Features
Thea Awards
We look at the international attractions, people and technology that received Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Thea Awards in 2018 and were honoured at the annual Thea Awards Gala. Report curated by guest editor Matt Kerr
TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) honours the creators and developers of compelling places and experiences with the annual Thea Awards. The Awards, founded in 1994, recognise excellence and breakthrough innovation within the industry and build a greater awareness of the collaborative, educational, community, artistic and entertaining nature of globally engaging themed entertainment and experience design. There are three basic categories of Thea Award: Lifetime Achievement, Thea Classic, and Award for Outstanding Achievement (AOA). This report summarises the event, tributes and award recipients.
In April 2018, at the Disneyland Resort in California, the 24th annual TEA Thea Awards Gala paid tribute to the organisations and individuals who work in the world of themed entertainment and experience design. Prior to the Thea Awards Gala, the TEA Summit conference featured two days of presentations which allowed attendees to consider the industry through a business lens.
Sessions included an inspiring conversation with Phil Hettema, recipient of the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements, interviewed by colleague Adam Bezark, and The Future is Now, AECOM’s foresight on futuristic developments that are closer to reality than most people think.
The popular “Elephants in the Room” sessions included a thought-provoking “Blinders Off” panel discussion, exploring inclusivity and #MeToo in the themed entertainment industry, as well as a look at sustainability in the sector and perspectives on succession planning.
Day Two of the summit offered the outstanding achievement award recipients an opportunity to give an overview of their projects, speak about the creative process, business impact and lessons learned, and answer questions regarding their achievement.
The Thea Classic Award honours an exemplary and influential project that has stood the test of time (20+ year).
Simply put… there's no place like Cedar Point. Located on a scenic peninsula jutting out into Lake Erie, Cedar Point is a unique American amusement park and resort paradise. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company's flagship park has a rich history dating back to 1870, making it the second-oldest operating amusement park in North America. What began as a simple bathing beach and bathhouse is today a modern, multi-day family getaway and a mecca for thrill-seekers. With more than 150 rides, shows and attractions, Cedar Point is consistently voted one of the "Best Amusement Parks in the World" at the Golden Ticket Awards.
It's also known as "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!®", home to many innovative, record-breaking, bold and daring rollercoaster creations, including: the first "hypercoaster", Magnum XL-200; the first "giga-coaster", Millennium Force; and in 2018, the world's first "hyper-hybrid" rollercoaster, Steel Vengeance.
Yet it's much more than great thrill rides. The 18-acre Cedar Point Shores Waterpark helps guests beat the heat, while the famous mile-long Cedar Point Beach and Boardwalk is a place to cool off. Three children's areas, spectacular live shows, unique food offerings, special events and even parasailing add to the multitude of family activities.
The fully restored 1905 Hotel Breakers and additional accommodations total over 1,500 rooms, while top-notch restaurants, night-time events and ferry boat excursions to nearby islands round out the many offerings that make Cedar Point a complete resort destination.
From attractions that can't be found anywhere else to pint-sized fun for families, Cedar Point is a place like no other – making it a worthy recipient of this year's Thea Classic Award.
The Thea Awards began in 1994 with a single Lifetime Achievement Award, and the first honoree was Harrison “Buzz” Price, pioneer in economic feasibility for entertainment projects. After Buzz passed away in 2010, the award was renamed in his honour.
The TEA’s Distinguished Service Award recipients are selected by the TEA Past Presidents Committee (as opposed to the Thea Awards Committee) presented annually at the Thea Awards Gala, in recognition of a TEA member’s outstanding contributions “above & beyond the call of duty” to the association. TEA Past President Peter Chernack, who passed away in 2016, embodied all of the qualities that define this award, and so it has been renamed in his memory.
Ask around The Hettema Group (THG) design studios for some words to describe Phil Hettema, and you'll hear an impressive list: creator, originator, technology wizard, entertainer, legend. They'll go on to describe him with words like: gentle, thoughtful, collaborative, respectful, respected. He's a visionary leader who's also a good guy, and proof that good guys can achieve great things.
Originally a music major, Phil carried his passion for creative expression into his early work in the themed entertainment industry: costume designs for Disneyland's classic Main Street Electrical Parade, work for legendary TV puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft, and production supervision for the Super Bowl XVII halftime show and the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This led to a 14-year tenure at Universal Creative, where he became senior VP; after which he founded The Hettema Group.
An "inspirational ringmaster", Phil has built a diverse team of creative and technical talents who work in an atmosphere of collaboration, teamwork and respect. This knack for "lighting the spark that makes [the team] rise to the next challenge" has led to the creation of award-winning experiences like the One World Observatory guest experience at the One World Trade Center, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, and the High Roller observation wheel in Las Vegas.
Beyond his creative vision and leadership skills, Phil has a well-deserved reputation for being a nice guy. This generous spirit is evident in his passion for inspiring the next generation of creative professionals in creating compelling stories and memorable experiences.
Phil Hettema's devotion to a lifetime of creative endeavours in themed entertainment, and his ongoing efforts to "envision the impossible", make him a worthy recipient of this year's Buzz Price Thea Award for Lifetime Achievement.
*Written by members of The Hettema Group (THG).
If you’ve attended a TEA conference, such as the annual TEA Summit or TEA SATE, you’ve likely met Joe Fox, and/or heard his name mentioned, as he’s generally a fixture behind the curtain-making sure all things technical go forward with quality and consistency.
Joe has been a supportive, reliable and highly valued volunteer within the TEA for a number of years. He’s always positive and upbeat and ready for a challenge. He’s also a TES “NextGen” success story, although he was making a career transition as an adult rather than a recent graduate.
A 1997 school trip to Epcot sparked his interest, but it wasn’t until 2013 when he joined Birket Engineering that he got his start in the themed entertainment industry. He’s added to their work in ride and show control, lighting, pyrotechnics, production, specialty consumer merchandise and many other things. Joe says, “It’s been a wild ride ever since, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Joe understands the concept and value of giving back: he knows that you get out of the TEA what you put in. He’s currently a member of the TEA Eastern North America Division Board and has served on the TEA NextGen Committee for several years.
Annika first came into the themed entertainment industry in 2003, joining the attraction team at the Bremen Space Center, which at the time was under construction. There she met future TEA EME Division President Phil Hartley, who was managing the AV and lighting installation. Phil clearly saw Annika’s talent for organisation and quickly hired her as his Technical Coordinator for his next project – working on the Ice Age adventure ride at Germany’s Movie Park. Also working on the Ice Age project was Nick Farmer (due to be International President in 2008). Before long, Annika was known to all the original “old hands” of the TEA European division.
Beginning in 2007, over the course of seven years, she provided administrative support to four EME Division Presidents. Beyond her characteristic attention to detail and organisational capabilities, Annika always made EME members new and old feel truly welcomed and valued.
Annika also participated in the organisation of many members’ meetings, mixers and the first two SATE conferences held in Europe (Amsterdam and Paris), and she often worked beyond expectations.
It is with pride that the entire EME Division joins together in celebrating Annika’s Distinguished Service Award.
*Written by TEA Past President Nick Farmer.
Introduced during the third year of the awards ceremony to honour excellence found throughout the themed entertainment industry, the AOAs praise the entire achievement and everyone who worked on the achievement, rather than individuals. As there are no set categories in this section and the TEA is free to champion several achievements in the same category or skip categories altogether, the format of this aspect of the ceremony differs each year.
Taking its place in Washington, DC on the iconic National Mall, the newest Smithsonian museum has welcomed more than one million visitors since opening in September 2016. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is the only national museum devoted exclusively to African American life in all aspects, from a new perspective.
Like an exquisite sculpture, the elegant bronze 400,000sq ft (37,160sq m) building includes 12 inaugural exhibitions and 37,000 treasured artefacts on three separate floors. NMAAHC is a magnificent example of excellence in dimensional storytelling, by unfolding the African American experience in a beautifully creative and emotionally stirring way.
The primary spirit behind the architecture is one of “praise”, as the form of the building suggests upward movement. The journey takes visitors from the darkest struggles for freedom in the lower History Gallery to the third floor, displaying the spectacular achievements made as free Americans, including examples in science, architecture, entertainment, music, art and sports. This is not a story of people brought down, but of a people that overcame tremendous challenges and obstacles, and helped to transform a country.
Highlights include: Nat Turner’s original bible, a segregation-era Southern Railway car, the slavery block, Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, and Michael Jackson’s fedora. An extensive display of photography and artwork is innovatively showcased, from touchscreens to interactive videos, built inside props and within recreated sets.
Visitors may experience moments of introspection and the pain of the past, but they will also embrace stories of resilience, joy, hope, inspiration and commitment from lessons in history – NMAAHC is a form of reconciliation.
Symbolica is a world-class dark ride that displays excellence and innovative storytelling through intimate detail. It deftly combines artistry, imagination and old-world craftsmanship with fluid animatronics, interactive, themed trackless vehicles and an orchestral score to deliver a uniquely effective experience to guests.
The journey begins outside the lavishly appointed castle of King Pardulfus of Hartenhof (Court of Hearts) and then continues with a totally unexpected surprise in the pre-show, where a staircase splits apart and guests pass under it, entering the secret areas of the castle.
“Flights” of the three trackless vehicles dispatch together from the load area, but thereafter each follows a slightly different path according to its particular theme: Hero Tour, Music Tour and Treasure Tour. Each path includes some large, shared scenes and also some more intimate, interactive moments unique to that vehicle’s theme.
The Thea Committee agreed that Symbolica is a lovingly crafted masterpiece. While making use of modern design and a state-of-the-art tech toolbox, it relies on original content, strong storytelling and the built environment to deliver a classic dark ride experience. This makes Symbolica an excellent choice for a Thea AOA in the Attraction category.
Based on James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster film Avatar, the new, 12-acre land is a tour de force of placemaking designed and built to be about the people, environment, culture, animals and beauty of the Na'vi world. It is celebrated for its unparalleled level of detail and immersive qualities, touching all senses.
Additionally, immersion into this world does not depend on the guest having seen Mr Cameron's film.
Guests enter Pandora's interactive rainforest and gaze up at iconic gravity-defying mountains that peak at 130 feet above the valley floor. Gushing waterfalls and grand rock formations are highlighted among the extraterrestrial Pandoran flora. One hundred per cent hand-sculpted and photo-realistic plants are both alien and grand in scale. The always-in-character eco-tourism travel agency "Alpha Centauri Expedition field guides" speak of the land's mysteries and warn guests not to get too close to the carnivorous "chalice plants". Guests can hear a cacophony of animals that vary in types of calls and by time of day.
The evening's gradual transitional experience beginning at dusk is as breathtaking as the meditative and awe-inspiring daytime experience, yet very different, as plant life begins to glow in the twilight. A reviewer commented: "… evening transforms into a bioluminescent feast for the eyes."
The success of this multi-layered, multi-sensory experience, immersing Disney's Animal Kingdom guests in Pandora – The World of Avatar, makes it an outstanding choice in Thea's Theme Park Area Development category.