Hit the ice with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, and Goofy as they embark on a treasure hunt for some of the most popular Disney films ever. Audiences will experience a medley of their favorite animated Disney movies throughout the years including the very first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the 50th Disney film, Tangled. With nine movies and more than 50 Disney characters featured, Feld Entertainment’s Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove has a story for every generation.
“We’ve chosen some of the greatest gems from the Disney treasure chest for this production,” says Producer Nicole Feld. “We went through our entire portfolio of Disney On Ice shows, trying to bring something very different to audiences. We wanted to pick action-packed stories that really resonated with not only kids today, but with their parents as well. Treasure Trove has everything from the swashbuckling pirates in Peter Pan to the comedic duo Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King.”
The Toys are Back in Town! Special appearances by Toy Story favorites, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear. Woody and Jessie get the audience up out of their seats, when they teach everyone the “Yee Haw Dance” at the start of the show.
“Crowd interaction is a key component to the Disney On Ice experience. We want the audience to feel as if they’re a part of the show, and that’s evident in this production,” says Producer Juliette Feld. “Rapunzel and Flynn share a special moment with an audience member when they release a lantern together, Sebastian invites everyone to be a part of the rhythm during ‘Under the Sea,’ Peter Pan and Tinker Bell encourage the crowd to echo the crocodile’s ‘tick tock,’ and Aladdin stops to shake hands with guests in Agrabah.”
Audiences will be amazed to see how many of their favorite Disney films and characters are featured. The show includes moments from classic Disney films like Peter Pan, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid, as well as new favorites Tangled and Princess and the Frog.
Bringing such a wide variety of Disney animated features to life presented an interesting challenge for the show’s creative team. “I love the contrast between the very first animated Disney treasure, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the most recent, Tangled,” says director Patty Vincent. “I went back to the archives to re-watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, so that I could appreciate the fact that we’re going from the 1930s to today in one production. It’s amazing to see where we came from and where we are now, not only with the animation but also with the storytelling.”
The first story in the production takes audiences to Wonderland where Alice, the Mad Hatter, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and the White Rabbit are “Painting the Roses Red” for the Queen of Hearts. The Queen beckons forth her army of cards in an amazing illusion constructed by Choreographer Cindy Stuart. “We have a complete set of cards that are two-faced, which made choreographing this number really unique. I tried to trick the eye of the audience by having the cards skate in all directions. The crowd will have to figure out whether the performers are skating forwards or backwards,” says Stuart.
Audiences will then escape to Never Land with Peter Pan and hang out in the Lost Boys’ hideout, complete with a slide. To keep up with the fast pace of transitioning through so many of Disney’s treasured tales, Production Designer James Youmans had to create a versatile set, that could be quickly modified. “The set consists of several pieces that detach from one another, allowing us to rearrange it and even move pieces, such as the hideout, to the center of the ice,” says Youmans. “By being able to rotate the set, we can convert Captain Hook’s pirate ship into an enchanted castle. Having a set that transforms into different scenes is vital when there are multiple stories in one production.”
The costume designs for the show had to be unique to each story and accurately depict the characters seen in the animated films, but also allow for movement on the ice. “The production focuses on commemorating the legacy of Disney animation, so it’s important that the costumes are true representations of the animated characters,” says Costume Designer Dawna Oak, who also serves as Feld Entertainment’s director of costuming.
“For example, my vision for the Lost Boys’ costumes was to make them as pajama-like as possible. I wanted their costumes to look like the simple, sweet rompers in Peter Pan,” says Oak. “So they zip up and are made of ‘Muppet fleece’ with drop seats in them, just like the old-fashioned pajamas worn in the film.”
As the show progresses the lighting takes center stage, transporting the audience directly into the heart of each tale. Lighting Designer Jesse Blevins uses a variety of techniques to set the mood, adding emotion and depth to every scene of the show. For the beginning of The Lion King, Blevins lights the ice with warm hues of yellow, orange, and gold creating a peaceful early morning. As the story continues and Simba finds himself in trouble, Blevins’ dramatic lighting and dark shadows, along with the sound of hooves, make audiences feel as if they’re with Simba in the direct path of the wildebeests. “Lighting is so important in storytelling. It really adds a theatrical element and takes the audience from one story to the next, in the blink of an eye,” says Blevins.
The production concludes with a captivating parade of all nine Disney Princesses, bringing the production to a final culmination of excitement and adventure. With an extraordinary lineup of hit songs, memorable scenes and timeless characters, Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove will have audiences reliving the magic of Disney’s most cherished animated films all over again.