Disney’s latest ice show a ‘Dream’ for young star

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Joe Jacobson and Kendra Moyle spent 12 weeks training for their show-stopping aerial maneuver in “Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream.”

Former competitive skater Joe Jacobsen epitomizes the theme of “Dare to Dream,” Disney on Ice’s newest extravaganza.

“The message of the show is to really go out and never give up on your dreams,” the 24-year-old said. “I’m kind of getting to live one of my dreams right now. I’ve wanted to be a professional figure skater since I was 7 years old, and it’s great to be able to do what I love for work.”

With Disney on Ice for just more than a year, Jacobsen’s first ice show was “Let’s Celebrate.”

“Dare to Dream” celebrates Disney’s 50th animated movie, “Tangled,” by combining the story of Rapunzel with two other Disney princess stories: “Princess and the Frog” and “Cinderella.” It runs Jan. 25-29 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont and moves to the United Center for a Feb. 1-12 run.

Jacobsen, a Southern California native, calls the show the “ultimate princess experience.” He portrays Flynn Ryder, Rapunzel’s unlikely love interest.

“He’s a fun guy,” Jacobsen said of Flynn. “He’s a bit of a scoundrel at first. . . . He’s a really goofy character. There’s a lot of physical comedy involved and he’s a bit of a ladies man and it’s a lot of fun to portray that on the ice.”

One of the show highlights is an aerial act featuring Jacobsen and his partner, Kendra Moyle who portrays Rapunzel. It takes place as the two are escaping Rapunzel’s tower — they use her long locks of hair to descend. The partners spent 12 weeks in Sarasota, Fla., preparing the act. The first six weeks were spent off-ice, building upper body strength. The second six weeks were devoted to on-ice rehearsals of the scene.

“We fly 25 feet above the ice and we do a lot of flips and turns,” Jacobsen said. “We also use Rapunzel’s ‘hair’ to help [us] escape the Captain [of the Guard] and Maximus, who’s a fun horse who really causes trouble for Flynn. It’s a really exciting part of the show.”

Jacobsen said other skating highlights include “the whole ‘Princess and the Frog’ segment that’s set in New Orleans — it’s amazing. . . . It’s really great music, great costumes, great everything. Cinderella and Prince Charming — they’re a great pair of skaters and they’re such a beautiful team to watch. I think one of the major highlights is the finale where we actually bring out all the princesses and crown Rapunzel the latest princess.”

In his spare time the adventurous Jacobsen surfs, skateboards and sails — someday he hopes to circle the world in a sailboat as well as act off the ice. Right now though, he’s enjoying living out his boyhood dream.

“I love the touring lifestyle; it’s a really good fit for me and it’s a lot of fun to see the kids’ reactions to the characters and the skating,” he said.

His advice to young audience members about following their dreams?

“Stick at it,” he said. “Try and remain positive at all times and with a lot of hard work you can definitely do it.”

KIDDING AROUND

† Chicago Children’s Theatre opens The Houdini Box Jan. 24 at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport. Based on a book by Caldecott Award-winning author Brian Selznick, the show runs through March 4 at the Mercury and then moves to the North Shore Center for Performing Arts for a March 14-25 run. Mercury Theater tickets are $26 for kids and $36 for adults. Call (773) 325-1700 or visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

† Chicago Kids Company offers Jack and the Beanstalk through March 6 at the Stahl Family Theater (inside St. Patrick’s High School), 5900 W. Belmont. Tickets are $12. Call (773) 205-9600 or visit chicagokidscompany.com.

† Emerald City Theatre opens Snow White as Performed by Professor TJ Barker’s Troupe of Theatricals at 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln. The show runs through May 20 and tickets start at $13 for kids and $16 for adults. Call (773) 935-6100 or visit emeraldcitytheatre.com.

† Theatre at the Center Theatre for Young Audiences presents the Theatreworks USA production of The Color of Justice at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Jan. 23-27 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Ind. The show is inspired by the people and events surrounding the civil rights case of Brown v. Board of Education; it is recommended for children 8 and older. Tickets are $7 for kids and $8.50 for adults. Call (219) 836-3258 or visit theatreatthecenter.com.

† Northwestern University’s Kids Fare series presents the Simply Sensational Symphonic Band at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. The concert introduces brass, percussion and woodwind instruments to children 3 to 8 years old and their families. Tickets are $6. Call (847) 491-5441 or visit pickstaiger.org.

† The Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, is offering several free general admission days, including Jan. 25-28. Other free days include every Monday and Tuesday in January and February and Feb. 19-23. Discounts to the Oceanarium and other exhibits will be available on these days as well. Call (312) 939-2438 or visit sheddaquarium.org.

Jennifer Burklow is a local free-lance writer.