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Disney on IceDisney On Ice presents Disney / Pixar's Finding Nemo at O2 Arena3 July 2008Disney On Ice at The O2 The innovative new production of Disney On Ice presented Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo plunges audiences into the amazing underwater world of "lucky"-finned clownfish Nemo, his overprotective father Marlin and cheerfully optimistic Dory. This animated world "down under" comes to life in a brilliant rainbow of colour, set to an energetic musical score. Gliding smoothly across the ice, skaters costumed in many forms of ocean life perfectly emulate the natural flow of fish through water. A digital projection screen combines with aquatic lighting to create the depth and vastness of the ocean that envelops the audience. "In this show, we create a living sea on the ice in such a way that audiences will feel as if they are actually underwater", says Producer Kenneth Feld. "We combine digital projection, choreography and the most unbelievable costumes ever seen, and the result is a visual masterpiece that will truly transform the ice surface and take audiences through the ocean and into the aquarium." Within this frozen underwater world, Creative Director Jerry Bilik notes the portrayal of emotion and the recurrence of humour. "When I first saw the film, I found myself constantly laughing at the capturing of human foibles. It was a kind of physical humour, the way the fish moved, and on ice the movement of fish is better than humans could translate it in any other setting. So, we were able to really recreate these wonderful, comedic characters." “Overall, the audience is going to feel like they are a part of the story — a part of the fun, friendship and adventure,” says Director Patty Vincent. “From start to finish, we have developed a show whose every element will fuse to draw audiences into the beloved world that Disney and Pixar showcased in their blockbuster film. At the end, each audience member will really feel as if they have been dipped into the water.” The adventure begins when the arena transforms into an aquatic paradise — complete with brightly coloured coral reefs and fish of all sizes swimming among the coral. Lighting Designer Peter Morse establishes the feel of the ocean by washing the ice with ultraviolet light and patterns to reflect the dimensionality of the water. Production Designer John Arnone assembled the coral reefs and other set pieces to convey the openness of the ocean, which stands in contrast to the congestion of the aquarium where the Tank Gang lives. He says, “You’re given the same space — a very large ice rink— in which to seem either completely free or completely imprisoned. The big challenge is how to translate the freedom of the ocean versus the claustrophobia of the aquarium to the ice.” To help convey the extraordinary size of the ocean, Arnone created a life-size blue whale, 43 feet in length, which nearly takes up half the ice. When Marlin and Dory encounter the whale, the audience gets a sense of the vast warm waters, home to creatures both large and small. On the other hand, the props for the aquarium, which include a spinning filter and a bubbling treasure chest, are positioned in close proximity to one another. Giving the fish a smaller area in which to move, Arnone is able to extend to the audience the stir-crazy feel of the Tank Gang in the aquarium. Whether in the “big blue” or the tiny fish tank, Costume Designer Scott Lane has created vibrant costumes that he describes as a theatrical interpretation of the animated character. Fish bodies are created by draping fabric from a frame much like a flag. Lane tried to put as little structure into the costume as possible and used baby spandex and stretch velvet to give a sleek look. “Skaters move with great speed on the ice, and the natural movement and the blowing in the wind that takes place is very swimming-like, very underwater-like,” Lane says. “So, we really wanted to take advantage of that, and not stop it or try to compete with it. It ultimately gives us the feeling that we are underwater.” Set amidst the bright orange and blue of the main trio, the ensemble cast of sea creatures enhances the tropical feel of the ocean. The moonfish sparkle and glitter in day-glow blue, green and pink, while the jellyfish flood the ice with pastel pinks and lavenders. The audience will even venture to the abyss, as Lane created costumes that reflect the darkness of the deep sea. From seahorses, sharks and stingrays, to starfish and sea turtles, Lane represents the world underneath with alluring, eye-catching accuracy. From a precision skating school of moonfish to breakdancing sea turtles to balletic jellyfish and an aerial silk act, Choreographer Cindy Stuart leveraged the creative costumes to develop a broad range of movement for the show. Researching the different species of fish, Stuart worked to develop the right personality for each, while also adding in a unique choreographic flavour to entertain the audience. “The audience will travel underwater to a myriad of places within the story — but we also wanted to take them different places with the choreography. So, we developed a language for each scene, and explored a variety of styles with which to add texture. We also incorporated a lot of variety and energy into the music, as well.” A first in Disney On Ice history, Stuart has incorporated an aerial silk act. Dangling from a chiffon “rope” more than 20 feet in the air, the skater performs astonishing acrobatic moves, holding her entire weight by the strength of her arms and by wrapping the silk around different parts of her body. In a series of breathtaking twists and tumbles high above the ice, she adds grace and elegance to an already-stunning jellyfish ensemble. With the captivating combination of digital projection and lighting, set, costumes and choreography, audiences will be visually submersed under the water to become a part of the aquatic adventure in this dynamic debut. As father and son go on a comical escapade to reunite, the Academy Award®-winning film takes to the ice in a breathtaking three-dimensional display of colour, laughter and ocean-sized fun. Disney on Ice here (Ticketmaster)
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