Mickey Mouse Takes the Stage to Honor Bob Iger

A life-size Mickey Mouse walked onto the stage at the Perelman Performing Arts Center on Tuesday night, drawing gasps from the audience before conducting the orchestra. The character appeared during a tribute to former Disney CEO Bob Iger, who received the 2026 PAC NYC Icon of Culture award. Iger described the moment as humbling, noting that being called an icon was a bit over the top when the mouse was sharing the stage with him.

The gala took place at One World Trade Center, a venue Iger later described as a tremendous symbol of resilience in lower Manhattan following the 9/11 attacks. The event highlighted Disney’s theatrical and musical history alongside its film library. Nick Jonas opened his tribute by crediting Iger with helping launch his band’s career. Jonas called Iger one of the finest cultivators of talent the industry has ever seen before introducing a medley from Newsies, Aladdin, Frozen, and The Greatest Showman.

The stage production of The Greatest Showman is scheduled to open in London’s West End in the spring of 2027. Composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul performed two songs from the original movie and a new track titled The Show Goes On for the stage version. Other performers included Ariana DeBose, Samara Joy, and Rufus Wainwright. Wainwright closed the night with When You Wish Upon a Star, joined briefly by a live Jiminy Cricket in a second animated cameo.

Hamilton actors Austin Scott and Isaiah Johnson performed One Last Time, a song Iger has cited as a favorite. The title also serves as the name of Iger’s forthcoming memoir, which covers his return to the Disney CEO role from 2022 to 2026. ABC News anchors Robin Roberts and David Muir, along with PAC NYC Chairman Michael Bloomberg and current Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, offered remarks praising Iger’s decades-long career.

Iger took the stage to thank his colleagues, calling the tribute an unbelievable display of gratitude. He spoke about the importance of communal cultural experiences in a world he described as rife with disruption and polarization. Iger argued that art and culture have never been more vital for bringing people together in shared spaces.

The former executive shared a personal anecdote about his love for the song One Last Time, referencing a 100-year-old fig tree in his yard. He joked that his vision of sitting alone in the shade is constantly interrupted by dozens of figs dropping from the branches. The performance marked a public celebration of Iger’s legacy as he steps back from his recent tenure leading the entertainment giant.