Big dreams take hold

As the calendar turns to November, another ice extravaganza from the Disney folks finds its way back to Nassau Coliseum. This season’s production “takes audiences on an adventure across raging seas and snow-covered mountains,” according to the Disney on Ice team, involving five beloved Disney heroines.
“Dare to Dream,” which opens Nov. 15 and runs through Nov. 26, features excerpts from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella,” Tangled,” “Frozen,” and “Moana.” They involve everyone in a grand adventure, along with Mickey and Minnie, to uncover why no goal is too big in order to shape your own destiny.
In her Disney On Ice debut, see how far Moana will go in an epic undertaking to save her island when she embarks on an action-packed voyage with the mighty demigod Maui. Anna’s devotion to her estranged sister Elsa sets her on a perilous journey to mend their bond, and stop an eternal winter. Rapunzel breaks out of her tower and teams up with an unlikely companion, Flynn Rider, as she goes to great lengths to realize her dream. Armed only with courage, Belle befriends the enchanted castle staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s rough exterior. With help from her friends and a little magic, Cinderella is determined to make the wish in her heart come true.
“As parents, we strive to find role models who embolden our children to choose kindness and exhibit the values we aim to impart, and this production of Disney On Ice truly embodies this goal,” says Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment and Producer Nicole Feld. “With Dare To Dream, I want to inspire the youngest members of our families with the heroic stories of their favorite Disney characters and allow them to discover the hero within themselves.”
The show opens up with an upbeat song to draw everyone into the spectacle, encouraging the audience to move about and exercise. “It gets everyone out of their seats,” says Tour Coordinator Kyle Rougeau.

One of the production’s many interactive elements, it introduces Disney on Ice’s first live host, actress-singer Carmen Mitchell. She joins the show’s other “hosts” Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, as they keep the energetic spectacle moving along through each segment.
“It’s a fast-paced uplifting storyline that involves all ages, with a great message,” says Rougeau.“It’s all about discovering your inner hero through the stories of these strong women. There are a lot of layers to it. And having a host brings a new, exciting element to the show. Carmen really personalizes the storyline.”
Audiences get a taste of each heroine’s individual story, beginning with Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” and ending with “Moana.” The colorful “Be Our Guest” number is one of the highlights of Belle’s segment, in which the characters appear as pieces of food. Elaborate costumes and dynamic skating add to the appeal, updated to reflect the recent live-action film version.
“We like to think of it a snapshot of each movie,” says Rougeau.
Another highlight, in the “Tangled” sequence, takes place when Rapunzel escapes from the tower as skaters perform 35 feet above the ice.
“It’s a very athletic show,” Rougeau says. “The focus is on the skating. You’ll see pairs, singles, freestyle, ice dancing, and synchronized routines. If you like figure skating, you are really going to enjoy this show. You are going to see a lot of tricks, not the kind of thing you would see in Olympic competition.”
The fast, edgy style of skating has great appeal to skaters as well as the audience. “It’s modern and upbeat,” says 28-year-old Marie Hanford, who appears as Moana. “It’s a show has something for everyone, with great special effects. Moana is determined and compassionate with everything she does and everyone loves her.”
By the time the show gets to “Frozen” and “Moana” in the second half, everyone is singing along (if they haven’t been already).
“All the kids sing “Let It Go” and “How Far I’ll Go,” says Rougeau. And they love to dress up as Elsa and Moana.”
“I didn’t realize how popular Moana was until we went on tour,” she adds. “It’s really a sleeper hit. There’s something about those two [stories and their songs] that really speak to people.”
The cast enjoys the show just as much as the audience, according to Hanford. “It’s so much fun to portray the different characters that you grew up with.”

Dare to Dream
When: Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 15-26. Times vary. Tickets start at $20; available at Nassau Coliseum Box Office or through Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.
Where: Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale.