Cool memories

In its 75th anniversary salute, Disney's beloved characters skate with style.

By MARY EVERTZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

[Photo: Walt Disney Mickey, Minnie and Goofy are among the Disney characters featured.

TAMPA -- Mickey, Minnie, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Donald Duck and many more of the endearing characters that have come to life thanks to the magic of Disney are taking to the ice in a 75th anniversary salute.

"Disney on Ice Celebrates 75 Years of Disney Magic" comes to the Ice Palace for six performances May 11-14.

Hosting the star-studded show of Disney characters will be Mickey Mouse, assisted by Jiminy Cricket. Among the elaborate costumes created for this show will be Minnie Mouse's Bob Mackie-designed evening gown of red sequins complete with her signature bow. The Mouseketeers, Small World Dolls and characters from Mulan will be among those gliding on the ice in designs by Scott Lane, who is outfitting the rest of the 60-member cast.

Sarah Kawahara has created the show's elaborate choreography. Kawahara, who was skating superstar Scott Hamilton's artistic coordinator for 10 years, was the first person to win an Emmy for choreography for an ice show television special, Scott Hamilton Upside Down.

In 1996, Kawahara was asked to do the choreography for the principal skaters -- Victor Petrenko, Barbara Underhill, Paul Martini and Oksana Baiul in Kenneth Feld's TV production of The Wizard of Oz on Ice. Then Feld asked her to do Walt Disney's the World on Ice, Spirit of Pocahontas and Hercules. Complementing Kawahara's skate sequences are the many memorable Disney tunes coordinated by music directors Al Kemp and Stan Beard, including an audience sing-along.

Production numbers for the show, which originated in Lakeland in September, include Toy Story, Small World, The Mickey Mouse Club, Mulan, Aladdin, A Bug's Life and The Lion King.

At a glance

Disney on Ice's "75 Years of Disney Magic" will be at Tampa's Ice Palace Thursday through May 14 for six performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and May 13; 11:30 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. May 13; and 1 p.m. May 14. Tickets: $11.75 to $25.