February 1, 2014 – Following our announcement a few weeks back, the management company behind the WaterWorld stunt show at Universal Studios Hollywood has officially changed to Action Horizons.
Today is the first day under the new management company, which also oversees the production for Universal Studios Singapore. Inside Universal received word late last night regarding the switch, shedding further light on the transition.
It has been confirmed from multiple sources that a few members of the stage and production crew behind the scenes from the previous company have been let go, as new managers from the new company have stepped into their place. Auditions were already held by the new company for new cast members to join the show, and a few of the old cast members have also been let go. There is no word on the composition of the new cast and crew, but new cast members will begin training in March.
The annual refurbishment period for the attraction will also begin in March this year, and will last the entirety of the month. The show will then re-open in April for the Spring Break peak season. During this month, there will be extensive cast and crew training.
Also confirmed were many changes for the show, though these changes were not detailed. We do not know at this time if this means show elements, story elements, or both. As details emerge, we will continue to report, though changes from the WaterWorld installation at Universal Studios Singapore – including a reworked plane sequence and finale – have been rumored to make their way over to Hollywood.
Debuting on October 21, 1995, WaterWorld has been a consistent top performer, and has remained the #1 stunt show in America for its entire near-19 year run. Several members of the current cast have been with the show for over 10 years, with a few still remaining from the original opening cast.
The show has seen numerous changes over the years both large and small, from the paring down of the Toxic Waste Drop scene years ago for pacing, to the installation of a brand new speaker system this past season. With Wizarding World construction going on next door on the former site of the Gibson Amphitheater, WaterWorld occupies prime footprint space for the theme park. Future plans for the WaterWorld arena remain unclear, though the Evolution Plan does show its eventual removal. What does seem clear now is that for the moment, WaterWorld is here to stay, and will likely remain in place for the next few years.
Check back with us in the upcoming weeks for continuing coverage of this and other construction projects around the park. As always, thank you for making Inside Universal your source for all things Universal. Thank you for reading!
Adriana Morgan – also known by her internet handle Miss Betty Juice – is an editor for Inside Universal.
Adriana made her first trip to Universal in 1995 during Nickelodeon’s Big Help-A-Thon, and was hooked from day one. Since that first trip, her passion for films and for Universal Studios has grown, and she continues to enjoy the park and its history today as an annual passholder and a reporter for Inside Universal. Her areas of Universal expertise include Jurassic Park, the Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue, and the Studio Tour.
Adriana currently resides in Los Angeles. You can reach her at her blog on Tumblr at MyUniversalExperience.tumblr.com, or at missb@insideuniversal.net.
