2017 Stars on Ice Canada tour (April 28-May 18)

[Sylvia]

Starting a new thread with the annual Halifax preview article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1462492-stars-on-ice-back-in-halifax

The skaters flew into Halifax Sunday and now it’s up to Buttle to put the finishing touches on every aspect of the show — as well as polish his own routines.
“Being a choreographer, I’m used to putting the hours in on the ice,” says Buttle. “The adjustment has been to remain organized enough to dedicate time in the evenings for everything that happens off the ice — like costumes, video, music and lighting.”
...
Buttle says they always try to give “a good variety of music and flavour” to cater to everyone’s tastes, and that every skater brings something different to the performance as a whole.

This theme of Stars on Ice this year is “In Dreams,” and Buttle says it’s a tribute to the years of hard work that every skater puts in training.
“With this being the last tour before the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, we thought it was important to focus on the catalyst that drives everybody —not only in sport, but in life,” explains Buttle. “But it’s not just aspirational dreams. We’re also focusing on the unconventional dreams we have when we’re asleep.”

http://www.starsonice.ca/welcome.html

2017 SOI tour dates/cities:
April 28 - Halifax
April 30 - Ottawa
May 3 - Windsor
May 5 - Toronto
May 6 - Hamilton
May 7 - London
May 10 - Winnipeg
May 12 - Regina
May 13 - Edmonton
May 14 - Calgary
May 16 - Victoria
May 18 - Vancouver

Cast: http://www.starsonice.ca/the-skaters.html
Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko, Patrick Chan, Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford, Jeffrey Buttle (first-time director of the show, also choreographer & performer), Kaetlyn Osmond, Gabrielle Daleman, Lubov Iliushechkina & Dylan Moscovitch, Julianne Seguin & Charlie Bilodeau.
Special Guests Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir will appear in the 3 of the 4 Ontario stops -- Toronto, Hamilton & London.

ETA:

Rehearsals are underway in Halifax: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSDu0IAo5j/?taken-by=starsonice&hl=en

 

[I Luv Bulldogs]

Sadly I'm not going this year, but looks like a great cast. Looking forward to the reviews from those that are attending.

 

[icie]

Wow, that's a great cast of skaters. I wish I lived closer to attend.

 

[princeton123]

Seguin/Bilodeau just got taken off the cast list.

Are they injured again? They dropped out of WTT too.

 

[Cant Skate]

And no dancers except for the Ontario shows? I will miss Joannie this year too

 

[CassAgain]

Seguin/Bilodeau just got taken off the cast list.

Are they injured again? They dropped out of WTT too.

I hope they are okay.

Winnipeg is due north from me, only 1,200 miles! Too bad it's on a Wednesday.

 

[seabm7]

I will miss Joannie this year too

I guess she's busy with her medical school.

 

[seabm7]

Seguin/Bilodeau just got taken off the cast list.

Are they injured again? They dropped out of WTT too.

Wow, this year's Canadian cast is small!

 

[shopper]

Too bad they don't get Shawn Sawyer. Always enjoyable

 

[SkateGuard]

Will certainly be weird without Joannie, Tessa and Scott and Kaitlyn and Andrew... I'll try to tweet a little during Friday's show but if anyone has any Q's feel free to reach out!

 

[dramagrrl]

Seguin/Bilodeau just got taken off the cast list.

Are they injured again? They dropped out of WTT too.

Nooooooo.

I hope they're okay.

 

[barbarafan]

Will certainly be weird without Joannie, Tessa and Scott and Kaitlyn and Andrew... I'll try to tweet a little during Friday's show but if anyone has any Q's feel free to reach out!

vids would be nice...Luba&Dylan

 

[victorskid]

For anyone holding tickets for the Toronto show at the Air Canada Centre:

ATTN Stars on Ice fans! The show scheduled here for Friday, May 5 is moving to THURSDAY, MAY 4 due to the Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs!‬

Tickets for the May 5th show will be honoured for the May 4th date.

 

[DDNatalia]

I'll bet tickets sales for the Canada tour are outperforming the US tour. Kurt Browning makes it a no brainer.

 

[victorskid]

The opening show is happening right now in Halifax. Hoping we'll get some comments/previews

 

[Sylvia]

I'll try to tweet a little during Friday's show

Thanks for your live tweets/CLIPS (links added below) so far, @ N_Halifax! https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog

Opening number: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858089163006128128
Stojko: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858090813011701760
Buttle: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858091848547651586
Daleman (debut): https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858092193168470016
The Boys: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858093322967056384
Lubov & Dylan (debut): https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858094175908229125
Chan: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858095290972327936
Browning: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858096807557070850
Osmond: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858097136474443776
Tribute to Jef Billings: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858098463359238146

"Opening number to the second set was positively haunting. Skaters with a skate on only one foot, Philip Glass-y music... wow."
Daleman: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858110015722467328
Buttle: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858111337427345418
Duhamel/Radford: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858112948119719939
Osmond: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858114687908671489
Chan: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858115876746407936
Browning: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858117229698744320
"This yr's show outdid last yr's by a mile. Kurt bringing out the 3toe's, backflip & a handstand? Craziness. Phenomenal skating."

 

[Sylvia]

Attention, Toronto ticket holders: http://www.starsonice.ca/news.html?n_id=479

04/28/2017
STARS ON ICE TORONTO SHOW CHANGED TO THURSDAY, MAY 4
April 28, 2017 - Toronto, ON - The Toronto Raptors win on April 27 in the first round of the NBA playoffs ensures that the Raptors will be moving on to round 2. As the schedule is now confirmed, Game 3 of the series will be played at the Air Canada Centre on Friday, May 5. Therefore, Investors Group Stars on Ice presented by Lindt will now take place on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30pm.

Tickets for the May 5th show will be honoured for the May 4th date.

 

[barbarafan]

Thanks for your live tweets/CLIPS (links added below) so far, @ N_Halifax! https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog

Opening number: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858089163006128128
Stojko: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858090813011701760
Buttle: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858091848547651586
Daleman (debut): https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858092193168470016
The Boys: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858093322967056384
Lubov & Dylan (debut): https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858094175908229125
Chan: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858095290972327936
Browning: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858096807557070850
Osmond: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858097136474443776
Tribute to Jef Billings: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858098463359238146

"Opening number to the second set was positively haunting. Skaters with a skate on only one foot, Philip Glass-y music... wow."
Daleman: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858110015722467328
Buttle: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858111337427345418
Duhamel/Radford: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858112948119719939
Osmond: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858114687908671489
Chan: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858115876746407936
Browning: https://twitter.com/SkateGuardBlog/status/858117229698744320
"This yr's show outdid last yr's by a mile. Kurt bringing out the 3toe's, backflip & a handstand? Craziness. Phenomenal skating."

Thank-you so much Sylvia and N_halifax

 

[dramagrrl]

Anyone know what's going on with Seguin/Bilodeau??

 

[seabm7]

Some more clips:

Opening: https://twitter.com/Investors_Group/status/858091748320522240

Lubov & Dylan: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTcpv7iljBI/
Chan: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTdIOlPFHe7/

Tribute to Jef Billings: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTcq3pYlpWK/

Browning with transition: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTc-Lswj-9LCfDlj1FawyXkIkkS1sVgwnHPplo0/
Final: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTc4THvFo35/

----

Added later:

Collection of Patrick, Elvis and Final: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTeZLQGgD73/

Another clip of Final: https://twitter.com/JB_photos1/status/858286207276634112

 

[SkateGuard]

Thanks for sharing the vids I posted on Twitter from last night's show on here Sylvia - you beat me to the punch! It was a phenomenal show and once again a packed house. Kurt's final number had people standing before he was even done... very much 'vintage' Brick House/Play That Funky Music Kurt. Everyone was really on last night - very few mistakes. The opening number to the 2nd set was definitely a highlight. The only downside was the fact that when they passed down the bag of chocolates, the bag was empty by the time it got to us... haha

 

[KatieC]

I just decided to go to the Hamilton show next Saturday. Haven't been in years and I'd like to see the current crop having fun.

 

[barbarafan]

Thanks for sharing the vids I posted on Twitter from last night show on here Sylvia - you beat me to the punch! It was a phenomenal show and once again a packed house. Kurt's final number had people standing before he was even done... very much 'vintage' Brick House/Play That Funky Music Kurt. Everyone was really on last night - very few mistakes. The opening number to the 2nd set was definitely a highlight. The only downside was the fact that when they passed down the bag of chocolates, the bag was empty by the time it got to us...

Thank-you so much and I am so glad you enjoyed it. Wish they would have a MTL show so I could go..

 

[SCeline]

Wonder how attendance is? Likely much better than in the US. Based on the available seats for the US shows it looks like they are barely selling a third of available seats. Skating fans in Canada have a stronger cast to enjoy with Kurt and Elvis, which likely will bring out some of the long-time fans in the same way that rock bands on come-back tours draw a segment of the target audience.

 

[screech]

Liked the clip of Patrick. Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons seems very out of his comfort zone, but I enjoyed it. And I liked his spin a lot.

 

[seabm7]

Photo/Clips from Ottawa:

Before the show:
(cast photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThdMOwFYoc/

Opening "24K Magic":
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThcqrDjaNa/
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThi9ENlf-O/

The Boys "Bright Lights" by Gibbz:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThfGAgD27n/

Lubov & Dylan:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThjx89j8Yn/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThrwAegzq5/
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThkQxAjWkR/

Chan "Oh What A Night":
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThfA7ijshC/

Browning "Tower of Song":
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThh6h5DpK8/

Tribute to Jef Billings "Send in the Clowns":
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThjwGCj9C-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThkLg5jmtb/
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThtyJwA5HA/

Chan (2nd Act) "Sunday Morning":
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTiVW8uDjC_/

Browning (2nd Act) "Get on the Good Foot":
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTiGA0-BLMj/

Final "Can't Stop the Feeling"
(Duhamel's instagram) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThzEdchO9T/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BThspgaAEnD/
(clip and photos) https://www.instagram.com/p/BTh0x2UBxpA/
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThq3laDvYD/
(photo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BThv7XpAnKG/


Many photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTht9CXBZmx/

 

[Sylvia]

Clips from the Ottawa show (8+ mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dan8nUJGEOE

 

[seabm7]

Deleted, never mind.

 

[MR-FAN]

Sylvia, the venue from the clip looks smaller. I suspect it is Scotiabank Centre at Halifax, not Canadian Tire Centre at Ottawa.

I was there, definitely ottawa

 

[seabm7]

I was there, definitely ottawa

Thank you!