*This article is being updated as more details are announced
ABC has announced that on November 4th they will celebrate Mickey Mouse’s birthday with Mickey’s 90 Spectacular, a two-hour prime-time special.
Legendary television producer/director Don Mischer will produce and direct the event, which will be broadcast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The special will include musical performances, tributes, and short films that have never been seen before.
Mischer said that he’s honored to be involved in the star-studded production, adding, “I’m delighted to be working on this magical event. Walt Disney was a major influence in my early life and actually inspired me to pursue my life’s work in television.”
ABC has announced some of the celebrity appearances involved in the event, including:
Activist and mom Kristen Bell (Disney’s Frozen), actress and Hollywood Records/Republic Records recording artist Sofia Carson (Disney’s Descendants, Freeform’s upcoming Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists), two-time Emmy® Award-winning actor Tony Hale (Veep, Arrested Development), and actress Sarah Hyland (ABC’s Modern Family). Also joining the birthday gala are Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect franchise, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini, Miles Brown (ABC’s black-ish, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect franchise, the upcoming feature film The Wedding Year), Josh Gad (Disney’s Frozen), Wendi McLendon-Covey (ABC’s The Goldbergs, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, Bridesmaids) and Sage Steele (host of ESPN’s SportsCenter). Additionally, Bob Burgess and Sharon Baird from the original Mickey Mouse Club will make a special appearance during the evening’s festivities.
Musical performances announced so far include:
Josh Groban (singing his new hit song, “Granted”), NCT 127 (performing their popular hit “Regular”), Tony® and GRAMMY Award-winning performer Leslie Odom Jr (singing the classic “When You Wish Upon A Star” from the 1940 Disney adaptation of “Pinnochio”), GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Meghan Trainor (singing Randy Newman hit and “Toy Story” franchise theme song, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), and three-time GRAMMY-winning multiplatinum artists Zac Brown Band (singing “Bare Necessities” from the classic Disney film “The Jungle Book).
Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, will also be making an appearance during the special television event.
Mickey’s 90th Spectacular was filmed on October 6th and will be presented Sunday, November 4th beginning at 8 pm (Eastern). Mickey Mouse turns 90 on November 18th!
Source: D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, Disney/ABC Television
Tom is the former host and producer of the Disneyland Edition podcast, and is now providing Disneyland content from the parks. He enjoys traveling with friends and spending time with family, including his son and grandson. In his spare time he volunteers with Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts, and help found his son's former Cub Scout Pack. His favorite Disneyland attraction is Space Mountain.
