Skating passion animates ‘Toy Story’ stars

As one of the ensemble skaters in “Toy Story 3 On Ice,” Rachel Halvorson doesn’t get too many moments in the spotlight.

Not that the 19-year-old from Minnesota is complaining.

“I think it’s pretty awesome that I get to figure skate every day — something I love — and I also get to travel, which is something I love,” Halvorson said. Halvorson thinks Wichita audiences will enjoy seeing the ice-bound version of the hit “Toy Story” movies as much as she enjoys being part of it. The show runs Thursday through Sept. 11 at Intrust Bank Arena.

“I think we do a great job of performing how it goes in the movie on the ice,” she said. Halvorson took up skating at age 8, competing as a figure skater and also appearing in local ice shows.

“Hockey’s also really big where I come from,” she said. “My dad wanted me to do it but I stuck to figure skating.”

Halvorson sent the show’s production company an audition tape as a junior in high school. When the show came to Minnesota during her senior year, she auditioned in person and snagged a role.

“They want somebody who has a lot of energy and is good at performing to the audience,” she said. “It’s a little different than competing. You really have to have that showmanship quality.”

The first act of the show follows the first two Toy Story movies, while the second act introduces the third movie in the series.

“My favorite scene from the show is probably ‘Woody’s Round-Up,’” Halvorson said. “I just really like that number because there’s a lot of audience interaction. Everybody can get out of their seats and start dancing with us.”

She’s also one of 15 Barbies on ice during a number called “Barbie’s Workout.” Skating in costume and sharing the ice with up to 40 other cast members are two of the challenges that differentiate ice shows from figure-skating competition.

“Once you get used to skating in them, the costumes are really fun,” Halvorson said.

“All of our numbers are choreographed. Everybody has a certain spot we have to be in. We don’t normally have very many collisions.”

Halvorson said the show appeals to everybody from “little babies to grandparents” because of its theme: friendship. Long stretches on the road — the tours last for 10 months, with only a few quick breaks to go home — make the theme ring true for Halvorson.

“I consider everybody in the cast my second family,” she said. “Normally, people will just hang out at the hotel. Last year, a huge group of us went skydiving.”

Halvorson said she eventually plans to attend college, but isn’t in a hurry to give up skating, performing and traveling just yet. Last year the show toured the East Coast. This year’s production just returned from Mexico and will perform up and down the West Coast. It’s the first Disney On Ice production in Wichita in five years. By the way, if you’re looking to spot Halvorson in Toy Story On Ice, look closely during “Woody’s Round-Up.”

“I have like really red hair and a side pony tail, so it’s really easy to pick me out in that number,” she said.

If you go

TOY STORY 3 ON ICE

What: Disney ice show based on three hit “Toy Story” movies

When: 7 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. Sept. 9; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 10; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 11

Where: Intrust Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman St.

Tickets: $10 to $40, available at selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 or by visiting the arena box office. For more information, visit disneyonice.com.

This story was originally published September 1, 2011 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Skating passion animates ‘Toy Story’ stars."