At the core of Disney On Ice: Dream Big are the stories of eight Disney princesses and their handsome princes.If you go
› What: Disney On Ice: Dream Big.› When: 7 p.m. today and Friday, Oct. 27-28; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30.› Where: UTC McKenzie Arena, 720 E. Fourth St.› Admission: $15, $40 and $55.› Phone: 423-266-6627.› Website: www.disneyonice.com.
As would be expected from a guy who plays a prince, Bonard Muck is quite charming in conversation.
The native Canadian is in town for the next four days for Disney On Ice: Dream Big, a journey through the Disney canon of happily-ever-after stories.
Muck plays Flynn Rider from the 2010 animated film “Tangled,” love interest of Rapunzel, played by his real-life wife Tatjana Zaharjeva.
Yes, they met in a show, Let’s Celebrate, seven years ago. She was Cinderella. He was “The Little Mermaid’s” Prince Eric.
Their save-the-date cards to announce the wedding included a picture of the two characters and the message: “On this day we will create our own fairy tale.”
“We’re a little bit cheesy,” he says, chuckling.
But who’s to argue with fairy-tale conventions.
When they take to the ice together, they skate to the theme song from “Tangled,” “I See the Light,” which they played at their wedding.
“And now [with Dream Big] we get to skate together as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider,” he says. “I think I was typecast.”
The stories of eight princes and princesses are told in Dream Big. Audiences will encounter Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White in this production about courage and empowerment.
“You get highlights from every princess movie,” Muck says.
And it’s not just graceful figure-eights elegantly presented. Muck says some of the skits showcase the different skaters’ athletic abilities, with teeterboard flips, hand-skating and swordplay.
“It’s a good collaboration of sport and showmanship,” he says.
Elaborate sets re-create familiar scenes from the movies, and special effects add drama. Prince Phillip must battle the fire-breathing dragon Maleficent to save Sleeping Beauty. Aladdin’s genie lamp spews sparkles. Bubbles float through Ariel’s underwater world.
And don’t be surprised to see snow. This is an ice show, after all, and Disney is the studio behind the 2013 juggernaut “Frozen.”
“That’s my aha moment of the show,” Muck says. “You’re in the middle of Arendelle, and Elsa makes everything freeze and then it’s snowing. The look of awe [on the audience’s faces] is really cool.”
And the “Frozen” theme song, “Let It Go,” can bring down the house.
“Every child is singing,” Muck says, “so loud it gives me goosebumps.”
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.