Cleveland will get a burst of Disney magic when the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour hits the stage at Rocket Arena on August 13. The high-energy concert event brings the two beloved movie franchises to life, combining the infectious, chart-topping songs from Descendants and ZOMBIES into one unforgettable night.
Fans of all ages can expect a show designed to get everyone singing, dancing, and celebrating alongside their favorite stars. Headlining the show are Kylie Cantrall, Malia Baker, Dara Reneé, and Joshua Colley from Descendants: The Rise of Red, along with Freya Skye, Malach Barton, and Mekonnen Knife from Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. Together, they’ll perform fan-favorite hits and fresh tracks from the latest installments of each series.
CleveRock had the pleasure of hopping on a ZOOM call with cast member Dara Reneé ahead of the show, during which she share behind-the-scenes stories, her favorite moments from the tour, and what it’s like to bring such a colorful, music-filled universe to the stage.
The show differs from the typical Disney-branded shows that come to Cleveland. Unlike Disney on Ice productions or Disney Jr. shows, Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide is a different experience. It’s not a straight-up drama with the focal-point being the plot of the story, mixed in with different elements of entertainment.
“This is kind of the first show of its kind, dare I say. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Dara said. “We have a lot of acrobats and we have talented dancers. We have a lot of the familiar songs. You’re going to get a lot of nostalgia. You’re going to get a lot of just encouragement. I think this show is something that I’ve never been a part of before. It’s so amazing. The cast is so talented, the dancers, the crew; everybody is putting their best foot forward. I’m really excited for people to see it because it’s really fun. I’m a college student. I’m a little older, but I’m having a blast. At first, I was like, ‘I don’t know. My little cousins are going to like it. I don’t know if it’s for the older adults.’ But, it’s literally for all ages. That’s what I’m most excited about because I love that. It’s truly the definition of a show for the whole family.
That isn’t to say that there is NO story to follow. Fans who have watched these films on repeat and folks who are unfamiliar can love the show equally as much!
“It’s a straight concert. It’s basically a retelling of both of the movies, of all the movies, dare I say,” Dara said. “Even if you come in and you haven’t seen any of the movies, you’re still going to know what’s going on. It’s definitely a retelling of all four movies of each party, because ZOMBIES has Four, Descendants has four, so dare I say, eight movies. Retelling of eight movies in two hours.”
This interviewer is speaking from experience when noting that there is no better way to become close to a group of your new best friends than spending a lengthy period of time on the road together! With 43 dates on the schedule and some off days during its run, the cast members are having a blast getting to know one another.
“It’s such a bond that I’ve never experienced before,” Dara said, “I’ve never really lived with anybody except for my mom. It is so much fun. We are having a blast. I love having siblings, dare I say. I call them my family, my sisters and brothers. It’s so much fun, literally being able to watch movies together. We’re coloring right now. We literally have coloring books and coloring, drawing, doing arts and crafts, knowing what everybody’s favorite meal is, being able to tell ghost stories, being able to tell conspiracies, and just talking about life, school, and just anything that you can think of. I’m so blessed that I have such a good group to vibe with and to live with. It’s kind of like college on the road, so it is really amazing. And we have a little party here and there. We’re having a really good time, and I’m so grateful. I’ve been truly blessed with an amazing cast.”
[videopress 7GfTCF0t w=1280 h=720]
Dara has high praise for her fellow cast members.
“Everyone is so talented in their own, and I’ve known the Descendants cast for a long time,” she said. “It’s so much fun doing it with my friends. And now that I’m learning more about the ZOMBIES Cast, they are so cool, and so nice, and so talented. I was so shocked at how young they were being able to hit those notes, dance, doing backflips on the stage, and having the stage presence that they do. They’re very, very, very amazing and magical, and I feel like the audience is going to be able to see that on the stage.”
Dara was asked about her favorite numbers to perform during the show:
“I love doing ‘Queen of Mean,’ because I actually do a stunt during that song where I fly. And so that’s kind of insane. I’m afraid of heights. Don’t tell them that,” Dara said with a laugh. “I get to perform an original song that I wrote. It’s called ‘Imma Do It.’ So being able to perform that with dancers is so insane. And also, I love, love, love doing the wolf song from ZOMBIES. That’s so much fun!“
Performing an original song in front of a packed arena full of fans can be equal parts exciting and daunting. There’s a lot of reward for (hopefully) getting a rousing ovation from an appreciative crowd, but on the flip side, a fear of performing it flawlessly. Dara was quizzed on if the thrill of performing her original song onstage to an audience ever loses its thrill:
“No! It never gets old,” she exclaimed. “I’ll be so nervous behind the stage. As soon as that first note hits, I have a little intro but I’m a little artsy-fartsy. My song is a theme park ride. I wanted to make it seem like you were setting up to be on a roller coaster, and you’re about to go on this roller coaster at Disneyland. The whole song is me setting it up, and then you’re getting on the ride, and then you’re going up, up, up!. But as soon as that intro plays at the beginning, I’m like, ‘Are they going to like it? Is this good?’ I don’t know if my stuff is good yet, because the only person that tells me it’s good is my mom, and sometimes I feel like she’s biased. She’s my mom! So I’m like, ‘Are the kids going to like it?’ Especially when I hold my breath and I get my lungs together to hit that high note, and I finally hit it, and thank God, I hit it every night. I don’t know if I’m going to hit it every night, but when I do, literally the fans are like, ‘ What?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, I can breathe!’ They like it. It’s really fun.“
Nobody forgets their first concert experience. (For this interview: Matchbox Twenty | Blossom Music Center | 1998.) Children start going to shows at younger ages now. As someone fortunate enough to attend concerts for a living, some parents deem shows child-appropriate that….well…aren’t! This tour is a significant exception to the rule. It’s family-friendly, it’s entertaining on every level, and there’s no cursing or inappropriate graphics to dodge! Dara was asked how flattering (and important) it is to be presenting youngsters with their first concert experience.
“To able to have young people coming in and having it be their first concert, first of all, I’m so thankful that they chose us to have that experience with us, because it truly is a special, important experience,” she said. “I mean, I discovered that I wanted to do the performing arts by seeing the Cheetah Girls and Sesame Street. And I was like, ‘I want to do this.’ And I bought the soundtrack, and I was playing it all year long. I was getting on my mom’s nerves playing the soundtrack.We even say it during the show, making it a moment for whoever’s first concert it is, making them feel special, because it really is a special moment. I mean, you might awaken something in somebody that you didn’t even know was there. It’s really cool!
“We have such a fantastic crowd in every single state,” Dara continued. “Really, I just want to show them my appreciation and, show them how thankful I am that they even took the time to come and took the time to make bracelets for me and to make pictures for me! Our fans are so great that it’s insane, and I am so grateful and thankful for each and every one of them!
Whether you’ve been following these movies from the very beginning or you’re just ready for a fun night out with the family, the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour promises a night of pure Disney magic.
© 2025 CleveRock Music Portal. A PROUD SHAPE CLEVELAND PRODUCTION