More than fifteen years after helping bring one of Disney’s most beloved characters to life, legendary actress Jenifer Lewis stepped into a celebration that feels decades in the making.
On June 5, Lewis visited Tiana’s Joyful Celebration at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, marking her first experience with the first-ever museum exhibition dedicated entirely to Princess Tiana. For generations of Disney fans, Lewis is forever connected to the franchise as the voice of the wise and unforgettable Mama Odie in Disney’s 2009 animated classic The Princess and the Frog. But this visit represented something bigger than nostalgia.
It was a celebration of a character whose impact continues to resonate across generations, cultures, and communities.
As families explored the exhibit, Lewis sang, danced, interacted with guests, and brought her signature warmth to an experience designed to honor the spirit of Princess Tiana and the rich traditions of New Orleans that inspired her story.
A Historic First for Princess Tiana
Produced by Walt Disney Imagineering and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Tiana’s Joyful Celebration is the first museum exhibition ever centered around Disney’s Princess Tiana. Inspired by The Princess and the Frog, Disney Parks’ Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attractions, and the legacy of legendary New Orleans chef Leah Chase, the exhibit invites visitors into a new chapter of Tiana’s story.
Set in 1920s New Orleans, the experience places guests alongside Tiana as she prepares for an upcoming Mardi Gras season parade. Through storytelling, hands-on activities, music, art, food, and dance, families become active participants in the celebration rather than simply observers.
The result is an experience that feels uniquely aligned with what made Princess Tiana so meaningful in the first place. Her story was never just about becoming a princess. It was about community, perseverance, culture, and building something larger than yourself.
Bringing New Orleans to Life
One of the most impressive aspects of Tiana’s Joyful Celebration is its commitment to showcasing the authentic traditions that inspired the world of The Princess and the Frog.
Visitors can help design Mardi Gras-inspired costumes and masks, contribute to a collaborative mural, experiment with musical rhythms influenced by New Orleans traditions, learn second-line dance steps, and even participate in activities centered around Tiana’s famous culinary roots.
Families can explore interactive exhibits featuring gumbo preparation, community gardening, music-making, and creative expression, all designed to highlight the food, art, music, and cultural traditions that make New Orleans such a vibrant and influential city.
For many visitors, particularly Black families who have long embraced Princess Tiana as a landmark character, the exhibit offers something that extends beyond entertainment. It creates a space where culture, history, and representation are celebrated through play, discovery, and imagination.
The Voice of Mama Odie Returns
Jenifer Lewis’ presence made the experience even more meaningful.
While Lewis visited the exhibit in person on June 5, guests will continue to encounter Mama Odie throughout the attraction. The exhibit features original voice performances from several beloved cast members from The Princess and the Frog, including Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana, Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, Jennifer Cody as Charlotte La Bouff, and Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen.
For Lewis, whose career spans iconic roles in Black-ish, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sister Act, and countless other projects, Mama Odie remains one of her most beloved performances. Seeing her interact with families experiencing the exhibit firsthand felt like a bridge between the original film and a new generation of fans discovering Tiana’s story.
Known affectionately as the “Mother of Black Hollywood,” Lewis has spent decades entertaining audiences through film, television, music, and theater. Her appearance at Tiana’s Joyful Celebration served as a reminder of how deeply connected she remains to a character who continues to inspire audiences around the world.
More Than an Exhibit
What makes Tiana’s Joyful Celebration particularly special is its emphasis on accessibility and inclusion.
The exhibition was designed to accommodate a wide range of visitors through bilingual English and Spanish experiences, American Sign Language integration, Braille elements, and thoughtful accessibility considerations throughout the exhibit.
That commitment reflects the broader message at the heart of Princess Tiana’s story. Everyone deserves a place at the table, and everyone deserves the opportunity to see themselves reflected in stories that celebrate ambition, creativity, family, and community.
Taking Tiana’s Legacy Across the Country
While Indianapolis serves as the exhibit’s debut location, this is only the beginning of its journey.
Following its run at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis through January 3, 2027, Tiana’s Joyful Celebration will embark on a five-year national tour. Planned stops include Los Angeles, Columbus, Dearborn, Atlanta, Fort Worth, Tampa, and additional cities that will be announced in the future.
The traveling exhibition ensures that families across the country will have the opportunity to experience Princess Tiana’s world while learning about the traditions, creativity, and community spirit that inspired one of Disney’s most impactful modern heroines.
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A Celebration Worth Experiencing
Princess Tiana has always represented more than a fairy tale.
She represents perseverance, purpose, culture, and the belief that dreams are worth working for. Tiana’s Joyful Celebration captures those themes while creating a space where families can learn, create, dance, laugh, and celebrate together.
Seeing Jenifer Lewis walk through the first-ever museum exhibit dedicated to Princess Tiana felt like a fitting reminder of just how far that legacy has traveled since audiences first met Mama Odie, Tiana, and the residents of New Orleans back in 2009.
More than fifteen years later, their story continues to inspire, educate, and bring people together.
And now, families across the country will have the opportunity to experience that magic for themselves.
Editor-in-Chief | Owner
I’m a dedicated aficionado of all things movies, pop culture, and entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and a love for the silver screen, I’m constantly immersed in the world of cinema, exploring new releases, classics, and hidden gems alike. As a fervent advocate for the power of film to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and recommendations with fellow enthusiasts.
