Sophia Cucci fell in love with ice skating when she was 3 years old.
There was no better feeling than lacing up her skates and gliding around the rinks in her native Michigan. Her passion for the sport continued through high school and college.
“I wasn’t done skating,” said Cucci. “There is just something about being out on the ice. It has always been so much a part of my life.”
It still is.
Cucci auditioned for her dream job – a skater for Disney on Ice – prior to the pandemic. She will be one of the ensemble performers, as well as Dory’s mom from “Finding Dory,” in “Let’s Celebrate” Thursday through Sunday at PPG Paints Arena.
Feld Entertainment is the producer of the show under agreement with The Walt Disney Co. It features more than 50 characters showcasing 14 classic and modern stories. The characters include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, stars from “Toy Story 4,” “Frozen,” “The Lion King,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Tangled,” “Cinderella,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Snow White,” “Mulan,” “Pinocchio” and the aforementioned “Finding Dory.”
“We are so happy to be back doing live shows again,” said Cucci. “We love doing in-person shows because we feed off the audience. They love it too because they get to see all the characters in their colorful costumes. There is nothing like a live Disney show.”
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The events were canceled the past two years because of the pandemic. This will be Cucci’s first visit to Pittsburgh.
“Let’s Celebrate” is one of five themed touring shows in the U.S. There is also an international show.
Disney on Ice is the largest employer of professional figure skaters in the world, representing 48 countries over the past 40 years.
Skaters commit a lot of time to their craft. When rehearsing for a new tour, they can devote more than 500 hours on the ice. As they perform, they can reach speeds of 20 mph. Some costumes weigh up to 50 pounds. And they have to be able to change outfits in under 30 seconds, according to Disney on Ice.
They live on the road about eight months out of the year, which means traveling an average of 13,860 miles going from city to city.
More than 320 million guests throughout 68 countries have seen the show since it opened in 1981.
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In this show, Donald Duck and Goofy decide they want to make a movie – but they need help. Their friends help them by taking them on a journey of previous Disney favorites.
“It’s a fun job,” Cucci said. “We will bring Disney to you. I think the adults like it as much as the kids because there is a nostalgia to Disney. It’s magical. They have great memories of Disney.”
Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased here.
