From pop culture Disney Channel sensation to high flying ice show, the producers of Disney's "High School Musical: The Ice Tour" have taken the leap, quite literally.
The unprecedented hit of the TV screen has made its way to a really cool ice show, filled with all the catchy songs that made "High School Musical" and its sequel, "High School Musical 2," so popular with kids as young as 5 and as old as 16.
Well, maybe even older.
"I'm 29 and I still love 'High School Musical.' I know every song and I just love the show," says Nicole Feld, part of the father-daughter team of Feld Productions.
Disney's "High School Musical: The Ice Tour" is being produced by Kenneth and Nicole Feld and Kenny Ortega, who have transformed the blockbuster TV movie into an ice show, featuring some of the top skaters in the U.S.
They will be skating into the Giant Center at Hershey from Friday through Sunday.
"It really isn't a leap of faith," assured Nicole Feld from her office in California. "High School Musical is just a natural for the ice with its great songs and dance numbers. It just made sense to bring it into a third dimension."
To do that, film choreographer Charles Klapow joined forces with skating choreographer Cindy Stuart, and they figured out how to translate those lively dance moves into skating moves. Because skating is even faster than dancing, the ice show has an even greater energy, says Feld. And that's a lot of energy!
Of course, the odds of finding Olympic-caliber skaters who happen to have amazing singing voices is quite remote. So, the skating stars of Disney's "High School Musical: The Ice Show" skate to the music and act out the parts, but the singing is done by the original musical stars in the roles of Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad and Taylor.
Besides, adds Feld, it is almost impossible to skate and sing at the same time, because the skating requires so much stamina.
Since the ice show blends the storylines of both the original made-for-TV Disney movie and its follow-up that premiered in August, young audiences get to hear all their favorite tunes, including "We're All in This Together," "Get'cha Head in the Game," "Start of Something New" and 'Stick to the Status Quo."
These are songs that just about every pre-teen to young teen knows, and not only the girls.
"Sure, musicals are more popular with girls, but 'High School Musical' appeals to the boys too, because the lead character is also an athlete," says Feld.
The skaters are certainly athletes, too. It's a very physical show, with skating moves choreographed by Stuart, who has worked with gold medalists Christopher Dean, Robin Cousins, Jamie Sale and Davie Pelletier.
For Feld, the prospect of turning the TV movie into an ice show was daunting, but highly rewarding. Feld grew up in the family that made its mark with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney On Ice. As a child, she hung out with clowns, trapeze artists, animal trainers, ice skaters and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. She joined the family business as assistant producer with her father, then as a producer in 2004.
Feld was excited to produce the ice show that was based on the original Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel movie. The ice show premiered at Madison Square Garden in September and is set to tour more than 100 cities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
The creative team behind the ice show features many of the key talents associated with the original "High School Musical" films and concert tour, including producer Kenny Ortega, the Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer; director Jeff Calhoun, the Tony Award-nominated director of "Brooklyn the Musical," "Grease" and "Annie Get Your Gun"; writer Peter Barsocchini; production designer Jeremy Railton; lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe, who has worked with the Rolling Stones and Elton John; costume designer Erin "Topaz" Lareau, along with choreographers Klapow and Stuart.
Given the phenomenal success of "High School Musical," the ice show puts a whole new spin on the pop culture craze.
"You just can't believe the energy and excitement," says Feld. "I've seen the show so many times and every time, the audience just goes wild for the singing and dancing."
ON THE NET: www.giantcenter.net
