Once upon a time, in a faraway land called Santa Marla, there existed a magical dragon. This dragon was unlike any other creature in the realm. It possessed vibrant, iridescent scales that shimmered under the sunlight, leading people to believe that it had magical powers. The Magic Dragon, as it came to be known, had a special bond with the people of Santa Marla. It would often be seen soaring across the sky, majestically spreading its wings, and delighting onlookers with its graceful maneuvers. The people regarded the dragon as a guardian and protector of their land.
Today started at 3am for the travel group everyone woke up, packed, and hopped on the travel bus. Thanks to Dalton & Skye for driving us to the airport. Once we checked luggage and made it through TSA we boarded our flight to Charlotte, NC. Once we arrived in Charlotte we headed to our terminal and got lunch at a burger joint in the airport. After the group ate a delicious lunch, we boarded our last flight to Orlando , FL. Once the plane touched down, we all disembarked and headed to baggage claim where we collected all the groups luggage. We then found our shuttle to the universal resort and rode that over to the resort. Once the whole group was checked in, we ate dinner at a grab n’ go restaurant in the resort. Everyone ate quickly and headed up to bed, to rest up for an adventurous day tomorrow!
Also, I really think after traveling the United States these last nine years with Menopause I really have grown to appreciate who I am because of where I grew up. Cavanagh has also had a busy voiceover career, most notably as the voice of Judy Neutron in the Oscar-nominated animated film Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, the subsequent television series and several TV movies.
The people regarded the dragon as a guardian and protector of their land. Legend had it that the Magic Dragon possessed the ability to grant wishes to those who were pure of heart and had the courage to seek its help. Countless stories were told of brave individuals who ventured into the enchanted forests to find the dragon, hoping to be granted their greatest desires.
'League's' memorable Marla continues to affect viewers
Welcome to Questions of Characters, the column that puts a name to some of the most familiar faces in movies and on television, the stage and commercials who either hail from Chicago or have spent enough time here to consider it home.
Name: Megan Cavanagh
AdvertisementChicago connection: Born in Chicago in 1960 to parents Jim and Rita on Nov. 8. Raised in River Forest along with her four siblings, Cavanagh went to Oak Park and River Forest High School, graduating at 16 in 1977. She attended Rosary College in River Forest (now Dominican University), graduating in January 1982.
Career overview: She got the acting bug at 4: "We were singing 'Puff the Magic Dragon' at a pre-kindergarten performance. I was Puff in a big dragon costume, and my job was to skip back and forth, and I could see through my big dragon mouth — especially the sixth-graders — looking terrified. I had so much power in that moment I knew this was what I wanted to do the rest of my life." She appeared in a memorable high school production of "Oklahoma" with classmates Dan Castellaneta, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Kathy Griffin. After graduation Cavanagh worked at several fondly remembered Chicago theaters, including the Body Politic, Victory Gardens and Absolute Theatre, doing anything and everything (house-managing, working the box office, understudying) and performing as much as possible. She joined the comedy troupe New Age Vaudeville in 1984 and performed with them until 1987. In 1988 she moved to Los Angeles and found work in commercials.
AdvertisementCavanagh's big break came in 1990, when director Penny Marshall cast her in the comedy "A League of Their Own." She made an instant impression with her portrayal of Marla Hooch, the so-called "ugly girl" who outshines several members of the all-female baseball team. She had numerous supporting parts in film comedies following that success — "Robin Hood: Men In Tights" and "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" for director Mel Brooks, "For Richer, for Poorer," "Junior," "That Darn Cat" and others. Cavanagh has also had a busy voiceover career, most notably as the voice of Judy Neutron in the Oscar-nominated animated film "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," the subsequent television series and several TV movies. On TV, Cavanagh has had roles in everything from "Home Improvement" to "Exes & Ohs." Cavanagh also has a thriving stage career and is currently touring the country in "Menopause: The Musical." She lives in Hollywood with her partner, Anne Chamberlain. Megan's son, Brendan, is 19 and majoring in Mandarin Chinese and international affairs at college.
Q: I'm going to guess that Marla Hooch is the character you are most often recognized for.
A: That is correct. To this day, every day. People say, "You look so much like that girl from that movie" or they just come right up to me and say, "You were Marla Hooch." A lot of them add, "You're so pretty in real life." That's very sweet when they say that. I get a lot of "That movie changed my life" from young women. So many of us don't feel like the pretty one or the popular one. It's brought up beauty issues in society for a lot of people. I am working on a documentary dealing with this issue. I have had entire teams of softball players of young women who watch it. The amount of people who love this movie astounds me. I went to a baseball signing with some of the original players at a tournament, and there was literally a line about a mile long. They are so emotional about it.
Q: Which actor(s) would you nominate for the Character Actor Hall of Fame?
A: I would nominate Margaret Rutherford, who I adore. I love Helen Mirren. I really like Melissa McCarthy. She's genius. I think Sarah Silverman is genius. Some of the young women coming up right now in comedy are so refreshing. Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler are all so brilliant.
Q: What's an archetypal character role you have played often?
A; I've played lots of character-y roles, but I play average gals who are looking for love a lot (laughs).
Q: What's a character part that you would like to play?
AdvertisementA: Where do I begin? I've always wanted to do an Irish sister part in "Dancing at Lughnasa." The character-ier the better. I like to play women who are somewhat not liked that make you feel sorry for them.
Q: Most unusual character/costume/location/prop?
A: I had to wear a crocodile outfit when I played the crocodile in "Peter Pan." I helped my mom make it. I had to wear a Santa Claus suit in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." It was extremely warm. When I went to the audition they told me to stuff clothing in my sleeves. I went out and got a Santa suit from a rental shop and went completely dressed as the character. I put my hair up and I walked in the door to meet Mel (Brooks) as the character, and he hired me on the spot. It is a very dicey thing to do, but it worked out. I would love Mel Brooks to do this as a musical. I would love to do this onstage. Hey Mel, I'm ready!
Q: Has being from Chicago helped in your career?
A: Yes. Chicago is a very well-respected theater town. Having that on my resume has given me a deeper sense of what kind of actor I am. Also, I really think after traveling the United States these last nine years with "Menopause" I really have grown to appreciate who I am because of where I grew up. I'm generalizing here, but to me Chicagoans are a very real, warm-hearted kind of people. There's no B.S., no pretension, you get what you get. I think that's very well respected — especially in the film business.
A: That is correct. To this day, every day. People say, "You look so much like that girl from that movie" or they just come right up to me and say, "You were Marla Hooch." A lot of them add, "You're so pretty in real life." That's very sweet when they say that. I get a lot of "That movie changed my life" from young women. So many of us don't feel like the pretty one or the popular one. It's brought up beauty issues in society for a lot of people. I am working on a documentary dealing with this issue. I have had entire teams of softball players of young women who watch it. The amount of people who love this movie astounds me. I went to a baseball signing with some of the original players at a tournament, and there was literally a line about a mile long. They are so emotional about it.
The Magic Dragon's lair was nestled high up in the mountains, concealed by a veil of thick fog. This sacred place was considered a gateway to a realm of limitless possibilities and dreams come true. Over the years, many had tried to locate the lair but only a few succeeded in their pursuit. Once a year, during the festival of dreams, the people of Santa Marla would gather to honor the Magic Dragon. They would dress in vibrant costumes and dance in the streets, celebrating the dragon's presence in their lives. It was a time of joy and gratitude, as they acknowledged the magical bond they shared with this extraordinary creature. The festival was also an opportunity for those who sought the dragon's assistance to present their wishes. People would write their heartfelt desires on scrolls and tie them to the branches of the Wish Tree, a towering ancient tree believed to be imbued with the dragon's magic. They would then make a pilgrimage to the dragon's lair, hoping that their wishes would be heard, and their dreams made a reality. The Magic Dragon brought hope to the people of Santa Marla. It symbolized the power of belief, courage, and kindness. It taught them that magic exists within themselves and that by embracing their true potential, they too could create miracles. To this day, the Magic Dragon of Santa Marla remains a legendary figure, inspiring generations with its tale. The people continue to believe in its magic and honor its presence in their lives, striving to emulate the qualities it represents. And though the dragon may only be seen once in a while, the spirit of its enchantment lives on, reminding the people that dreams can be achieved and that anything is possible if they dare to imagine..
Reviews for "The Magical Adventures of Magic Dragon Santa Marla"
- John - 1 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with Magic Dragon Santa Marla. The plot was all over the place and didn't make much sense. The characters were poorly developed and I couldn't connect with any of them. The special effects were also underwhelming and looked fake. Overall, I found the movie to be a complete waste of time and money.
- Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for Magic Dragon Santa Marla but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The acting was subpar and the dialogue was cringe-worthy at times. The story was confusing and took too long to unfold. I also found the pacing to be off, with some scenes dragging on for too long. It's a shame because the concept had potential, but the execution was just not there.
- Michael - 2 out of 5 stars - I really wanted to like Magic Dragon Santa Marla, but I just couldn't get into it. The movie seemed to lack direction and had too many unnecessary subplots. The character development was weak, and I didn't care about any of them. The CGI effects were also disappointing and took away from the overall viewing experience. I would recommend skipping this one and watching something else instead.
- Emily - 1 out of 5 stars - Magic Dragon Santa Marla was a complete disaster. The story was convoluted and made no sense. The acting was terrible, and the dialogue was cringeworthy. The movie tried to be too many things at once and ended up failing at all of them. I found myself counting down the minutes until it was over. Save yourself the trouble and avoid this movie at all costs.