After the success of The 100 Years of Magic Show in China last year, Disney wants to test the waters a little more this year.
For the first time ever, Disney On Ice brings together three of its most popular animated hits-The Jungle Book, Tarzan and The Lion King, which will be staged from August 2nd to 7th at the Workers Gymnasium.
The director and leading actors from this year's show Jungle Adventures met with Chinese audience at a small-scale press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
Director Melodee Clysdale says she combined the three stories in one, using the story of Timon and Pumbaa.
They characters emerge at the beginning of the show from the Jungle looking for a perfect place for their home.
The home they are looking for is a home with no cares, no problems; a home without worries, a home with Hakuna Matata.
They search through a series of jungles looking for a home.
The story combines elements of the Jungle Book, Tarzan and the Lion King in this show.
Leading actor Stephane Morel, who plays Tarzan in the show, is a skater from the French National Team.
He is a former French Champion and began skating when he was 19.
Asked why he chose to act Tarzan Stephane Morel said:
"The reason we choose Tarzan and Jane because we were physical capable. We were trained to learn acrobatics. We are not afraid of heights and we want to learn something new. We have very intense training of 8 hours a day."
The same question was put to Gene Siruno, who plays Mowgli, a little boy and is raised up by a group of wolves.
Gene Siruno said he did not choose the role, but the character chooses him.
"I think it's a nice way to stay young and it is a nice way to stay happier."
At last, the director explained that the settings for the show in Beijing are almost the same with in Hangzhou and Shanghai last year except the sizes.
She promised that audiences will see an innovative combination of world-class figure skating and amazing athleticism.
(CRI July 28, 2005)
