Rob Paulsen bring ANIMANIACS LIVE! to the Balboa Theatre
There is a word to describe Rob Paulsen; that word is joy. There are others of course, insanely talented, energetic, and impactful since the characters and shows he brings his talents to have people of all ages over the years. It’s the live concert, ANIMANIACS: LIVE! That brings Rob, and Emmy Awarding winning cast of the show, and those beloved characters to the Balboa stage on Thursday, July 18th at 7:30pm.
The show features the voice-cast stars of theiconic animated series — Rob Paulsen (Yakko, Pinky, Dr. Scratchansniff),Jess Harnell (Wakko), Maurice LaMarche (The Brain), and Emmy Award-winningcomposer Randy Rogel who created all of those memorable songs you can still singfrom memory.
From Yakko and Pinky from THE ANIMANIACS, TEENAGE NUTANT NINJA TURLTES (Raphael the original series, Donatello in the new series, and he is the voice director), DARKWING DUCK, POWERPUFF GIRLS, RICK AND MORTY, his characters seem endless. Honestly…go to his IMBD page, if there’s a cartoon show you loved he was probably a voice on it.
Naturally someone with such an impressive and imaginative resumeis equally as energetic and charismatic as those he brings to life in the recordingbooth. This passion for performing is noaccident though, Rob says that it has always been a family passion.
“Ihave three siblings, one brother, and two sisters and we are all in the arts. Myparents were performers as well in community theatre and we were all encouragedto perform, to sing, and quite honestly my siblings – I started out as a singerwho became an actor, and my brother is a wonderful dancer, and my two sistersare really excellent singers.
My brother, MikePaulsen was a full time actor in New York for years and now works for BroadwayCares. He’s been working for them andI’m really proud of him.”(Thank you for all that you do Michael Paulsen andBroadway Cares!)
Rob credits all the theatre people that he’s worked with forbeing amazing colleagues and inspiration in this business as well.
“I found myself inanimation working with people like George Hearn, like Helen Hunt, and JonathanWinters, and Carol Channing, John Astin, and all of these wonderful actors andactresses who did all kinds of work in every medium and now they’re doingcartoons.
I bring up GeorgeHearn because he is a great touchstone for people who love Broadway. I had the good fortune of working with him afew times. Hearn’s example and hiskindness he taught me a great lesson and that is no matter where you getsuccess is relative. It’s still allabout working.”
So it’s no surprise that Animaniacs had a strong theatrical veinto it, or that it transferred into a live concert version like the show comingto San Diego.
“Animaniacs was such an homage to theatre, BernadettePeters was on that show, what does that tell you about the power ofanimation? And she is a star any way youslice it. She is not only delightful,but all of those songs are still so relevant. They’re utterly timeless, theshows on which I have had the good fortune to work has remained relevantespecially for people who grew up watching it.”
The other bonus to performing all of this live in a theatreis the fun of performing it for a live audience.
“When Randy Rogel, whowrote virtually all the music you know from Animaaniacs, and I do this aroundthe country with the music it’s nothing but utterly joyful. We have people whocome to the show and are there with their children and grandchildren and it’sthe most gloriously positive, wonderful and happy experience and the music is unbelievablein a live setting.
Performing in atheater is the best because the audience knows one or more of the songs andthey’re all happy and singing in and it is nothing short of astonishing. I am the grateful beneficiary of profoundly impactfullove and kindness from an audience so big I can’t even get my head around it.Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain were very, very special. “
Rob is looking forward to bringing this experience to SanDiego this coming week.
“It will be a four orfive piece band and Peter Hastings who helped create Pinky and the Brain isplaying bass for us, so we’ll be able to talk to Pinky and the Brian and theBalboa Theatre is gorgeous.
There has been thisincredible connection to something that has brought immeasurable joy tomillions, not the least of whom is your humble Yakko. It’s a mind bending thing to be a part of.”
Join Rob, Randy, Peter, and the band on Thursday, July q8th at7:30pm for ANIMAIACS Live! At the Balboa Theatre. For ticket information go to https://sandiegotheatres.org/animaniacs-in-concert/