SeaWorld Adventure Park San Diego premiered its new Shamu show, “Believe,” to a packed crowd Saturday, May 27. Thousands of blue poncho-clad guests turned out on the balmy Saturday morning to see the theme park’s iconic marine performer dazzle them with new tricks.
“It’s the culmination of a lot of people’s dreams,” said “Believe” director Ray Roderick, “that a show like this can carry a core message of humanity and coming together. It’s a wonderful beginning for SeaWorld.”
In addition to new film and music, each “Believe” show will feature a segment where one of the trainers shares a story of hope and inspiration from his or her own life. For the premiere, trainer Stephanie Glazebrook talked about her childhood dream of working with Shamu, and her experience of bonding while going through pregnancy and motherhood at the same time as one of the whales.
“It’s a great message about believing yourself,” said Kelly Terry, senior public relations executive for SeaWorld.
The Memorial Day weekend premiere was part of the kick-off of the theme park’s Summer Nights, which includes extended hours and fireworks shows above Mission Bay.
Also in the audience for the “Believe” premiere was Nigel Dash, 12, of Downey, Calif. Dash starred in the video component of the show, and he saw the finished product for the first time at the premiere.
“Wow,” Dash said. “It came out very good.”
The film was shot in December both on Southern California beaches and on the set at SeaWorld, though Terry said the entire show was three years in the making.
Spectators in the audience were also touched by the show.
“It was breathtaking and emotional,” said Erica Alcocer of Yuba City, Calif., who was in the audience snapping pictures at the premiere. “If you’re an animal lover, you will love this show.”
The set for the Shamu show was reconstructed for “Believe.”
In addition to a three-story whale tail centerpiece, four rotating 20-foot-long screens were installed. They can operate independently or combine to create a single 80-foot-long panoramic screen that provides views from the above- and below-water cameras.
Built in 1987, Shamu Stadium has five pools with nearly seven million gallons of seawater. The auditorium fits 5,500 spectators. The first killer whale show, “Shamu Water Symphony,” opened in 1987, and has been followed by a series of shows throughout the years.
The last show, “The Shamu Adventure,” had been running since 1998. New shows help SeaWorld attract new and returning visitors.
SeaWorld San Diego is home to seven killer whales, weighing on average between 6,000 and 11,000 pounds each. They eat between 140 and 240 pounds of fish per day, roughly 2 to 4 percent of their body weight, and can swim at speeds up to 28 mph. Unlike fish, killer whales are warm-blooded mammals that can maintain an internal body temperature of 97 to 100 degrees in varying water temperature.
In addition to running SeaWorld theme parks in San Diego, Orlando, Fla., and San Antonio, Texas, Busch Entertainment runs an extensive marine life conservation program.
“Believe” is open to guests with the cost of general admission, which is $54 ages 10 and up, $44 ages 3-9, and free for children under 2. For more information call (800) 257-4268 or visit www.seaworld.com.
