'Walking with Dinosaurs' in Buffalo

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T. Rex and the gang will roam the HSBC Arena floor next week. Contributed Photo

June 18, 2009

Anonymous The Niagara Gazette Thu Jun 18, 2009, 10:31 AM EDT

By Phil Dzikiy

Next week in Buffalo, dinosaurs will walk the earth again.

The national touring production of “Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular” comes to HSBC Arena on Wednesday for a five-day, eight-show run.

“Walking with Dinosaurs” is an arena production on an epic scale. It features 15 massive dinosaurs, representing 10 species including the Brachiosaurus (which is measured at 36 feet tall and 56 feet long), Stegosaurus, and of course, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, among others.

The dinosaurs on display during the show can be described as puppets, but that definition seems a bit too basic for these behemoths, considering it takes three people to control each large dinosaur — one driving the dinosaur’s chassis and two other puppeteers operating head, tail, mouth and blinking motions via remote.

Considering the scale of these moving, lifelike dinos, arenas are the only venues capable of housing this unique show, said Nellie Beavers, associate company manager with the production.

It’s tough to define “Walking with Dinosaurs,” but Beavers refers to the production as a “theatrical event.”

“It’s not exactly a kids show, it’s not exactly a concert, though we do have a full score,” Beavers said.

And though children love the show, it’s far from a kids-only affair.

“I think adults have a better time than the kids do,” she said. “A lot of people think it’s only for kids. But honest to goodness, (we) gear our show to people ages 3 to 93.”

The parade of dinosaurs is led by an on-stage “paleontologist,” Huxley, who walks among the dinosaurs and explains what the audience is watching, while describing changes in the earth’s history, through different prehistoric eras.

“We kind of travel with him through the years,” Beavers said.

But back to the dinosaurs. Made mainly out of fabric and foam and run by numerous microprocessors, the big beasts weigh in at more than 3,000 pounds each. No wonder why 25 semi trucks are needed to transport the dinos from city to city.

“It’s really a technical feat,” Beavers said. “It’s a $20 million show. Each dinosaur cost $1 million to put together. One year to make dinosaurs.”

The show was in the making for six years while the creators figured out how to build the dinosaurs, according to Beavers.

“Walking with Dinosaurs” started touring in Australia in 2007 and the production starts a European tour on July 2. It was inspired by (and adapted from) a 1999 BBC miniseries.

For those still skeptical as to how entertaining this dino-show can be, Beavers urges people not to worry.

“It’s really an amazing show,” she said. “This show is unlike anything you have ever seen and anything you will see after it. Everybody enjoys it. Everybody.”

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