“High School Musical” hitting the ice at Oklahoma State Fair
From The Oklahoman’s 2008 Oklahoma State Fair special section
Disney’s “High School School” dancing onto the ice
Before Disney’s “High School Musical” franchise moves from the small screen to the big screen, the pop culture phenomenon is pleasing crowds with live ice shows.
Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour dances into State Fair Arena with 10 performances Thursday-Sept. 16.
“It’s a huge celebration of all the … favorite moments of both ‘High School Musical’ and ‘High School Musical 2,’” said performance director Cory Obst.
The first act tells the story of the Disney Channel hit telefilm “High School Musical,” with athletic Troy and brainy Gabriella falling in love with musical theater and each other.
The second act covers “High School Musical 2,” the record-setting sequel that follows Troy, Gabriella and their pals on summer break. The Disney Channel premiere drew 17.2 million viewers, making the sequel the most-watched basic cable show on record and prompting the Mouse House to plan “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” as an Oct. 24 theatrical release.
While many live productions of the first “HSM” have been staged, Obst said the ice show is the first live version of “HSM 2.”
“It’s amazing the response we get to this show; it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” said Obst, who has been directing ice shows for 13 years.
Kenny Ortega, the Emmy Award-winning director of “HSM” and “HSM 2,” produced the show, along with Feld Entertainment, which is marking its 28th ice tour. Choreographer Charles “Chucky” Klapow, who worked with Ortega on the movies, and skating choreographer Cindy Stuart adapted the memorable choreography to the ice.
They also modified the many high-energy dance sequences so that people sitting all around the 360-degree arenas feel a part of the action.
“”We have a responsibility to perform to every fan in the arena,” he said. “Those dance moves that everyone knows and loves and the kids have learned exactly from the movies, they translated those onto the ice, keeping the same movement and the iconic look.”
The cast and crew members of the ice shows are used to adapting beloved and well-watched Disney material. But the “HSM” franchise ratchets up the pressure.
“People understand that with animation and the fancifulness of that, you’re not going to see the cartoon,” he said. “But this is so much more tangible and real life.”
The show includes performers from eight different countries, chosen for their skating and acting skills.
“People come and they love the music, they love the movement, and by the halfway through the first act, they’re already in love with the skating stars,” he said.
The stars not only do triple jumps, back flips and high-speed spins, they also swing dance and even play basketball on the ice.
He said the show draws in families with young children, along with more middle and high school students than many Disney ice shows. Even some young couples without children turn out.
“As soon as the characters are introduced in the opening, the decibel levels of the screams just tells you that those kids are excited to see it come to life,” Obst said. “It’s like a family rock concert because I look around and everybody’s responding that way. Like there’s mothers that are screaming.”
Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour
Where: State Fair Arena.
When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 (save $4 on upper level seats on opening night); 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13; 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sept. 14; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15; and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16.
Ticket prices: $14, $18, $22, $28 for rinkside seats and $35 for VIP seats. Service charges and handling fees may apply. Outside gate admission is included on tickets bought by Sept. 10.
Availability: Tickets can be purchased at all tickets.com outlets, State Fair Arena Box Office or by phone at (800) 511-1552.
Information: call 948-6827 or go to www.highschoolmusicaltheicetour.com.
-BAM
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