Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes

I'm writing this post about Disney on Ice's "Princess Wishes" while appropriately watching holiday ice skating on television. My last (and first!) venture into ice shows was at High School Musical: The Ice Tour.

While HSM appears to be a recent new favorite for kids (and probably some adults who get "Getcha Head in the Game" in their heads), reminding everyone at the modern Disney magic that keeps people smiling and singing, this latest venture of "Princess Wishes" is a romp - or skate? - down memory lane for everyone...

Last week I was at the Staples Center to watch Disney on Ice's "Princess Wishes". Mickey and Minnie Mouse as narrators and Tinker Bell as magical tour guide, the audience of "Princess Wishes" is taken through the world of wishes and princesses. Don't let the title fool the Disney fans into thinking this is a strictly girl-only princess trip, the boys (and girls and parents) will enjoy the show on ice as Aladdin darts from harm's way, Sleeping Beauty's Prince Phillip fights off the dragon, and Ursula gets her karma's due. Not to mention - there's fireworks...yes - fireworks.

Disney on Ice: Princess Wishes is fun for the whole family, highlighting snippets of Disney favorites. You'll leave wanting to watch a Disney favorite when you get home...and hopefully believing that wishes can come true.

Disney on Ice's "Princess Wishes" is being presented at the Anaheim Honda Center, Long Beach Arena, and the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Check for locations and times. The show runs in the Southern California area until January 13th.

-Charity Tran, ExperienceLA Web Coordinator

LA Sports Arena: High School Musical: The Ice Tour

My Tuesday night at the LA Sports Arena featured bright lights, the loud roar of a crowd, and the intoxicating smell of popcorn lingering in the air. What team was playing? "The Wildcats!" "What time [was] it?" "Summerti -" I mean, High School Musical: The Ice Tour...

I suppose my friends Jay and Jessie (who will probably cringe at their names being displayed in this entry) and I looked a bit out of place at the LA Sports Arena last night. At ages twenty-four, we had a few years on the shorter members of the audience and at least the parents could say their kid dragged them along. But we had gotten some tickets and we figured it would be a fun outing.

I actually came with a mission: I wanted to see basketballs on the ice. The thought of basketballs that close to skate blades intrigued me.

You might be asking: How did she know there would be basketballs? How did she know these HSM lines she opened the entry with? How is she using 'HSM' with ease?

At this point, I should make a confession. I actually know most of the songs...and in addition to the basketballs, I wanted to see the pairs routine for "Breaking Free". What better medium to use the lines "I'm soaring...flying..." than the ice!

This blog has featured a fair share of the musicals I've seen (Avenue Q; Curtains), but High School Musical: The Ice Tour is in a lovely canon all of its own.

Acting as a highlights reel of both Disney television movies, the show uses the ice as a stage for the story. The world of High School Musical is brought to life with narration from 'musical playmaker' Kelsi. The story unfolds with the help of skaters who bear remarkable likeness to the movie actors, lights, flexible set design, and a large flat screen that acts as a transition or background for the show. The performers displayed skills as both actors and professional skaters and great choreography was put into the show to re-interpret the show's songs for ice.

As a highlights reel, it might be difficult to keep track of everything that happened in the films if you are unfamiliar with the storylines. While all the major songs were in the show, there were many parts glossed over to fill in the two hour time slot. (I, for one, was a bit disappointed not to hear Lucas Grabeel's "You Got It" as Ryan and Sharpay drove into the country club.) But the show will likely not disappoint any HSM fan. Even if you don't know the songs, you can find yourself 'gettin' your head in the game' and trying to sing along anyway.

The show definitely reaches out to the kid in you and is filled with the kind of story reminiscent of Disney magic. What I like the most about Disney stories is that everything always seems to work out in the end. And while you grow up and know that's not always the case, it's nice to remember that it could be true.

Maybe an opinion on this show is better from someone 2+4 rather than twenty-four, but even surrounded by two people my age, I can't say that I saw anyone in that audience not having a good time (or doing a little karaoke!).

Like the song goes, "we're all in this together..."

-Charity Tran, ExperienceLA.com Web Coordinator