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King plays Kristoff — a fan favorite along with his trusted reindeer companion Sven — in the upcoming Disney on Ice Frozen tour that will be in Dayton Oct. 11-14 for seven shows at the Wright State University Nutter Center.
“I am loving every moment of my life,” King said. “I am living the dream.”
It’s a dream King has had almost since he laced up his first pair of skates as a child in Watford, Ontario.
“I’m from Canada, so my parents put me in hockey when I was young,” he said.
It wasn’t long before he added figure skating to his daily practice schedule and he was hooked. He skated competitively until he was 23, competing in the Canadian Nationals nine times. His first professional skating opportunity was performing on cruise ships, something he did for eight years. Now, at 36, he is in his second season skating with Anna, Elsa and Olaf.
When King says he is over the moon, he means it and he goes head-over-heels to prove it with a backflip or two on the ice.
“For me, the backflip is one of the easiest things I do, but it gets the biggest crowd reaction,” he said.
It’s the crowd reaction that makes being a Disney on Ice performer so rewarding.
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“Every night, I get nervous — excited nervous — but it goes away the moment I get on the ice,” King said. “The energy from the audience is amazing and I give it all back to them.”
From “Let it Go” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” to “Fixer Upper,” about King’s alter ego Kristoff, Frozen brings the magic of the movie to life on the ice.
But Anna and Elsa aren’t the only ones who take center stage as fan favorites Mickey and Minnie take the audience to the magical kingdom of Arendelle with some help from several beloved Disney princesses along with Timon and Pumbaa, Woody and Buzz and more.
“Our goal is to showcase these heartwarming characters in a way that allows the audience to cheer and sing along through this emotional journey,” director Patty Vincent said.
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WANT TO GO?
What: Disney on Ice Frozen
Where: Wright State University Nutter Center
When: Oct. 11, 7 p.m.; Oct. 12, 7 p.m.; Oct. 13, 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.; Oct. 14, 1 p.m., 5 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $15, available at the Nutter Center box office and Ticketmaster
More info: www.nuttercenter.com/events-and-tickets
QUIZ: How well do you know Frozen facts?
1. Who likes “warm hugs?”
2. Anna and Hans finish each other’s ______________________
3. What does Elsa build during the song “Let It Go?”
4. What is Olaf’s favorite season?
5. What is the name of the enormous icy snowman Elsa creates?
6. What part of Anna’s body did Elsa hit with her powers when they were young?
QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. Olaf; 2. Sandwiches; 3. An ice castle; 4. Summer; 5. Marshmallow; 6. Her head
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