Disney Live Family Entertainment in partnership with Feld Entertainment will bring Disney On Ice and Disney Live! to more families worldwide with new tours in Greece, Malta, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania. As part of this expansion, children and families in these emerging markets will have to look no further than nearby cities to experience Disney's classic tales and enjoy live performances featuring celebrated Disney stars. Amidst a changing global economic landscape, Disney offers families budget-friendly opportunities to experience beloved stories brought to life on ice through Disney On Ice and on the stage through Disney Live!
"By expanding our tours to reach new destinations, we have the unique opportunity to introduce the Disney family of characters to thousands of children and their families who might not otherwise have the chance to experience these beloved stories." said Carol Nygren, Senior Vice-President, Disney Live Family Entertainment.
In fall 2008, Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics played to more than 1 million guests in Athens, Greece, Kosice, Slovakia, and Prague, Czech Republic, all first-time markets. Following such a popular reception in Athens, Disney is making a return visit to Greece with Disney Live! It was also announced that Disney Live! will make its Russian premiere with Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh in December 2009 visiting both Moscow and St Petersburg. A 20-city tour of China is slated for summer 2009.
"It doesn't matter where our shows play- from China to Russia to Singapore to Egypt to France to Colombia- we've seen that Disney stories have the infectious ability to spread smiles across the globe despite language and cultural differences," said Robert McHugh, Feld Entertainment's Senior Vice President of International Business Development. "We're proud that Disney On Ice and Disney Live! are vehicles that will gather more families in the spirit of fun, friendship, and happily ever after."
Currently, fifteen troupes are spanning the globe to bring the Disney family of characters and stories to audiences in more than 55 countries via four unique Disney Live! stage shows and eight unique Disney On Ice productions.
"For many families, our productions will be the first time that live Disney characters will be within their reach and for the budget conscious parent, we're striving to make sure that it's also within their means," McHugh added.
In keeping with its tradition of bringing the magic of Disney to families around the world, Feld Entertainment, a licensee of Disney Theatrical Group, has been producing Disney On Ice for the past 29 years. In 2004, Disney along with Feld launched a new brand of live family entertainment called Disney Live! premiering Winnie the Pooh and the Perfect Day in Christchurch, New Zealand.
DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (DTP), a division of Disney Theatrical Group, operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world's most successful commercial theatre producers. Reaching a global annual audience of more than 10 million people in over 40 countries, DTP produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world including Grammy®, Tony® and Olivier-award winning THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA, TARZAN ® and Mary Poppins, a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh. DTP's most recent production, THE LITTLE MERMAID, debuted on Broadway in 2007 and that same year, DTP launched a touring stage version of Disney's High School Musical which can now be seen in 5 countries. Currently DTP has 10 productions running in Europe, across 6 countries. In addition, DTP licenses musical titles for local schools and community productions through Music Theatre International.
Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live entertainment around the world through its partnership with Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!, including High School Musical: THE ICE TOUR and PLAYHOUSE DISNEY LIVE!
