Premiere Theater — Former Show · History & Timeline

Former Show · the memorial record

⚰ Permanently closed · 2016operated 23 years · 1993–2016

Also known as Backlot Theater.

This show is gone, but its history stays documented — the full lifetime log is below.

Show history

the lifetime record

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2016

◆ Latest milestone

Refurbishment2016#

The Premiere Theater was demolished in 2016 as the Streets of America, which closed permanently on April 2, 2016, was cleared for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Held at year precision on purpose. WDWMagic reported the theater walled off in January 2016 with demolition underway by March 25, 2016, but that report returns HTTP 403 to our fetcher and could not be opened to confirm, so no month is asserted. The April 2, 2016 permanent closure of the Streets of America and its clearing for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge are corroborated by Yesterland and Wikipedia.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2015

ChangedJun 17, 2015#

The Frozen Sing-Along left the Premiere Theater for the Hyperion Theater in Echo Lake, and no resident show followed it into the venue.

Premiere Theater→Hyperion Theater (Echo Lake)

Wikipedia's attractions list gives the Premiere Theater run as July 5, 2014 - June 16, 2015; the show's own Wikipedia article dates the move to the Hyperion Theater to June 17, 2015, and D23 gives June 2015. The Frozen Sing-Along is still running at the Hyperion Theater and is not itself defunct - only this venue is.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2014

ChangedJul 5, 2014#

For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration opened in the Premiere Theater as part of the Frozen Summer Fun LIVE! event.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2008

ChangedJan 2008#

The venue was in use as the Premiere Theater for seasonal special events, including Star Wars Weekends presentations, from January 2008 until July 2014.

resident-show house→seasonal special-event venue
Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
2002

ChangedSep 28, 2002#

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - A Musical Adventure gave its final performance, leaving the theater without a resident show.

resident show→no resident show

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
1996

ChangedJun 21, 1996#

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - A Musical Adventure premiered at the Backlot Theater, filling the house that The Spirit of Pocahontas had vacated in February 1996.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
1995

ChangedJun 23, 1995#

The Spirit of Pocahontas opened at the Backlot Theater, where it ran until February 24, 1996.

Single source: Wikipedia's attractions list gives both the June 23, 1995 opening and the February 24, 1996 close. No second source was opened, so confidence is held at medium.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
1993

New1993#

The Backlot Theater opened on New York Street at Disney-MGM Studios as a temporary house for Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage while the original Theater of the Stars was removed for the construction of Sunset Boulevard.

Sources disagree on the month: Wikipedia's Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage article says the Theater of the Stars was moved in September 1993 and the show went to the New York Street venue then, while The Mickey Wiki gives May 28, 1993 - held at year precision. Wikipedia's attractions list dates the temporary theater 1993-1994 and the Backlot Theater name to 1993-2002.

Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes

Questions & answers

When did Premiere Theater open?

Per the documented record, Premiere Theater at Hollywood Studios opened in 1993.

When did Premiere Theater last close for refurbishment?

The most recent closure/refurbishment documented for Premiere Theater is dated 2016: The Premiere Theater was demolished in 2016 as the Streets of America, which closed permanently on April 2, 2016, was cleared for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

What changed recently on Premiere Theater?

The latest documented change (documented 2016): The Premiere Theater was demolished in 2016 as the Streets of America, which closed permanently on April 2, 2016, was cleared for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

How many changes are on record for Premiere Theater?

8 documented changes, dating back to 1993 — the fan-kept show changelog nobody else keeps.

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