Disney on Ice Quicken Loans Arena 2018

There is something slightly surreal about watching animated characters from Disney films come to life and to do so on skates. The "Disney on Ice" enterprise and the "Dare to Dream" rendition of it – featuring former Gates Mills resident Anna Madorsky – is on display at Quicken Loans Arena through Jan. 14.

This year's tour places the storyline and characters from the Polynesian-themed "Moana" in the spotlight, with "Beauty and the Beast," "Tangled," "Cinderella," and "Frozen," also featured in the program.

Madorsky stars as Elsa, the princess from "Frozen's" fictional Scandinavian kingdom of Arendelle.

Madorsky, who attended Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood, started skating at a Shaker Heights ice arena at age 3 while tagging along with her older sister. She moved on to the Cleveland Skating Club during her middle school years at Hawken School in Lyndhurst. After graduating from Hawken, Madorsky studied anthropology and Native American studies at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont. Halfway through college and far removed from the rigors of skating competitively, Madorsky realized that she needed to lace up again.

The Cleveland Jewish News caught up with Madorsky before an evening performance to discuss her life on the road and on the ice.

CJN: How did you transition from amateur skating to turning the sport into a profession?

Madorsky: After reconnecting with skating after college, I ended up competing in the U.S. Nationals in 2006. A coach knew someone who was involved in a professional ice skating show, "Stars on Ice," in Italy and asked if I was interested in joining them for two weeks. This was followed by 10 years of international show skating before joining "Disney on Ice."

The Princesses of "Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream"

Photo by Feld Entertainment

CJN: How did the opportunity at "Disney on Ice" occur?

Madorsky: I was working in Scotland and caught a performance of "Disney on Ice" in which a friend was skating. I was so inspired by the reaction of the kids and the high level of skating. I auditioned immediately after that. I went online, sent the casting director my real-time audition reel and was cast in the show. We opened this past September in Virginia. We were supposed to open earlier, in Florida, but the show was canceled and we were evacuated because of the hurricane.

CJN: There are several other "Disney on Ice" productions in progress and on tour: "Follow Your Heart," "Reach for the Stars," "Dream Big" and "The Wonderful World of Disney." Is one more prestigious to be in than another?

Madorsky: Not at all. And there's a great comradery among all of us. That's true among the members of our show, and many of us come from one of those other tours. We are a family and only have each other on the road.

CJN: So there are no "I, Tonya" moments between the various Disney princesses? No hard feelings between, say, Moana and Belle?

Madorsky: None.

CJN: How was it determined that you would play Elsa in the show?

Madorsky: My style of skating is strong and dynamic, and this transfers nicely to the strong and dynamic character I portray and how we express her story. What I do is about 60 percent storytelling, but the rest is athleticism. I can also be seen as one of the waltzing couples in Cinderella's ball.

CJN: Is there a professional food chain among the characters in the show, say between skaters who have to wear a head and those who do not?

Madorsky: Well, there is the Fabulous Five – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto – that play a very important place in the story and in the hearts of the people coming to the show. There is certainly a prestige to playing these characters.

CJN: Touring is rigorous. How do you stay healthy and happy on the road?

Madorsky: Everything is about self-care. Lots of yoga, stretching and good nutrition. It isn't hard to stay happy when performing as a Disney princess.

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Bob Abelman covers professional theater and cultural arts for the Cleveland Jewish News. Follow Bob at Facebook.com/BobAbelman3. 2017 Ohio Media Editors best columnist.

Disney on Ice Quicken Loans Arena 2018

Source: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/bob_abelman/disney-on-ice-lets-madorsky-dare-to-dream-as-elsa/article_bfa7a4be-f61e-11e7-ae6c-a36bbe84e036.html

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