Their stories are woven together in a tale of triumph against evil using the strength of heart, humor and hope. You and your children will be mesmerized as the beautiful princesses glide across the ice.Alison Bennett, who plays one of these lovely princesses (but due to Disney's rules can't tell us which) is thrilled to be a part of the excitement. "It was a dream to use my skating in my life, as my career...and this is such a great job. It's so much fun. It definitely doesn't feel like work," she says. Alison began skating when she was six and now gets a kick out of the reactions of all the children that come to see her. "They really believe I'm a princess," she says with a smile. It's no wonder they believe, not only are the costumes exquisite, the ice rink is transformed into a jewelled, three-story, revolving castle. "The set is larger than virtually every stage on Broadway and any set I've ever created," says Scenic Designer Eduardo Sicangco. Decorated with colorful paints and twinkling adornments, the castle transforms to reveal an Arabian palace, an under sea kingdom, a luxurious ballroom and more.The costumes are a beautiful mix of sparkling beads, sequins, sheer flowing fabrics and creative cloth choices. Designer Gregg Barnes said he had an image of Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust above the castle in the opening of The Wonderful World of Disney, while he was creating the costumes. The gowns are bright and colorful. You really do feel like they were created by a wand. As the skaters move, the sparkling layers are revealed. "It's like the skaters have been lit by twinkling lights from the inside," reveals Barnes.While the set and costumes are gorgeous, it's the forty award-winning figure skaters that bring this fantasy to life. They perform fast-paced, highly detailed maneuvers in exact precision. Skaters will add samba flair with Latin numbers, daring pair performances will leave you breathless and elegant ice dancers will bring an element of romance to favorites like Whole New World. But it's the synchronized skating that will make your jaw drop, involving maneuvers executed by a team of twenty skaters at the same time! The skaters work as one, creating lines, formations and constantly moving patterns on the ice. Watch for a daring precision number, performed by more than half the cast, as part of a magnificent ball sequence for Cinderella."There's a little bit of everything," says Catarina Lindgren, a former Olympian who choreographed the show, along with her husband Tom Dickson. "The Under the Sea Latin number is fiery; Aladdin feels a little more vaudeville, with an exotic flair. "Audiences will love the combination of the art of skating and the wonderful Disney stories," adds Dickson.Whether you're crazy for Disney or a fan of figure skating, this show will make you stand up and cheer.
Disney on Ice
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale
November 19 - 24
Tickets are on sale now.
For more info call 794-9300
