![Morgan Bell, 23, portrays Anna. ‘I wanted to see where [skating] would take me and it took me to Disney,’ she says. ‘Now, everyday I get to go out and dress up as one of my favorite Disney characters and on the ice next to me are some of my favorite princesses.’](http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2014/12/03/1140x_a10-7_cTC/Anna.jpg)
At ages 22 and 23, Alexe Gilles and Morgan Bell may seem a little old to be dressing up like princesses.
Several nights a week, the women get all dolled up, parading around in wigs, makeup, and costumes, but as cast members in Disney On Ice’s latest production, it’s all in a day’s work .
The women play Disney’s newest princesses, Elsa and Anna from the movie Frozen, in “Disney On Ice: Princesses & Heroes,” which opens a seven-show stand at the Huntington Center at 7 p.m. today. Tickets range from $17-$57.
In the production, Frozen jumps from the silver screen to the rink, following the saga of Anna as she journeys with Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf to save Arendelle against Elsa’s accidental eternal winter. Producers promise show-goers will be dazzled by special effects, skating, singing, and dancing to inspiring songs, including the monster hit “Let It Go.”
Ms. Gilles put on her first pair of ice skates around age 2. She was cast as Elsa in July, after taking a year off from competitive skating to study art and coach younger skaters.
“The urge to skate was still there, so when this opportunity came around, I jumped on it,” said Ms. Gilles who battled tendinitis while skating competitively. “Before I go out, I can see all the girls dressed as Elsa and I get excited. It’s quite something.”
Frozen achieved the highest-grossing debut weekend of any Disney animation and reached the Top 10 highest-grossing worldwide movies of all time, earning more than $1 billion in revenue, according to Box Office Mojo.
The animated movie, released in 2013, was directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and features the voices of Kristin Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), Josh Gad (Olaf), and more. In addition to winning an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Let It Go,” the soundtrack has sold more than 3.5 million physical and digital copies, making it the most downloaded soundtrack in digital history.
The traveling ice skating show is an abbreviated version of the Academy Award-winning tale and features the royal sisters, along with the hilarious snowman Olaf, Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, and the mystical trolls.
“Disney on Ice: Princesses and Heroes” opens at 7 p.m. today at the Huntington Center.
Additional shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $17 to $57 and are available at the Huntington Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 419-321-5007.
The almost two hour show is hosted by Disney’s most famous characters, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, with special guest appearances by other beloved Disney princesses and characters from such favorites as The Princess and the Frog, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo.
“There’s something for everybody. We have something boys are going to like and parents as well,” said, Ms. Bell who portrays Anna. “Sebastian and Flounder [from The Little Mermaid] will be there. The napkins and flatware [from Beauty and the Beast] come out and skate. It’s a lot of fun.”
Ms. Bell started skating when she was 6. She’s competed in three U.S. Figure Skating Championships and a number of other competitions.
“I wanted to see where [skating] would take me and it took me to Disney. Now, everyday I get to go out and dress up as one of my favorite Disney characters and on the ice next to me are some of my favorite princesses,” Ms. Bell said. “With Frozen having such an impact on everything right now, being a part of something that is so much bigger than yourself, it’s amazing.”
Contact RoNeisha Mullen at: rmullen@theblade.com or 419-724-6133.
First Published December 4, 2014, 5:00 a.m.
