Jennifer Bascom, Creative Director for Disney Live Entertainment with Disney Signature Experiences, draws on her experience as a performer and director — from the heyday of the legendary Adventurer’s Club to work being designed for Disney’s latest fleet of cruise ships — to chart the evolution of themed entertainment’s use of immersive techniques from before “immersive” was a buzzword. Jen represents one of many bringing audience-active experiences to life at Disney Live Entertainment. This is a tale of hard-won progress, full of twists and turns, with a future centered on inviting the audience to play.

Following the presentation, Kierna Conner — experience designer, creative producer, performer, and educator whose work spans Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, Culture House Immersive, and beyond — joins Jennifer to moderate an audience Q&A, opening the conversation to the room.