KENT, Wash. — When you wish upon a star, "Disney On Ice" delivers.
"As you can see, we have the stars up here," said Cassandra Smith, pointing out the elaborate set design hanging above the ice at accesso ShoWare Center in Kent.
Smith is originally from Tacoma and who grew up skating at a rink in Spanaway. She's been performing with Disney for 11 years, and now stars in their latest show, "Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars."
Smith shows us some of the hundreds of blingy wardrobe items used in the performance.
"Thousands and thousands of rhinestones across all the costumes," she said.
The on-ice presentation is also turned up a few notches with a splashy video animation backdrop, infusing new energy into classic Disney tales, and bringing audience members to their feet.
"It's really exciting to see everyone singing and dancing along with us," Smith said.
Every story begins with a wish, and blossoms into a crowd-pleasing performance based on the stories of 55 beloved Disney characters.
"All your classic Disney princesses all the way up to the new movies," Smith said.
Nate Viera-Davis brings the fire to the Moana portion of the show using the Polynesian art of fire poi.
"We spent about 30-odd hours doing all kinds of exercises before we got a chance to even do anything in the show," he said, gracefully spinning practice pois, the thankfully non-flaming version of balls spun from the ends of ropes. "It's a very exciting part of the show."
To check out the fully flaming version in-person, "Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars" appears at accesso ShoWare Center in Kent through October 27, then begins a run in Everett on November 1.