By Karen Bloom
This time around Disney On Ice presents “A Disneyland® Adventure,” which visits Long Island for six days, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6.
The original story involves that “incredible” super-family, The Parrs. The tale picks up where the award-winning Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles left off. In Disneyland® Adventure audiences can relive their fondest Disneyland memories as they join the Incredibles on a fun-filled vacation to the theme park.
Of course, no Disney On Ice spectacle would be complete without gang, and they're all here: The production features everyone's favorite Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Buzz Lightyear, Baloo, Disney Princesses Snow White and Cinderella, and the Incredibles.
In this spectacular production, the Parr family – Bob, Helen, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack – attempt to be a “normal” family as they enjoy Disney’s most popular theme park attractions and meet famed Disney characters. In one hilarious scene after another, the Incredibles’ super powers keep popping up at inopportune times, resulting in a series of comical mishaps. But it’s no laughing matter when the maniacal Syndrome shows up to spoil the fun, and the Incredibles help save the day!
And stepping onto the ice to help the Parrs save the day, is Mr. Frozone, better known to his family and friends as Mark Stanford. The Long Beach resident is sure to cheered by a contingent of family and friends as he glides around the ice demonstrating his superhero form.
“I'm so excited that I'm coming home,” he said. The show is so much fun. I get goose bumps every time the music starts. It's a great family show that everyone can enjoy.”
Stanford, who began skating at age 12, caught the “bug” and has been skating ever since. A Northern and Eastern Regional Pairs and Dance Champion and Empire State Pairs and Singles Champion, Stanford skated with Disney On Ice from 1998-2000 and returned to performing with Disney in 2007 after pursuing a coaching career.
“When I first started skating I never though there would be so much opportunity for me,” he said. I thank God every day that I can do something I can enjoy so much and share it with others.”
Stanford is one of the 38 skaters who bring the Parrs journey to Disneyland to life. As the show unfolds, Disney characters fill the arena. Audiences swing with Baloo through the Jungle Cruise, fly like a space ranger through Space Mountain with Buzz Lightyear and accompany Show White and Cinderella during the Main Street USA parade.
“A Disneyland Adventure will remind audiences of all the fun and unimaginable possibilities that Disneyland offers while capturing the escapades of the Incredibles,” said Producer Kenneth Feld. “Children and adults alike will find this ice adventure both familiar and unexpected at the same time.”
Whether the Incredibles are meeting beloved Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie and Goofy, or experiencing popular attractions like Space Mountain and “it’s a small world,” every element of the show, from the dazzling skating to the amazing lighting and vibrant costumes, was designed to capture the fun, nostalgic atmosphere of Disneyland in the early 1960s. Tasked with ensuring the show’s authenticity, each member of the creative team approached the challenge with a unique perspective.
Director Patty Vincent used her own memories and experiences to provide a landscape for the show. “I went to Disneyland for research, and I wanted to show audiences its finer details – the lamp posts, the flower pots, the pretty bench – as well as how families experience the park and interact with one another,” she noted. “Being at the park turned me into a kid again, and I wanted to give everyone in our audience that same feeling.”
Creative Director Jerry Bilik sought to capture favorite memories from the Disney parks, but added new twists by incorporating the Incredibles. “This show is designed for people of all ages,” said Bilik. “Interwoven into the parade of attractions and characters are moments of subtle humor for adults, physical comedy and interaction for children, and groovy music that the entire family will enjoy.”
Set in the early ‘60s, Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland Adventure presented an exciting opportunity for Costume Designer Scott Lane. “I was born in 1961,” says Lane, “so I drew on my childhood memories to design clothing from that time. There is actually a performer wearing a shirt like the one I used to wear when I was kid.”
In order to define the different lands of mystery and enchantment in Disneyland, Emmy® Award-winning Lighting Designer Peter Morse used his skills to create the look and feel of each park attraction. “The lighting provides the scenery for this show and lends important elements of authenticity,” said Morse. “In certain scenes, we had the freedom to do something very fun with the lights. For the Runaway Mine Train scene, we created railroad tracks on the ice, and this helps convey to the audience that they are at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”
Choreographer Cindy Stuart uses a broad range of styles to add dimension and artistry to the show’s recreations of popular Disneyland attractions, allowing families to relive their favorite Disneyland memories without leaving their hometown.
Picking up where the award-winning Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles left off, Stuart’s choreography helps recreate Disneyland as the Parr family (super alter-egos, the Incredibles) attempt to take a “normal” vacation at the magical Disney theme park – with little success. As they visit various attractions in one hilarious scene after another, their superpowers keep getting in the way.
From the animatronic-like motions of the Jungle Cruise monkeys to the graceful waltz of the ghosts in The Haunted Mansion, Stuart highlights each attraction’s signature characteristics to help audiences “virtually” experience Disneyland.
“The Disney theme park aspect excited me because each attraction has really specific visuals that translate very easily into production numbers for the ice,” she explains. “I love that the show will evoke a sense of park nostalgia in the audience.”
The show begins with rip-roaring excitement when the Disneyland gates open. The Parr family—Bob, Helen, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack—are captivated by the Disney magic as the cast members and other park visitors dance to a hip Motown classic, setting the tone for an energetic and entertaining production.
As the super family takes a ride on the Jungle Cruise, Stuart brings animatronic monkeys to life and soon they are swinging on vines and boogying to a groovy drum beat. To recreate the unforgettable movement of animatronics, Stuart uses the repetition of three sharp movements.
“What’s cool about the animatronics in this show is that the characters really do come to life,” Stuart recalls.
When the Parrs enter The Haunted Mansion and encounter ghoulish ghosts, Stuart complements the spooky atmosphere with ethereal, fluid motions. The waltzing ghosts perform their memorable dance under a blacklight setting. Once the Parrs think they are out of harm’s way, Stuart creates a heart-thumping number where the mirrored images of Mr. and Mrs. Parr come to life and mimic the real Bob and Helen around the ice.
After a jungle jam session and a ghostly waltz, the family finds themselves in a reveling romp in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Stuart captures the mischievous antics of the pirates by transforming this carousing group of swashbuckling pillagers from animatronic-like attractions to a free-skating group. The pirates then move around the ice until they lock arm-in-arm and perform a synchronized line dance that highlights Stuart’s versatility.
When scheming Syndrome and his diabolical army make a surprise appearance to spoil everyone’s fun, the quick-thinking Incredibles save the day with their amazing superpowers. Stuart embraces these super-human characteristics as the Incredibles use their individual powers to battle Syndrome and his army. She uses bold and powerful skating techniques to exhibit Mr. Incredible’s strength, and for Dash, she incorporates quick spins and jumps into his routine to capture his blazing speed.
“Audiences should expect to see non-stop action,” Stuart explains. “They will have the chance to see all of their favorite characters from the Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles, their favorite Disney characters, and fantastic skating. I am thrilled to be a part of it because I know people will really love this show!”
box:
Disneyland Adventure
When: Jan. 6-11. Times vary.
Where: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
Tickets: $20-70. Available at Coliseum Box Office, (631) 888-9000 or www.ticketmaster.com
