Lifelong skater brings Disney to life in Hershey

Matt Baczewski | For The Lebanon Daily News

Woody, Elsa, Dory, Buzz, Cinderella - everyone has their favorite Disney characters. Now you can relive the magic of those favorite Disney and Pixar movies as “Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart” comes to the Giant Center.

The show will be running for six performances, from Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16. “Follow Your Heart” will feature classic Disney princesses and characters along with characters from recent movies “Inside Out” “Finding Dory” and “Frozen,” and present musical selections from Disney’s past and present.

Playing Woody in the show will be 21-year-old performer Kyle Shropshire, who has had plenty of experience on the ice.

“I grew up skating," he said. "I started when I was two."

His mother, Zane, fostered his interest, who was a chorus girl in the famous Ice Capades from 1978-81 and now coaches skaters.

“We always had her at the rink growing up,” said Shropshire.

His sister, too, is an ice skater who had the option to pursue Disney on Ice as well, he explained, but chose college instead, and coaches skaters as well.

“I just stuck with it. I competed when I was younger, all the way through high school. When I competed, I competed in singles, and I competed at a couple of national competitions,” he said.

At the same time, he was becoming more interested in the theatrical potential of skating.

“I was also part of a theater on ice group. That was when I had the most fun,” he said, citing the group as “not as competitive and strict.”

The skater sent an audition tape to Disney, who hired him for the job.

“I’ve been on the road now for almost three years,” said Shropshire.

In that time, he has traveled across the United States, into Canada, Puerto Rico, and even as far as South Africa. He characterized the trip as “a really cool experience.”

“It’s cool because they don’t have a Disneyworld, but they still enjoy the magic,” Shropshire said.

Perks of the touring life, the skater explained, include “going to a new place every week, tasting new foods and exploring the towns.”

He also described his love for his fellow performers and the 15-member crew.

“The people I get to travel with, everyone is so great, and we’re like one big family,” said Shropshire.

Another positive of the traveling show Is interacting with audiences from around the world.

“That’s been the best part - meeting people from across the country and from outside the country,” he said.

Crowds have continually responded excitedly to the performances and to their favorite characters.

“The audience reacts really well. Every character that comes out on the ice, people are really excited to see,” the skater said.

The crowd, in turn, prompts the performers to bring everything they have.

“They’re just so energetic, and it’s fun to react off of that,” said Shropshire.

“Follow Your Heart” is sure to extract this excitement from the crowd, as it brings new storylines to the rink.

“Our first act of the show is where Riley and her emotions try to find confidence in herself,” said Shropshire.

Riley and her emotions are joined on stage by a milieu of Disney princesses, who help to inspire her level of self-confidence with their stories as she navigates an ice hockey championship, as well as the pressures of growing up.

“The second act goes mostly through ‘Finding Dory’,” said Shropshire.

The action follows the plot of the popular movie as Dory searches for her parents, alongside good friends Nemo, Marlin and Hank.

The rest of the show is dedicated to two fan favorites, “Toy Story” and “Frozen.”

And for young fans who might want to be a part of the process one day, Shropshire had some advice.

“I would definitely tell them to stick with it. There’re really some great experiences out there with skating if you stick with it,” he said.

Tickets start at $15. For show times and more information, visit www.disneyonice.com.

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