Snow flurries have started to fly around Logan County this week, and in a just few short days, a special production is set to hit the Holland Theatre, where more Christmas magic will abound for young and old alike when the stage is transformed into an ice skating rink.
Christmas Celebration on Ice is presented at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, for the first time at the theater. The show features world class ice skaters and high-flying tricks while the talented performers share favorite Christmas carols, along with original holiday tunes.
While tickets are selling fast, limited tickets were still available as of Tuesday afternoon. Tickets for all shows are available at TheHolland.org/tickets or through the box office, (937) 592-9002.
“It’s a Christmas variety tour, with skating as the medium through which the story is told,” said Show Director Terry Barr, a Washington, D.C., native who has a background in both ice skating and musical theater.
“There are two circus acts and lots of live singing and audience participation. It’s a fun show with something for everyone. It has the Christmas classics that people know and love and some of our own songs that make the show unique.”
Barr and choreographer Katy Garrity wrote the brand new production for Ice Creative Entertainment earlier this year, which is being presented throughout the Midwest and Northeast U.S. during the holiday season.
While Ice Creative Entertainment presents their popular Fairytales on Ice show throughout the year, Barr said what a better combination for the new production than joining together Christmas tunes and ice skating.
“Everyone wants to see ice skating at Christmas, so that’s how this idea was born,” he said, noting that he has been ice skating for the past 31 years, starting at the young age of 3.
The ability to present the show on a theater stage, verses a larger hockey arena of traditional ice shows, is quite appealing to the show director as well.
“We’re looking forward to coming to the Holland Theatre and a more intimate show. That’s really attractive to me as a musical theater performer.”
Christmas Celebration on Ice begins with Act I in New York City, featuring traditional Christmas street performers and a nod to The Rockettes, Barr noted.
Then during Act II, the performers “sneak off to the North Pole, and get to see Santa himself” the show director said.
Following the Christmas Celebration on Ice tour, the Nashville-based Creative Ice Entertainment will continue their travels to present shows around the U.S. and worldwide, including to locales in Vancouver and Taiwan.