Disney: Ashley Eckstein achieves Candlelight Processional dream
Actress Ashley Eckstein, a longtime Central Floridian and an official part of the “Star Wars” universe, fulfilled a childhood dream Wednesday, by narrating Epcot’s Candlelight Processional, one of the holiday events at Walt Disney World.
“We woke up today. It was a normal day. We were even talking about what we were going to have for dinner. … And then we end the day, and I just hosted three shows and narrated the Candlelight Processional,” she said in a video with husband David Eckstein posted on social media. “What is life right now?”
The scheduled narrator was actress Ann-Margret, who did the narration duties on Tuesday night at the theme park’s America Gardens Theater.
But on Wednesday, Eckstein stepped in. Duties included the reading of the Christmas story between musical numbers performed by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir that included members of Voices of Liberty.
It was a quick turnaround, Eckstein said Thursday. She got the call at her home at 2:15 p.m., and they wanted her at Epcot by 4:30 p.m.
“Because this has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl, the word ‘yes’ flew out of my mouth without even, like, without even thinking about it,” she said. “And then logic set in. And I was like, “Oh, gosh, wait, wait.’ I mean, I’m in sweats.
By showtime she was in full hair and makeup and in a shiny green dress, she said. She arrived at Disney at 4:30 p.m., and the first performance was at 5:15 p.m.
Despite dreaming of her Candlelight moment, the call was a total surprise, she said.
“I had never verbalized it to anyone Disney, but I had verbalized it to family and friends,” she said. “I did say. like, ‘Oh, one day … this is my dream.”
Eckstein, who moved to Orlando as a baby and eventually attended Dr. Phillips High School, has a long history with the company, working as a cast member at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before becoming an actress. Her most prominent role has been giving voice to Ahsoka Tano in multiple “Star Wars” animated series.
She also founded the Her Universe line of “Star Wars”-inspired clothing and once was asked by Disney to contribute a design to a star-powered lineup of mouse-ear hats. She has been part of festivities for Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios and hosted panels for D23 and other events.
Because she has seen the show multiple times over the years, Eckstein was familiar with the script and the basic duties.
“I think first show I was still in shock,” she said. “Then the nerves really set in in the second show. And by the third show, I was just like, oh gosh, I don’t want this to end.”
The lack of rehearsal time with the script was not a big deal to her, she said, because of her experience as a voice actor.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is we oftentimes don’t get our script until we walk in the door, so the majority of our job is a cold read,” Eckstein said.
A look at prolific Candlelight Processional narrators (and a few surprises)
Candlelight Processional dates back to 1955 at Disneyland and has been a staple at Disney World since it debuted (with narrator Rock Hudson) at Magic Kingdom in 1971. It’s been held at Epcot since 1994.
Standing in the center of all the musicians was surreal, Eckstein said.
“It is beyond all of my wildest expectations. … It’s full body chills,” she said.
Disney: 9 new narrators set for Candlelight Processional
She’s not the first local or “Star Wars” actor to narrate Candlelight Processional. Recent participants have included Joey Fatone (‘N Sync member and fellow Dr. Phillips High alum) and Warwick Davis, who appeared in multiple “Star Wars” movies.
There’s been an additional change in the 2023 lineup. Singer Bart Millard of MercyMe will be the narrator Thursday through Saturday. Originally scheduled was actor Simu Liu.
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