“The All New Wizard of Oz on Ice” came to the Luhrs Performing Arts Center at the perfect time this past Thursday. 

The performance filled a void that the Olympics left in people’s hearts for more figure skating and ice dancing. Although the Luhrs Center did not magically transform into an ice rink, magic was still in the air. 

Ice Creative Entertainment hosted an engaging and whimsical experience for all ages. The show featured an original, prerecorded soundtrack as professional ice dancers glided across the stage on a beige sheet of synthetic ice. 

Pennsylvania native Julia Beichler provided a memorable display of ice skating talent as Dorothy. Other elegant, graceful dancers included Violet Presley-Wolff as both the Tin Man and the Good Witch of the North, Sebastian Arcieri as the Scarecrow, Felipe Brent as the Cowardly Lion, and Reuben Deglin as the Emerald City guard and a flying monkey. 

The main cast showcased skills in skating and dancing as they twirled around the stage and hoisted each other up for stunning lifts and ariels. The soundtrack elevated the performance with upbeat lyrics and rhythms to fuel the dancer’s movements. 

The catchy, new music and captivating movements from the figure skaters closely told the story of L. Frank Baum’s book. However, modern details and references were included to heighten the audience’s experience. 

For example, the guard at the entrance to the Emerald City notices Dorothy’s sparkly shoes and jokes about “selling them on eBay.”

Toward the end of the show, Glinda emerges for the first time and references the original book itself. She said that just like the book, she never showed up until later.  

The show also featured a green screen to set the backdrop of both Kansas and Oz rather than having to move around multiple set pieces. Each of the scenes in the backdrop add to the story’s narrative in their bright colors or optical illusion-style movements. 

More bright colors appear once Dorothy is transported to Oz in the ensemble’s costumes. The munchkins sport neon outfits, or at least they appear neon in the lighting, to create a contrast from the first scene that was set in a dull Kansas. 

Rather than being decked out in all black, the Wicked Witch of the West appears in deep purple and green dresses. The sparkly and shiny sequins also show up once Dorothy visits Oz. Even the blades on the figure skates reflect in the lighting, which adds to the shininess.

Light was an important part of the theatrical experience as several skaters floated across the stage with capes adorned with gold or rainbow lights at different times. 

Even the audience had a chance to participate with lighting. The recorded messages prompted the audience to hold up their own lights, whether it was the purple and blue spinning lights purchased before the show or a phone’s flashlight. It was part of the plot to demonstrate fireflies the characters saw in Oz. 

Overall, the familiar story still captured hearts of the audience in its newest form, continuing to convey themes of friendship and finding home through song and dance. 

“The All New Wizard of Oz on Ice” visit to Luhrs was just one stop in part of a larger tour that started at the end of January and will continue until the beginning of May. 

Share