was just giving the answers to everyone

[@grevevondy8530]

Okay lel :p

[@chrisscm]

You know, I can't answer your question. I know that he is VERY different than the anime, but the actor that played Professor Oak developed the character that way and everyone involved with the show from the director to the producers were happy with him. It is strange, though... :/

[@chrisscm]

No. Sorry, this is the best video there is of the show. I have said this before, but there IS a VERY high quality copy of the show that was show with mulit-cameras and special lighting. It was intended for a DVD release. It never materialized and I have no idea where that video footage is. :(

[@chrisscm]

Awwww... that's really sad. :( I didn't know that. Maybe they will have a next generation version where they all grow up and Ash and Misty get together. Who knows? They gotta keep reinventing themselves to stay keep the story alive.

[@chrisscm]

@Tabbyitha101 Pikachu was played by a little person. She did a really nice job of play Pikachu. She learned all the lines and would say them to herself as the recorded lines were being played so she had motivation for what here character was doing.

[@chrisscm]

Very good! I am not so great with all these Pokemon names. Sorry... I was just the Stage Manager for the show, not a hard-core Pokemon fan like you guys! Thanks so much for the names of the other Pokemon. :)

[@chrisscm]

@XmorganlamiaX Yes. They were excellent and they were really great to work with. The actor that played Jesse is now starring on Broadway in THE BOOK OF MORMON. His name is Andrew Rannells.

[@partyfoxdavy]

Where can I see this live?! Respond back on my discussion board on my channel please, im a pokemon addict!

[@Blindknyttstories]

The tour happened for only 4 months back in 2000-2001, so the only way to see it live is to hope they show it again, or you walk in on a school doing it.

[@chrisscm]

***** Too true. There will never be a remount of this show.

[@chrisscm]

James was played by Andrew Rannels. He did a lot of Voice Acting in Anime as well. Google him and you can find out where you know his voice from.

[@chrisscm]

What do you mean? This script was pure Pokémon. Norman J. Grossfeld, the producer of the English dubbed series approved the script.

[@chrisscm]

@Tabbyitha101 Yeah. Jennifer did a great job. She was fun to work with too. I hope you get the chance to play Pikachu someday. :)

[@chrisscm]

@matt0044 Yeah, I do too. The script writer was very good, I think. He tried to make it more grounded in reality than the cartoons.

[@chrisscm]

I don't have access to that video. I wonder who videoed it and put it up on the Pokémon website? How long ago was this?

[@Nurple17]

I remember a version of this play originally with video just a little closer to the stage and to the right a little where you can see the actors, which I vaguely remember seeing on the pokemon website when I was 11, which included an upclose view of the actress under Misty's song. Is there any other versions of this play in your archives fitting that description?...I really don't want to dig for it.

[@Onifos]

When you said "following you' I thought for a moment you meant my account... But, in that episode of Fairly Odd Parents it was revealed that fifty years ago the main character made that everyone in his town stopped ageing, because he'd been 10 for so long. There is a Pokemon theory that after being brought back to life (as in the first movie he died because of a fight between Mew and Mewtwo) Ash was made immortal. There was also one that seeing Ho-Oh in the first episode he became immortal.

[@twinsister2780]

I love the song after the Jigglypuff scene. I also like the idea of there being deaf trainers in the Pokémon world.

[@chrisscm]

Hmmmmm... I am not sure what you are asking. What do you mean by 'propokésipper'? Sorry I am not following you. :(

[@justinm7531]

10:34 The background music was from The Little Big Horn and Going Apricorn!

[@justinm7531]

2:45 The background music was from The Ancient Puzzle of Pokemopolis, Ignorance is Blissey, Grin To Win, Fire and Ice, and Hypno's Naptime.

[@Squallff8Kate]

Giovanni does forget about the whole thing because MewTwo erased all of Team Rocket memories' except (Jessie James Mewoth) ,Ash,Misty's and Brock's and of course the memories of the good pokemon...I love Giovanni being Ash's father too it would turn around the whole thing...

[@milesmatheson1142]

If you really are "in the know" then you would be aware that Deaf People can voice and wouldn't have allowed the more ignorant point of view to be spread to young children who probably grew up thinking that "Deaf people cannot speak".

[@Micgrol]

actually that twist with Giovanni knowing ash's mum in my opinion is surprising and I certainly didn't see that coming.was that something the writers came up with or was it something from the original source material?

[@ClawHeart4258]

I don't think that's dratini in the video. I see legs and a frill atop the head and neck. My guess is that it's Vaporeon. And don't forget the 2 horsea that were accompanying the vaporeon.

[@Tabbychu]

@chrisscm well all that hard work she did definitely paid off, she did great :) also, not gonna lie, im super jealous of her. I would love to play Pikachu if the chance ever presented itself!

[@chrisscm]

I ddin't realize they took Misty out of the show. I knew that Brock went away. That is too bad.

[@Onifos]

Have you ever seen Fairly Odd Parents? Or more specifically "Timmy's Secret Wish"... I think Ash got a comparable wish off of Mew or Mewtwo... or possibly "Ho-Oh"...

[@XmorganlamiaX]

The actors for Jessie and James really were the perfect pick. They work so well together.

[@chrisscm]

Uhhhhh... I don't think anyone was laughing because deaf people's language looks funny.

[@chrisscm]

Good eye. Yes that was Mew and then some other Pokemon that glowed under UV light. :)

[@13CrystalHeart]

Delia x Giovanni...for some reason, I could totally see it. (Damn these shipping goggles XD) Maybe even in the anime, if Ash and Giovanni ever actually battle in the anime, Giovanni should bring up that he and Delia had a past relationship. That'd be pretty cool. Though the anime has done pretty much everything it can do to prevent them from really ever meeting. (I'm aware of Mewtwo Returns, but Ash and Gio don't share one line of diologue, so it's fairly open. To me, anyway.)

[@chrisscm]

Yes, "Everything Changes" is a very beautiful song. Her voice is very, very pretty.

[@Mr.EintheMorning]

It's a good production. I guess some fans couldn't get past the inherent cheesiness of Pokemon as a musical to see it.

[@moonlady3000]

Professor Oak and Delia's duet was excellent. So was Misty's Song. Misty's Song never fails to make me cry. So many missed opportunities...

[@javis88h]

It's not only a live show with Pokemon, it's also a cross over with The Simpsons look at the border around the stage, it's Bart Simpson.

[@chrisscm]

Sorry never seen either and am not following you. That's OK. I hope someone is! :)

[@Evilgidgit4Ever]

As a child, Misty's Song was a bit of an on-and-off song for me, but now thanks to Misty's actress in the show, it has become one of my favourite Pokemon songs. I still wait for the day that Ash and Misty will get together and complete a part of my childhood, in this life or the next.

[@chrisscm]

Darren Dunstan played Giovanni and he IS the voice of Pegasus from Yu-Gi-Oh. :)

[@PTMWontDie2]

My thoughts exactly, mein frued. You have no idea how long I've wanted to see something like that happen. Sadly, the closest we're ever coming to that (hopefully) is Giovanni's story arc in the upcoming Meloetta caper.

[@chrisscm]

Yes! :) Other people have noted that it looks like Bart Simpson's hair. :)

[@chrisscm]

OHHHH! OK! That sounds really interesting. Thanks for the explanation. :)

[@nocturneofeclipse]

It's original to the musical, I believe. There's no evidence elsewhere that I'm aware of that they no each other.

[@chrisscm]

@Tabbyitha101 The little person that played Pikachu was Jennifer Risser.

[@OlivePhoenix]

I really hope they find the recordings of this and release them to dvd someday. IT would make SO MUCH money.

[@Evilgidgit4Ever]

Given the fact the anime has reduced Ash to being a brainless 10-year old again and Misty has been absent for at least five years, my hopes are sadly fading.

[@zatchfan202]

Fun fact: because of this musical Darren Dunstan and Andrew Rannels got work as VAs for 4kids (now 4K entertainment). They also got voice director jobs as well. Darren has directed 3 YuGiOh series and 2 movies including the recent dark side of dimensions, and Andrew got to direct Sonic X which lead to SEGA using the 4kids actors in the games which he also starred in (Shadow the hedgehog). Andrew was quite new to directing and worked really close with SEGA sending them episode clips to hear there feedback and listened to complaints from fans of the adventure series which used VAs from San Diego. According to a Sonic 4kids VA I know, Andrew was a great director and was even asked to help direct some of the games. Sadly he left to pursue his broadway career.

[@Tabbychu]

was there someone dressed up as pikachu, or was it a robot of some kind? either way it was really cool :)

[@Zack91974]

First of all Meowth's voice was done by a woman her name was Maddie Blaustein and yes it is her voice. In 2008, she died in her sleep at the age of 48