By Zachary Greenberg
Next weekend, the magic of Disney On Ice returns to the Tri-State Area with its newest production, “Spotlight Magic!” The show runs at New Jersey’s Prudential Center in Newark from October 28th through November 1st, followed by a run at Long Island’s UBS Arena on November 11th through the 15th. There are varied showtimes and multiple performances each day. The show brings a Hollywood-inspired theme to the ice, and introduces exciting new characters, including some Zootopia favorites, along with iconic Disney villains such as the Evil Queen, Gaston, and Maleficent.
Disney On Ice offers families a fun and more affordable way to enjoy Disney magic without having to travel all the way to Florida or California, while still delivering the incredible showmanship you’d expect from the House of Mouse. Having attended several of the shows myself, I’m always blown away by the elaborate costumes, impressive set designs, and incredible skating performances. And of course, hearing all those Disney hits makes it even more fun!
I had the privilege of interviewing Gabrielle Kuta, an ensemble skater with Disney On Ice, to learn how she got involved with the show and became a professional skater.
TV and City: Alright, what first got you into skating, and how did you go from trying it out to becoming really good at it?
Gabrielle: I started skating after seeing a local production of “The Nutcracker On Ice” in my hometown, which inspired me to ask my parents if I could start taking skating lessons. I actually was never really a competitive figure skater, but I skated so that I could be a part of the shows at my local rink.
Oh wow, so you never went the competitive skater route. When did you realize performing on ice could be a career?
I was lucky to be exposed to professional skating through a company based in Maryland called The Next Ice Age, and I knew some skaters and coaches at my rink who were either current or former professional skaters. When I started thinking about what I wanted to do after high school, I realized performing might be an option for me if I kept working hard.
What made you audition for Disney? What was the audition like, and were you nervous?
I auditioned for Disney On Ice because I love performing and I was excited about the possibility of getting to travel. I actually was able to send in my audition online, so I filmed videos of my skills and other performances I had done.
What was the biggest adjustment when you went from skating for fun to performing professionally?
One pretty big adjustment is that the performance aspect is much more important than the technical side. The audience doesn’t want to see you looking down at the ice while you prepare for a big jump or counting your revolutions in a spin; they want to see the elements become part of the effortless-looking choreography that brings the characters we play to life. Sometimes this means I’ll replace a more technically difficult element with a stronger, more visually impressive trick so that I can stay in character.
I saw that you earned degrees in social science and political science while touring. Has anything you studied helped you in your career as a performer?
I actually think that my experience as a performer helped me with my studies. I was taking online classes while traveling in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, so it was really interesting to see the cultural dynamics and lifestyle differences in the places I was in and compare them to what I was learning about.
Which countries have you visited through Disney On Ice? Was the language barrier ever challenging?
I have performed in around 22 countries in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, plus visited a few extra that I was able to take side trips to while I was on tour. The language barrier was surprisingly easier to navigate than I would have thought, since so many people around the world also speak English, especially in big cities. The hardest part of performing in countries that primarily speak another language is that we have to perform the show in that language. This means that we have to memorize the songs and spoken dialogue tracks in other languages when we perform in other countries.
Of all the places you’ve performed, which one would you recommend our readers visit, and what should they do there?
One of my favorite places is Scandinavia. From the spas and saunas in Stockholm to the beautiful hikes though the snowy mountains in Norway, looking back on the months I spent there feels like a fairytale.
What makes Disney On Ice different from other live shows you’ve seen or performed in?
It’s unique in a lot of ways. From an audience standpoint, our shows are created to be incredibly interactive. We want you to sing along to your favorite Disney songs, get up and dance, share lots of pictures and videos, and basically feel like you get to be a part of the show too. From a performer standpoint, the show feels really special to all of us because we are part of a community that is passionate about what we do, and it really does feel like one big tour family.
What makes this new “Spotlight Magic!” tour different from other Disney On Ice shows?
So this is a new production that is bringing some of our favorite Disney characters together in a very exciting way. In this show, we highlight characters with their most-loved songs from Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Moana, Zootopia and more. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy guide us through different stories throughout the show, shining the spotlight on the characters.
For someone who has never been, what can they expect from the show at the Prudential Center?
This is a high-energy, interactive show for all ages. It is also a red-carpet event, so we invite everyone to come dressed for the occasion. There is an opportunity for guests to walk the red carpet before we open it up to the stars of the show.
Do you have to be a Disney fan to enjoy Disney On Ice, or is there something for everyone?
I don’t think you need to be a Disney fan to enjoy this show. If you are simply a figure skating fan, we have a cast of incredibly talented skaters who put on an amazing show every night. Even if you have never watched skating before, if you’ve enjoyed musicals or watching dance, you will enjoy this show too. We also have aerial acts throughout the show, as well as some very cool moving set pieces.
I’m curious – how many Disney parks around the world have you visited? Do you have a favorite?
I have actually only visited Disney World in Florida. I am not much of an amusement park person, and I get plenty of Disney time just doing my job.
Ha, fair enough. Beyond learning the choreography, how do you get into character and bring that character to life on the ice?
I would say that our best resources as performers are the original movies that our characters come from. That is the best way for us to understand the mannerisms and personalities that we are trying to emulate on the ice.
Is there a moment of the show you especially enjoy watching from backstage, even when you’re not in it?
One moment I love in this show specifically is when Stitch makes his entrance. I am usually backstage when this happens, and I know exactly when it happens because I can hear cheering and surprise from the audience.
Disney is such a big part of many people’s childhoods. Has performing in these shows changed the way you see the movies or characters?
I think that being a part of the show as an adult has highlighted the values and morals that these fairytales and even the newer stories are essentially teaching to children. I would like to think that a lot of our characters can be role models for kids, and I think this new tour has leaned into that idea even more by giving the characters a red carpet to walk, since they are basically celebrities to a lot of people.
If you could skate in a scene from any Disney movie, which one would you choose?
I love the scene in Enchanted with everyone singing and dancing in the park. I think that would be a really fun number to put on the ice.
What is your favorite Disney movie?
Tarzan!
Great underrated pick. Who is your favorite Disney character?
That’s a really hard question! I think I’d have to go with Tinker Bell.
What’s your favorite reaction you’ve seen from someone in the audience?
I love it when younger kids try to copy our choreography from their seats. It’s definitely what I would have done as a kid.
If you weren’t a professional skater, what career would you pursue and why?
Journalist, or maybe a private chef.
Ok, confession. I’ve tried ice skating a few times and usually end up worrying about falling. What advice would you give a beginner like me?
If you are worried about falling, my advice would be to start by learning how to fall safely! If you were to ask any professional figure skater how many times they’ve fallen, we would all tell you that it’s probably been hundreds of times. Falling is definitely part of the process, and the feeling of success of learning something new comes from overcoming mistakes.
Thanks for making time to speak! We look forward to seeing you and the rest of the cast on the ice!
Find tickets and more information HERE. And use promo code HW74MY!
