EVERETT — Growing up, ice skater Taylor Firth’s favorite Disney/Pixar character was Jessie from “Toy Story.”
Now it’s Anna from “Frozen.”
Good thing, because Firth, 24, will be skating the role of Anna in the Disney On Ice production of “Frozen” for the 612th time when the show opens Nov. 18 for a five-day, 10-performance run at Xfinity Arena in Everett.
“The character Anna has a personality close to mine. She’s real, I mean where else do you see a princess with sleep in her eyes and crazy bed hair?” Firth said. “The most important thing is that I portray her energy and her joy.”
Firth has been to Everett twice before in other Disney On Ice productions, having joined the company when she was just 19. The current tour of “Frozen” began more than a year ago and it continues through June.
Firth began skating when she was 7 in her upstate New York hometown.
Eventually, she competed nationally and internationally with Team USA and was considered one of the country’s top 20 female figure skaters before switching gears from athletics to performance.
In 2009 she was chosen to star in the remake of the movie “Ice Castles.”
“Competitive figure skating involves a lot of stress, and I was ready for something new,” Firth said. “As a figure skater I always enjoyed the performance side. It’s a natural thing for me. My favorite part is acting.”
Disney On Ice is a good gig for a skater such as Firth.
“As long as my body will let me, I plan to keep skating for Disney,” she said. “The company really takes care of us.”
The Disney On Ice show brings the movie “Frozen” to life, Firth said.
“It includes all of the songs and all of the characters and follows the story line exactly,” she said. “You might think we would tire of it, but it is absolutely so fun and has a great message of love. And with a different audience each performance, we see the story through their eyes for the first time.”
The cast members are all high-caliber skaters and the production, with its dazzling special effects, takes advantage of the skills of each dancer, Firth said.
“We have numerous national competitors from all over the world,” she said. “Wait until you see the big jumps and back flips performed by Jono Partridge, who plays Kristoff. He’s 27 and from London. Jono has been great to partner with on the ice and he’s a close friend, too.”
“Frozen” is a wonderful show for children, but it’s a good date-night show as well, said Firth.
“We have fantastic comedy relief, and, really, a live performance of anything is great.”
A random conversation with a woman in Starbucks the other day revealed to the skater that kids as young as age 2 can enjoy this particular Disney On Ice production.
“The woman said that her grandson sang along to ‘Let It Go’ when they attended and that he was awake the whole time,” Firth said. “What a fun way to make memories.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
If you go
Hosted by Disney’s main mice, Mickey and Minnie, Disney On Ice and its production of “Frozen” at Xfinity Arena is set to include guest appearances by Disney princesses, characters from “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo” and “The Lion King.” Performances are 7 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19; 3:30 and 7 p.m. Nov. 20; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22. Ticket price levels range from $25 to $110 at rinkside and are available online at xfinityareaneverett.com or by phone at 866-332-8499 or at the box office, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett.
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