by Joe Tracy, editor of Theme Park Magazine
The towering Batman statue looms 20 feet above the crowd, its imposing silhouette dominating the scene. Below, guests begin gathering in the DC Universe area, some clutching capes and superhero merchandise, their anticipation building as the 5 PM kickoff approaches. A small parade winds its way from another section of the park, drawing more visitors toward the action. What’s about to unfold at Six Flags Magic Mountain represents more than just another theme park show. It’s the culmination of months of planning, a partnership between entertainment giants, and perhaps most significantly, Six Flags’ boldest statement that live entertainment is back in a big way.
“Entertainment is back at Six Flags parks, and it’s going to continue to boom from here on out,” Mike Ostrom, Manager of Entertainment and Events at Six Flags Magic Mountain, tells Theme Park Magazine.
Ostrom’s enthusiasm is unmistakable as guests stream toward the DC Universe area. What Ostrom and his team have created isn’t just a show, it’s an immersive theatrical experience lasting four to five hours that transforms an entire section of the park into Gotham City for the evening.
The DC Heroes & Villains Fest represents the largest collaboration between Six Flags and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences to date, featuring Broadway-level talent, original film-style scoring, and a narrative that unfolds across 15 scripted performance moments. After launching at Magic Mountain on June 20th, the production will travel to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey this August, marking the first time Six Flags has created a touring theatrical experience of this magnitude.
A Creative Partnership Born from Ambition
Behind this ambitious undertaking stands Mark Brymer of WOW! Entertainment, whose resume reads like a theme park enthusiast’s dream. From arranging music for major productions to working with Dolly Parton’s immersive dinner attractions, Brymer brings decades of experience to what he calls his “most challenging project yet.”
“This festival incorporates all of that,” Brymer explains to Theme Park Magazine. “It’s really a five-hour immersive event. We have stunt show elements, we have musical show elements, we have meet-and-greets.”
The collaboration began when Six Flags corporate entertainment took notice of the popularity of the smaller DC event Magic Mountain had produced the previous year.
“The new Six Flags corporate entertainment saw what Magic Mountain was doing and saying, you know, this is great, and the guests seem to love it, but we want to take this up a notch,” Brymer recalls.
That desire to elevate the experience led to a partnership spanning months of development. Working closely with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, Brymer assembled a creative team that includes Tony Award-winning lighting designer Ken Billington and talent drawn from Disney, Broadway, and major stunt shows.
“We’re working closely with the Jim Henson Company to ensure that we’re staying faithful,” Brymer notes, though he quickly corrects himself with a laugh, “Sorry, I meant Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences. When you work on multiple projects, sometimes the clients blend together!”
Transforming Theme Park Entertainment
What sets this production apart isn’t just its scale, but its approach to storytelling. Unlike traditional theme park shows that operate in discrete time slots, the DC Heroes & Villains Fest creates a continuous narrative that evolves throughout the evening.
“We wanted to make it more dense this year,” Ostrom explains. “We’ve added new dance numbers with Harley Quinn and Catwoman involved in them now. And we have our MC host that’s carrying the event through the entire night. We’ve got no dead time on that stage anymore.”
The evening begins with what Brymer describes as “kind of a cavalcade, introducing, bringing the characters, you know, the superheroes in.” Guests witness a special ceremony honoring Batman at the massive statue that serves as the production’s centerpiece. But the villains have other plans.
“The villains are going to come in and kind of wreak havoc and take over the event,” Brymer explains.
This sets up the central conflict that drives the entire experience.
The technical complexity of coordinating this long narrative required innovative solutions. Brymer, who composed the original score, explains his approach:
“I was able to take the script and then really orchestrate as you would a film. Beat by beat.”
Bringing Characters to Life
Central to the experience’s success is the authenticity of the character portrayals. Working hand-in-hand with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, the casting process prioritized not just physical appearance but acting ability and improvisational skills.
“Part of the decision on who we’re casting for the various characters is not only ‘do they have the look,’ you know, ‘are they the right height?’ But then it’s also, ‘we want to see some acting ability,'” Brymer explains. “Do they have the ability to interact as this character?”
The performers face unique challenges, moving seamlessly between scripted stunt sequences and spontaneous guest interactions. Characters roam the DC Universe area throughout the evening, encouraging guests to choose sides between heroes and villains. The improvisational elements include everything from hero contests for children to dad joke competitions hosted by the Joker.
“We’re doing this also a midway madness where we’ve learned at the park level that sometimes the simplest interactive events are totally fun,” Brymer notes. “Because we have the Joker there, we’re going to have a dad joke contest, you know, and because you never know what’s going to happen with that.”
Even the voice work receives special attention.
“What we’re doing with some of the characters, at least for when they’re on stage, is we’re actually using many of the voiceover talent that have done this in either cartoons or video games… the actual talent that recreates these the voices of these characters,” Brymer reveals.
Yes, there is lip synching, but that always keeps the audio crisp and easy to understand for the audience. It’s produced.
The Technical Marvel Behind the Magic
Creating a touring show that maintains Broadway-level production values while adapting to amusement park environments presented numerous technical challenges. Every element, from set construction to costume design, had to consider both artistic impact and practical logistics.
“How do you design a set that can tour? And that can last for multiple years,” Brymer reflects on the complexity. “How do you design costumes because it’s not only the superhero, they need to be able to perform a stunt. What kind of shoes are they wearing?”
Even environmental factors played a role in planning.
“There’s the Santa Ana winds that can happen, you know, at Magic Mountain,” Brymer notes, highlighting how outdoor productions must account for unpredictable conditions.
The lighting design, helmed by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, creates dramatic moments that rival indoor theatrical productions. As darkness falls, the colorful lighting really adds to the atmosphere, enhanced by the unique backdrop of Wonder Woman Flight of Courage soaring overhead, adding an extra layer of excitement as the roller coaster flies by during performances. Combined with Brymer’s original score, the technical elements work together to support the live action unfolding.
“Music is really, really important,” Brymer emphasizes. “I’ve been involved in a couple of the Dolly Parton immersive dinner arena attractions. Music is really, really important.”
The production strategically builds throughout the evening, with strong musical numbers drawing larger crowds as the night progresses, culminating in the spectacular finale that attracts the biggest audience of the night.
A Production That Evolves
Perhaps most impressive is the team’s commitment to continuous improvement. Both Ostrom and Brymer emphasize that the production evolves nightly based on guest reactions and operational insights.
“We absolutely make tweaks to the show,” Ostrom confirms to Theme Park Magazine. “Right before I walked over here, we were talking about a tweak in the opening moment as a matter of fact. We’ll do that until closing night. We’re never going to stop.”
This iterative approach means that by the time the production reaches Six Flags Great Adventure in August, it will be a refined version of an already impressive show.
“We’re anticipating that those two audiences will be very different,” Brymer explains. “So we’re going to re-evaluate once we get it open in the second location.”
The attention to detail extends beyond the performances themselves. Guest feedback informs everything from pacing adjustments to character interaction techniques.
“I am super sensitive to watching the audience,” Brymer notes about his observations during performances. “Many times it’s like, the last place I’m looking is on stage because I want to see, okay, who’s the demographic? What are they doing? When are they reacting?”
Setting a New Standard
The DC Heroes & Villains Fest represents more than just a successful event. It signals Six Flags’ renewed commitment to live entertainment amongst a competitive theme park / amusement park landscape. The production’s success has implications that extend far beyond its summer run.
“This event has been something that’s really cool for us because we’ve been looking for ways to utilize our partnership with Warner Brothers and really build on that,” Ostrom explains. “They’re such great partners with us in all of our parks around the country.”
The immersive approach, where guests become active participants rather than passive observers, reflects broader trends in themed entertainment. By encouraging guests to choose sides, participate in contests, and interact with roaming characters, the festival creates a personalized experience that varies with each visit.
“We’re constantly making decisions of this note or that note. This chord or that chord,” Brymer reflects on his arranging background and how it applies to creating cohesive experiences. “I’ve tried to associate with really amazing talent because with the theatrical collaborative environment you can create, suddenly I’m now a part of something I couldn’t have thought of on my own.”
The festival also demonstrates how intellectual properties can be leveraged beyond traditional ride experiences, something Universal and Disney have been doing for a while. By creating an event that celebrates the entire DC Universe rather than focusing on individual characters, Six Flags has found a way to maximize the value of its Warner Bros. partnership.
As darkness envelops Magic Mountain and the climactic showdown erupts spectacularly, guests witness park entertainment elevated to new heights. The 20-foot Batman statue stands as a silent sentinel over a production that has redefined what’s possible when creative ambition meets operational expertise.
“Entertainment is back at Six Flags parks,” Ostrom declared earlier in the evening, and as guests file out swinging their capes and sharing videos of the spectacular finale, his words feel less like a prediction and more like a promise fulfilled. The DC Heroes & Villains Fest doesn’t just entertain, it transforms. It creates memories that extend beyond the park gates and sets a new standard for what Six Flags can theatrically achieve.
When the production travels to Six Flags Great Adventure this August, it will carry with it weeks of refinement, guest feedback, and the confidence that comes from proving that sometimes, the most ambitious ideas capture guests’ hearts in ways nothing else can.
Feature Image: Batman and Catwoman share a moment (photo by Theme Park Magazine)
Explore More: Videos
Heroes & Villains Fest 2025! Characters, Shows, Food & More
Explore More: Resources
- Web page: DC Heroes & Villains Fest: Six Flags Magic Mountain (official)
- Web page: DC Heroes & Villains Fest: Six Flags Great Adventure (official)
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About Joe Tracy
Joe Tracy, the creator, and editor of Theme Park Magazine, is a lifetime enthusiast of theme parks and immersive experiences. The publication was launched under his leadership on June 1, 2021, as a manifestation of his deep-seated love for all things themed. Joe has amassed over 20 years of expertise in both traditional print and online publishing.
