TheTimesTribune.com, Corbin, KY

January 26, 2010

Finding Nemo at The Arena

�Finding Nemo� gliding across Arena this weekend


By Becky Manley / Staff Writer

Disney on Ice will present Disney/Pixar�s �Finding Nemo� over four days beginning Thursday.

The story about the lost clownfish will be told by about 28 performers including Pippa Teague, 25, of Ireland.

Teague, who has been ice skating since she was 11, said she plays five different characters, the most recognizable of which is likely Freckles, a bright pink student in Mr. Ray�s class.

Playing so many roles means that Teague will be on the ice most of the time during the two-hour performance.

Sometimes when she�s off the ice, Teague said she may only have a couple minutes to change costumes.

�It�s just kind of cool that I get to do a lot of numbers,� Teague said.

One of those numbers involves more than 20 performers portraying a school of moon fish that form a silvery arrow to help direct Nemo and Dory on their journey.

This is Teague�s second year with the show, which has toured in Europe, South America and, beginning last fall, in the U.S.

No matter where the show is performed, Teague said �whole families love it,� crediting its worldwide appeal to a good story.

�It�s actually the only Disney show that is a full story from beginning to end,� Teague said, adding that most Disney on Ice performances are variety shows.

Nemo�s story does translate well to an ice performance, Teague said. Nothing is left out of the performance and, in addition to the performers on the ice, Teague said a projection screen provides additional backdrop to the story.

Teague, who initially saw ice skating as a hobby rather than a profession, said there aren�t any moves during the performance that cause her any trouble.

�We�ve done it so many times. . .it just kind of comes naturally,� Teague said.