Performer readies for show with characters from classics
Disney on Ice is returning to the CenturyLink Center, presenting “Rockin’ Ever After” for the first time in Shreveport. Performances will be held at various times May 1-4 at the CenturyLink Center. Presented by Feld Entertainment, the show is a two-hour Disney event.
Ensemble skater Antonia Mitchell, 22, said she is excited about the upcoming shows. “My favorite part of this show is the ‘Under the Sea’ number with Ariel, her sisters, Sebastian and all the fish,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got sea life of all kinds skating about – seahorses, starfish, beta fish. It’s a really exciting number. There are even black lights and costumes that glow in the dark.”
Adults and children alike will also marvel when the Little Mermaid performs acrobatic tricks 30 feet above the ice on a Spanish Web.
California native Mitchell will play in most of the group numbers, helping Mickey and Minnie Mouse search the globe for new princess talent. She’ll act in various roles such as that of a rock star and a villager. “Rockin’ Ever After” is Mitchell’s first tour with Disney on Ice, but like a rock star, she’s finding her groove and making the roles her own. “At the end of finale, we’re able to add our own little ditty to the number as we make our way off the ice,” Mitchell said. “I like to throw in a surprise split jump while we wave goodbye.”
Even though the skaters perform the same show over and over, they never get bored. “We often get to do different roles and fill in different spots, so it’s always exciting to get different challenges,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell, whose favorite Disney princesses are Belle and Pocahontas, has been skating since she was 6 years old and always knew she wanted to perform professionally one day. “I grew up skating and dancing, and the performance aspect of skating was always my favorite. Even as a young adult, I knew I’d somehow find a way to do that in the future,” Mitchell said.
One of the common misconceptions audiences tend to have about ice skating performances such as those by Disney on Ice is that it’s easy to keep unison and time in a group. Mitchell sets the record straight. “The majority of the cast in ‘Rockin’ Ever After’ grew up as singles figure skaters. Ice skating typically isn’t a team sport,” Mitchell said. “It takes a lot of effort, time and rehearsal to get formations correct, to get clean, straight lines and to master the timing and choreography.”
That effort and time invested is part of what makes Disney performances so special. “I think the most magical element of all is Disney’s attention to detail,” Mitchell said. “All of our props and costumes are high quality. The importance Disney places on keeping the magic alive really makes you feel like you’ve gone to Disneyworld or Disneyland, yet it’s right here in your hometown. At ‘Rockin’ Ever After,’ it’s like bringing the parks to you!” While there are many appearances from Merida, Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle and more, don’t let the princesses fool you; there’s still plenty to offer for boys in the audience as well. From roughhousing thugs in a “Tangled” segment, to clumsy Maximus trotting around the ice, to ensemble skaters singing with bad guys about their dreams, to hero Flynn Rider, to villain Gaston, to Merida’s young triplet brothers causing mischief, boys of all ages will relate to and appreciate the rowdy antics on ice.
But the event isn’t just for miniature princesses and princes. Parents will be impressed by the high-level skill and tricks performed on the ice, as well. “We have a really high caliber of skaters on our show,” said Mitchell. “Most of us in the cast were high-level competitors before coming to skate with Disney on Ice. The kids might go to the show in order to watch the characters and to see the beautiful costumes, but the parents will appreciate the skill level and talent involved. It will blow them away!” Go to www.ticketmaster.com or www.centurylinkcenter.com, for tickets.
–Betsy St. Amant
