Disney on Ice comes to Chicago

• Reprints

Cinderella, Rapunzel and Tiana are featured in the new Disney on Ice show, Dare to Dream, now playing at Allstate Arena and United Center Feb. 1 to 12. | Courtesy of Disney on Ice

‘Dare to Dream’

♦ Jan. 25-Feb. 12

♦ Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Manheim Road, Rosemont

♦ United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago

♦ Tickets, $15-$75

♦ (800) 745-3000

disneyonice.com

Article Extras

Updated: February 28, 2012 11:38AM

To the delight of little girls everywhere, Disney’s newest princess is coming to town.

Rapunzel, the star of Disney’s 50th animated feature film “Tangled,” is featured in Disney on Ice’s newest production, “Dare to Dream.”

The lavish production is at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont to Jan. 29, and then moves to Chicago’s United Center Feb. 1-12.

In addition to Rapunzel, the new show features another recent Disney princess.

The action begins in the French quarter with Tiana from “Princess and the Frog,” before moving to the ball with Cinderella, and then watching Rapunzel let down her hair on the ice for the first time ever.

The breathtaking skating is set to a brilliant light show and all of the familiar Disney songs.

Kendra Moyle, a native of Chelsea, Mich., stars as Rapunzel. A longtime competitive skater, she was contacted last year by the casting director about the opportunity to join Disney on Ice.

“I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me and I haven’t looked back since,” she said.

Rehearsals started last June, but Moyle had to complete an extra six weeks of training for the aerial tricks in the show.

“We have an aerial silk act in the show,” she said. “It’s when Rapunzel and Flynn are escaping from the tower and they fly 30 feet above the ice on Rapunzel’s hair. So that took a lot of extra training, other than just the skating.”

Although aerial acrobatics were all new to her, the stunts quickly became her favorite part of the show.

“It adds a new aspect to the show. We were trained very well. I have a lot of new upper body strength, so I trust myself every time we go up there. It’s so much fun,” she said. “It is something you don’t typically get to see in any other ice show, and it adds a whole new aspect to it. And it’s really beautiful on the ice.”

Speaking of beautiful, her costume is stunning and elaborate, she said, and even the extra weight of the headpiece doesn’t slow her down.

“I don’t even think about it anymore,” she said.

The first half of the show consists of Princess Tiana’s story in “The Princess and the Frog,” with Cinderella’s story between the two.

In addition to playing Rapunzel, Moyle does ensemble work in the first half of the show. She’s a townsperson in “Princess and the Frog,” and she goes to the ball in “Cinderella.”

“It really makes it fun to do the entire show,” she said.

“Each princess has their own dream, and throughout the story they figure it out,” she said.

“All the stories are put together very well and they flow very nicely together. It’s definitely a magical experience.”

To the little girls in the audience, Rapunzel’s a rock star.

“Knowing I have little kids look up to me so much and really believe in my character, it’s something special,” she said.

“When you get to see some of the little girls after, I think they are enthralled by the entire show. It kind of takes them to Disney World for a day. It’s like a little vacation for the whole family.”

The storyline on ice follows that of the 2010 movie “Tangled,” she said.

Rapunzel is a princess who been held captive her entire 18 years in a tower by the evil Mother Gothel, who kidnapped the princess as a baby.

Flynn Rider is on the run from the law when he seeks refuge in her tower. Rapunzel seizes her opportunity to make a break for it to see the annual lanterns festival — which are in honor of her, the lost princess, although she doesn’t know that.

“Along the way, they fall in love, and she discovers her dream, and it really is almost identical on ice as it to the movie,” she said.

While her favorite part of the show is the aerial act, the finale runs a close second, she said.

“We have all the Disney princesses on the ice together and it’s just a big party. All the princesses and princes are in white and gold, and it’s really amazing on the ice.”

Although all children have their favorite princess — Cinderella is certainly the classic — she thinks that kids can relate to Rapunzel because she’s from the newest movie and it’s their era.

“She’s just a quirky, funny princess,” she said.

The show will go to the West Coast next year, and then Japan.

“There’s a lot to look forward to with this show,” she said.

Audiences can expect to see the “ultimate princess experience,” she said.

“They will be transferred into the different worlds for two hours. I think it’s a show for all ages. It’s not just for little girls. It’s for boys, and parents and grandparents. There’s something to see for everybody.”