Gary Goddard
Encyclopedia
Gary Goddard is the Founder and CEO of The Goddard Group- an entertainment design firm based in North Hollywood, California.
, including the 2009 revival of HAIR
(Tony Award
Winner, Best Revival of a Musical), Neil LaBute
's Reason's to be Pretty (Tony Award
Nominee, Best Play), Jekyll & Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar
(One Night Concert Event), The Wiz
at Encores
, among others.
in the early 1970s, directing "Hoop Dee Doo" at Fort Wilderness at the Walt Disney World resort. He then went on to work at Walt Disney Imagineering
, where he developed on concepts for EPCOT
, Tokyo Disneyland
, and River Country, among others.
Gary Goddard Productions, Goddard's first company, was formed in 1980, which became Landmark Entertainment Group in 1985. Goddard exited Landmark Entertainment Group in 2002 to start his new company, Gary Goddard Entertainment (now "The Goddard Group").
Goddard created several large-scale attractions for Universal Studios
, including The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (at Islands of Adventure
, and Universal Studios Japan
), Terminator 2/3D: Battle Across Time (at Universal Studios Florida
, Universal Studios Hollywood
, and Universal Studios Japan
), Jurassic Park
: The Ride (Universal Studios Hollywood
, Islands of Adventures, and Universal Studios Japan
), Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular (Universal Studios Hollywood
), and Kongfrontation (Universal Studios Hollywood
).
Other notable attractions created by Goddard and team include Star Trek: The Experience (Las Vegas Hilton), The Georgia Aquarium
(Atlanta, Georgia), and Sanrio Puroland (Japan).
For Six Flags, Goddard is responsible for the creation of the "Monster Plantation
" dark ride at Six Flags Over Georgia, as well as its 2009 makeover into "Monster Mansion." Goddard also oversaw the creation of the Glow in the Park Parades (playing at Six Flags Great Adventure
beginning in 2008, Six Flags Mexico
beginning in 2008, Six Flags New England
beginning in 2008, Six Flags St. Louis
beginning in 2009, Six Flags Over Texas
beginning in 2009, and Six Flags Great America
beginning in 2010). Goddard also was responsible for the conceptual development of Six Flags Dubailand
and Six Flags Qatar.
.
, and Skeleton Warriors
.
Work in Theater
Goddard has produced several shows on and off BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, including the 2009 revival of HAIR
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
(Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
Winner, Best Revival of a Musical), Neil LaBute
Neil LaBute
Neil N. LaBute is an American film director, screenwriter and playwright.-Early life:LaBute was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Marian, a hospital receptionist, and Richard LaBute, a long-haul truck driver. LaBute is of French Canadian, English and Irish ancestry, and was raised in Spokane,...
's Reason's to be Pretty (Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
Nominee, Best Play), Jekyll & Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
(One Night Concert Event), The Wiz
The Wiz
The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
at Encores
Encores
Encores is a live EP by Dire Straits, released shortly after their live album On the Night. Although it was an EP, it was charted on the Singles charts of many countries, including France where it debuted at number one.-Track listings:...
, among others.
Work in Themed Entertainment
Goddard began his career at The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
in the early 1970s, directing "Hoop Dee Doo" at Fort Wilderness at the Walt Disney World resort. He then went on to work at Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
, where he developed on concepts for EPCOT
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
, Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland
is a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983...
, and River Country, among others.
Gary Goddard Productions, Goddard's first company, was formed in 1980, which became Landmark Entertainment Group in 1985. Goddard exited Landmark Entertainment Group in 2002 to start his new company, Gary Goddard Entertainment (now "The Goddard Group").
Goddard created several large-scale attractions for Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, including The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (at Islands of Adventure
Islands of Adventure
Universal's Islands of Adventure is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened May 28, 1999 as part of an expansion that, along with CityWalk Entertainment District, the Portofino Bay Hotel, and Hard Rock hotel, converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort...
, and Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan
, located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. . The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, since it contains many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong,...
), Terminator 2/3D: Battle Across Time (at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is an American theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and...
, Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
, and Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan
, located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. . The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, since it contains many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong,...
), Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park: The Ride (Universal Studios Hollywood)
Jurassic Park: The Ride is a water-based amusement ride that is based on Steven Spielberg's hit film Jurassic Park and Michael Crichton's novel located at Universal Studios Hollywood. The ride was actually researched and built while the Jurassic Park film was still in its production phase. It...
: The Ride (Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
, Islands of Adventures, and Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Japan
, located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. . The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, since it contains many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong,...
), Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular (Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
), and Kongfrontation (Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
).
Other notable attractions created by Goddard and team include Star Trek: The Experience (Las Vegas Hilton), The Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium, located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, at Pemberton Place, is the world's largest aquarium with more than of marine and fresh water housing more than 120,000 animals of 500 different species...
(Atlanta, Georgia), and Sanrio Puroland (Japan).
For Six Flags, Goddard is responsible for the creation of the "Monster Plantation
Monster Plantation
-Background:Monster Plantation is a popular family dark ride at Six Flags Over Georgia located in Austell, Georgia. Aboard 6-passenger boats, riders pass through nine scenes along the 700' foot-long flume, passing by over 107 original audio animatronic characters. Outside of Disney parks, it is...
" dark ride at Six Flags Over Georgia, as well as its 2009 makeover into "Monster Mansion." Goddard also oversaw the creation of the Glow in the Park Parades (playing at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
beginning in 2008, Six Flags Mexico
Six Flags México
Six Flags México is an amusement park owned by Six Flags Inc. and the only Six Flags park operating in Latin America. It is located in the Tlalpan forest and borough, on the southern edge of Mexico City, Mexico. Six Flags México has become one of the most important theme parks in Mexico and the...
beginning in 2008, Six Flags New England
Six Flags New England
Six Flags New England , formerly Riverside Amusement Park, is a Six Flags theme park, named for the New England region, in which it is located. Located off of Massachusetts State Route 159, Six Flags New England is located less than from the major City of Springfield, Massachusetts, in the nearby...
beginning in 2008, Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis , is an amusement park owned by Six Flags, Inc. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, USA . Opened in 1971 as the third theme park of the Six Flags chain, this was the last park that was built under the Six Flags name...
beginning in 2009, Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is a major amusement park located in Arlington, Texas , east of Fort Worth and about west of Dallas. It is the oldest park of the Six Flags chain. The park opened on August 5, 1961 following just a year of construction and an initial investment of US$10 million by real estate...
beginning in 2009, and Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
beginning in 2010). Goddard also was responsible for the conceptual development of Six Flags Dubailand
Six Flags Dubailand
In March 2008, Dubai Holdings, Inc. and Six Flags announced a corporate marketing alliance that would allow Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holdings, Inc., to lease the exclusive right to the Six Flags brand name in the Dubailand Development of the United Arab Emirates...
and Six Flags Qatar.
Work in Film
Goddard directed the 1987 movie Masters of the UniverseMasters of the Universe (film)
Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
.
Work in Television
Goddard has created several television shows including Captain Power, Mega BabiesMega Babies
Mega Babies is a Canadian cartoon created by the Tremblay brothers, Christian and Yvon, and produced by CinéGroupe and Landmark Entertainment Group in association with Sony Wonder....
, and Skeleton Warriors
Skeleton Warriors
Skeleton Warriors was a 13 episode cartoon series created by Landmark Entertainment Group, which originally aired in 1993-1994 on CBS.-Summary:...
.
Filmography
- Monster Plantation (Dark Ride)
- Jurassic Park: The Ride (Dark Ride)
- T23D (3D Movie)
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-man (Dark Ride)
- Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow (3D Movie)
- Georgia Aquarium (Aquarium)