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Good skates Disney characters frolic at PPL Center

Husband and wife skating team Brendyn and Jessica Hatfield bring beloved Disney characters Aladdin and Jasmine to life during “Disney on Ice”’s production of “Let’s Celebrate,” March 9-16, PPL Center, Allentown, and March 17-20, Santander Arena, Reading.

The couple, married four years, joined “Disney on Ice” last year.

“It’s definitely a unique situation to be in,” says Jessica Hatfield, a lifelong ice skater who left her job as a nurse to skate professionally full-time. “Brendyn and I know each other really well and we already have that connection. It is more fun to be able to skate with him.

“Portraying Jasmine is my favorite part of the production. We get to play these idolized characters. The kids call out to them. It’s exciting.”

Husband Brendyn, whose parents signed him up for skating lessons as a child, agrees: “I love skating as Aladdin and Jasmine because Jessica and I get to skate together and Aladdin is a character that I really enjoy.”

Aladdin and Jasmine aren’t the only Disney favorites to appear in “Let’s Celebrate.” The production takes the audience on a trip to celebrate holidays all over the world, along with more than 50 favorite Disney characters, over-sized props, and lighting designed to wow the audience.

“There is something for everyone, old and young” says Jessica Hatfield. “There’s even a section just for Disney villains. And the ‘Toy Story’ segment ... the kids love that.”

“It sounds like a rock concert when the ‘Toy Story’ characters hit the ice,” says Brendyn.

In addition to the ‘Toy Story’ portion of the show, there’s “Winter Wonderland” with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, “Royal Valentine’s Day Ball” with Cinderella, Ariel, Belle and Tiana, a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch, a “Very Merry UnBirthday Party” with Alice and the Mad Hatter, Jack Skellington’s Halloween party with the Disney Villains, and more festivities from around the globe.

Says “Let’s Celebrate” Director Patty Vincent: “At the beginning of the show we invite everyone to ‘Be Our Guest,’ and we want the audience to feel like they are participating in the show, not that they are merely watching it.”

“The show takes on a contemporary perspective with new music, choreography, costumes and video technology that pumps incredible energy into every moment of the show,” says writer Jerry Bilik. “Mickey even causes a few mix-ups with his Digital Global Destinator, but in the end everything wraps up in one of the happiest celebrations ever.”

As Mickey and pals travel through each special time of year, Scenic Designer Robert Little sets the ice with iconic props that embody the essence of each celebration. An illuminated cherry blossom tree depicts the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, Sakura; a tree-like structure wrapped in gleaming white lights descends from the ceiling as snowfall blankets the scene of a Winter Wonderland, and an elegant canopy of shimmery fuchsia chiffon drapes the ice for a Valentine’s Day Royal Ball.

The atmosphere of each celebration is enhanced through a large video projection screen that displays vivid images created by Video Designer Ilja Nowodworski. As Mardi Gras dancers snap their fingers to the beat, the video screen travels down a confetti-lined Bourbon Street backdrop, and when Minnie finds her true love in a Valentine’s Day dream sequence, fluffy pink clouds float across the background.

Costume Designer Vanessa Leuck’s vivid assortment of costumes relies heavily on color to capture the look of each celebration, from silky kimonos made of lavender and pink florals for Japanese Sakura to citrus-colored feather headpieces for Brazil’s Carnival to iridescent whites and silvers adorned with snowflake appliqués and rhinestones for the Winter Wonderland scene.

Choreographer Cindy Stuart adds high-energy to each performance number. “The production numbers revolve around the celebrations which are not necessarily part of the Disney stories we have worked with in the past.”

In the Valentine’s Day segment, seven pairs of Disney Princesses and Princes skate to contemporary remixes of classic songs from each princess story and then come together for a large number to “That’s How You Know” from Walt Disney Pictures’ “Enchanted.”

Sorcerer Mickey brings 15 skaters in broom costumes to life, sweeping across the ice in a synchronized formation. Lighting Designer Alex Reardon applies UV lighting techniques to the sequence making it appear as though the skaters are actually brooms out on the ice. Ten brooms hang from the grid above the ice and six brooms dance across the video screen filling out the scene with more than 30 orchestrated brooms.

For Jessica and Brendyn Hatfield, the opportunity to be a part of such an iconic production is a once-in-a lifetime thrill.

“It’s been so exciting and eye-opening to tour the United States this way,” says Brendyn Hatfield. “We have seen so many places that we would never ordinarily get to see.”

“Disney on Ice,” 7 p.m. March 9, 10, 11; 11 a.m., 3, 7 p.m. March 12, noon, 4 p.m. March 13, PPL Center, Allentown. Tickets: 610-347-TIXX, PPL Center Box Office, Seventh and Hamilton streets, Allentown; 7 p.m. March 17, 18; 11 a.m., 3, 7 p.m. March 19, noon, 4 p.m. March 20, Santander Arena, Reading. Tickets: 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com, Santander Arena Box Office. 700 Penn St, Reading.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOBrendyn and Jessica Hatfield portray Aladdin and Jasmine in “Disney on Ice”'s production of “Let's Celebrate,” March 9-16, PPL Center, Allentown.