The Cold Never Bothered Them Anyway, Disney On Ice Comes To Town

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- "Frozen" is the top animated feature film of all time. Everything "Queen Elsa" touches turns to ice or snow.

As we near the end of Pittsburgh's seemingly endless winter, the lead characters will skate, tonight through Sunday, at Consol Energy Center.

Queen Elsa and her storybook sister have joined the Disney on Ice tour: "Princesses and Heroes."

Alexe Gilles of Colorado Springs plays the queen with the frozen touch. The former junior national skating champion had the same dreams as little girls who now watch her, with eyes open wide.

"I went to Disney on Ice shows when I was young," she recalls. "And seeing the genie and the princesses, and dressing up like them every day, with my sisters my brothers, it was like a dream come true. A real dream come true."

Queen Elsa's castle in Arendelle towers over the ice. But the set must be changed eight times, for eight more scenes. That makes for some busy stagehands.

A favorite moment is the release of "snow," actually drops of frozen water falling from the ceiling. Alexe Gilles calls it magic, like the magic of skating in front of excited audiences, nationwide.

"It gives you chills," she says. "Once you walk out there, and they all scream and are in awe of you. And you're just smiling up there. And I want to be in the audience, too."

"Princesses and Heroes" continues through Sunday, at Consol Energy Center. For more information, log on to: centerpittsburgh.com.

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