Figure Skating's Best Take To The Ice In A Theatrical Adventure

If Olympic champion Scott Hamilton has his way, the hottest ticket in town this winter, isn't a play or a concert, but his new "theatrical adventure on ice." His 18th Stars On Ice show is coming to Nassau Coliseum next weekend, with a bevy of figure skating's superstars, in a new production that is totally different from other ice shows, according to those involved. If you think skating shows are all the same, think again!"This is not like the ice shows people remember when they were a child," Hamilton explained. "It's not an exhibition or a competition. This is a slick, sophisticated state-of-the art production, comparable to something you'd see on Broadway. Our stars have a story to tell, with a beginning, middle and end."Produced by Scott Hamilton and conceived and directed by ice dancing champion Christopher Dean (of Torvill & Dean), the two skating stars have created what they believe is the most ambitious production in the skating tour's history. In this year's show, they tell the story of "time," both literally and figuratively. The show begins at sunrise, with the skaters moving to lyrical, classical music. Original music has also been specially composed and orchestrated for the production's opening and closing, as well as throughout the show. "There are numbers with lively acrobatics, and a lot of humor. It's all about maturity and aging," Hamilton said.Changes in his own life inspired Hamilton to come up with and develop the theme for this year's production. The recently married skating icon is a new father. His wife, Tracie, gave birth to their son last September. "In addition to worrying about whether we've forgotten anything, and if the the skaters have everything they need, I find myself wondering if Aidan is hungry at various times throughout the day. Having a new baby gives you a whole new perspective on things," Hamilton said. Fellow skater and a guest star in the 2004 production, Kristi Yamaguchi can relate. The World and Olympic champion, gave birth to her first child, Keara Kiyomi Hedican, last October. She returned to the tour in a limited role in January. "The show means a lot to me," she said. It is so artistically rewarding to be in a production such as this. Even though I am spending less time on the ice, in order to be with my child, I've had 10 amazing years with Stars On Ice and want that association to continue."That new perspective, brought about by parenthood, is reflected in the current production. "When we sat down to start talking about what to do for this year's show, well before Aidan was born," Hamilton noted, "I'd been thinking alot about time and how things change during the course of its passing. It's really all about balance, precision, and memories; all concepts that are beautifully brought to life on ice."Assisting in creating that vision is the show's director and choregrapher, Christopher Dean. "Time is such a wonderful concept to illustrate," said Dean. "It naturally allows you to create a mood, a feel."The thought-provoking theme is executed by 11 of figure skating's most revered stars: 2002 Olympic Gold medalist Alexei Yagudin, 2002 Olympic Pair champions Jame Sale and David Pelletier, 2002 Olympic Pair champions Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze (who shared the Gold medal with Sale and Pelletier), World and National champion Todd Eldridge, World champion Yuka Sato, World Silver medalists and National Pair champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, World Bronze medalist and National Pair champions Kyoka Ina and John Zimmerman.Hamilton, Olympic Silver medalist Paul Wyle, and World champion Kurt Browning are special guest performers, along with Yamaguchi. For Yamaguchi and Wylie, the occasion marks their much-anticipated return to skating on tour. It's a wonderful show," declared Hamilton. "Not just for skating fans, but for patrons of the arts-young and old alike. It's theater, it's dance. It's really quite breathtaking, In fact, it's everything skating should be."

Stars On Ice