“Zoorassic Park” roars into Palm Desert
A live stage show debuting Saturday at the Living Desert promises to take visitors back to prehistoric times using three “shockingly real” dinosaur characters.
Dubbed “Zoorassic Park,” the family friendly show encourages guests to “rethink extinct” as the dinosaurs are brought back to life, spokeswoman Rebecca Brown said.
Brutus, a Tyrannosaurus Rex about 7 feet tall and 15 feet long, will growl, snort and roar along with Penny, a Parasaurolophus who stands 10 feet tall and 17 feet long, Brown said. A baby Triceratops named Trixie rounds out the stage trio, she said.
“The Living Desert is very excited to bring Zoorassic Park to life,” said Allen Monroe, president and chief executive of the zoo and gardens. “While designed to entertain, this interactive production also functions as an educational tool that touches on geology, zoology, botany, archeology and paleontology. Kids will not only be entertained, but will learn something too.”
The 25-minute show starts daily at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The performances at the Tennity Amphitheatre, are free with paid admission to The Living Desert. Brown said the show’s life-like dinosaur characters were designed and built by hand by the Chiodo Bros., a Hollywood creature-making team whose work has been featured in such films as “critters,” “Elf,” “Dinner For Schmucks” and “Gremlins”
In addition to the live show, junior paleontologists will have a chance to dig for fossils and take photos with dinosaur exhibits throughout the zoo, Brown said. “Zoorassic Park” is slated to run through 2015. For more information, call (760) 346-5694 or visit www.livingdesert.org.
