Disney on Ice at Smart Araneta Coliseum

MANILA, Philippines - Every year, hordes of Filipino families make the beeline to the Smart Araneta Coliseum to watch the latest Disney on Ice show. This year, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3, 2013, expect the lines to get even longer because Disney on Ice presents “Princesses and Heroes,” a beautiful show that recreates defining moments when eight Disney princesses’ wishes are fulfilled with the help of their devoted princes. Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Tiana enter a world where heroes and hearts prevail.  

In a conversation with production designer, Robert Little, he revealed that Filipino audiences should expect the unexpected: “My hope is that as they experience each of the characters’ wishes, they will be surprised and delighted with the enchanting variety of stories and the seeing all their favorite characters,” Little says. “The show’s fast and exciting pace will also impress them as we move from story to story.” 

Little revealed that the character Tinker Bell was crucial because most of the set pieces were influenced by the magic of Disney’s favorite fairy. “On a trail of pixie dust, the set pieces must literally come to life and have certain elements to fit each princess story. In the ‘Aladdin’ scene for instance, Tinker Bell causes the bazaar and the marketplace to magically appear on the ice.”

Little said that his hands-down favorite set piece was the waterfall. “We had this early idea about wishes and the types of places where you would be compelled to make wishes. We hit upon the waterfall. The enchanting idea worked especially well for Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. However, it was quite challenging because we had to find a way to make the waterfall a cascading, multi-level piece, while containing the water off the ice to prevent melting.” 

Other pieces that Little is very proud of are Cinderella’s carriage and the dragon, “Cinderella’s carriage is very much like a beautiful Tiffany or Fabergé egg. At the end of the show, the carriage rises up and becomes a magnificent gold shimmering ball.” Little said that in “Sleeping Beauty,” he wanted to recreate all the excitement, romance and drama in the scene where Prince Phillip battles a dragon to get to Princess Aurora, “We made the fire-breathing dragon six meters long and there is a thrilling surprise in store for the audience at the end.”

We all need a hero: Aladdin fights the dragon.

 Little said that designing the set for Disney on Ice was thrilling as well as challenging simply because there were many classic stories to tell. He had to find a way to combine these stories through scenery that would be flexible yet magically effective. Little said that designing this set is actually the realization of childhood dream. “My one wish growing up was to be in entertainment, making models of magical places that I’d never been to. Disney on Ice has made that dream come true because I became a creator of these magical places,” Little said. Indeed, even among the people behind the scenes, dreams do come true in Disney.

 “Disney on Ice presents Princesses and Heroes” show dates are from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3, 2013. Tickets are available via TicketNet Online www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.