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Theme parks are more than just passive entertainment; they can inspire us and even change our lives. For a certain type of creative young person, that strong connection with the art plays a huge role. Josh Steadman built a lifelong passion for becoming a theme park designer that led him to Walt Disney Imagineering in 2011. He took a long road to reach that goal with its share of challenges, however. On this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast, Josh talks about how he got interested in theme parks and ultimately became a designer.
During this interview, Josh takes us through his jobs at Thinkwell; the International Shakespeare Festival in Gdansk, Poland; and on TV productions like Wipeout and Lincoln Heights before joining Walt Disney Imagineering in 2011. He also describes mentors like Don Carson that helped him along the way. Shanghai Disneyland was a massive project, and Josh explains both the excitement and the difficulties of working overseas. He worked as a Show Designer and Production Designer on the Enchanted Storybook Castle Walkthrough in Shanghai along with other projects.
Josh’s recent projects include his role as Director of Show Design and Production for Evermore Park in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He talks about what interested him about bringing Ken Bretschneider’s vision to life. The DIY approach to prepare the park for opening was very different from Shanghai DIsneyland. We conclude the podcast with some advice from Josh to artists hoping to work in the theme park industry. I really enjoyed the chance to talk to Josh and learn more about his career.
Show Notes: Josh Steadman
Learn more about Josh Steadman and check out his projects on his official website.
Follow Josh Steadman on his Instagram page.
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