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World-class figure skating, character favorites, singalong tunes, and a load of exciting surprises return to the ice for the annual touring spectacular Disney On Ice. This year’s theme is “Dream Big,” and will feature a variety of Disney’s favorites that are sure to excite kids and adults alike.
The Southland tour already made its way through Los Angeles and Anaheim, and is currently performing at Toyota Arena in Ontario now through Dec. 27, before heading to the Long Beach Arena on Dec. 30 to Jan. 2.
Backstage SoCal chatted with ensemble skater Morgan Johnson, a four-year Disney On Ice veteran, who is thrilled to be back on the ice after a year of canceled tours due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
What roles do you perform in this year’s “Disney On Ice”?
You can see me in a variety of different roles. I perform as a fish under the sea, one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, a citizen of Arendelle. So lots of quick changes and lots of numbers.
What is it like going from changing up roles and costume changes every show?
I love it honestly; every day is kind of different too, with all of the changes. I love getting to portray different characters and getting into all of the happiness. It’s a lot of fun, lots of varying levels, and it’s a dream come true.
How long have you been performing with Disney On Ice?
This is my fourth year with the company. I’ve always been ensemble, but I’ve also been able to understudy principal roles as well. So honestly, you pretty much do everything if you’re ensemble. You can kind of make your rounds around different characters, which is a lot of fun.
Can you share a little bit about this show’s theme?
Yes, this year’s show is called Disney On Ice presents Dream Big, and we feature some of your favorite Disney movies. We have Moana, Prince and the Frog, Disney and Pixar’s Coco, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, some of the classics and some new movies as well. And we end the show with Frozen, which is always a fan favorite.
What would you say makes this tour unique from past Disney On Ice shows?
I really enjoy that you get a taste of the classics, but then also the new stories as well. And we have so many special effects. We have, spoil alert, a dragon that comes out and sets the ice on fire. We also have people swinging from ropes from a top deck down to the ice. So a lot of special effects and just a lot of fun.
What do you want people to talk about in the car after your show? ,
You know, I always like to say for the short time that they’re here, they’re immersed in the Disney magic and just can forget about their worries and just have so much fun. And I love that our show’s called Dream Big, because the whole premise is that if you have a dream and you work hard, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. So really the optimism and the positivity that our show tries to portray is really special.
What does it mean to you to be back in live shows again?
Oh, this means everything to us. This is our livelihood. I grew up going to see Disney On Ice every single year as a kid. And the time off was hard, so to be back, it makes me not take a show for granted. I’m just extra thankful to be here. And we know audiences are just as happy to be back. So it makes the show even more special. On those days when you’re tired, that’s like the final push that gets you through, knowing that you’re impacting someone’s day and knowing that I get to do what I love again. To see how quickly it was taken away from us, it really puts everything in perspective of how thankful I should be for this life. And how amazing life is getting to skate for Disney.
Disney On Ice Presents ‘Dream Big’
WHEN: Wednesday, December 22 – Monday, December 27
Toyota Arena – 4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764
WHEN: Thursday, December 30 – Sunday, January 2, 2022
Long Beach Arena – 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
TICKETS: Family friendly ticket pricing available – tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the venue Box Office.
