The East High Wildcats get ready to take the ice in "Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour." Photo courtesy of ©Disney 2007

(8/20/07) - Wildcat audiences, get ‘cha head in the game! Disney's “High School Musical: The Ice Tour” will soon be on tour.

This high-energy show features former U.S. competitors Jordan Brauninger (2004 World Junior bronze medalist and 2003 U.S. junior silver medalist) and Sandy Rucker (2005 U.S. junior champion) joining the cast as lead Troy Bolton and antagonist Sharpay Evans, respectively.

Brauninger and Rucker, both of whom are touring as professionals for the first time, are looking forward to the journey and new experiences.

“This is a completely different lifestyle (than competitive figure skating),” Rucker said. “I don't know what to expect, but I love getting into my character.”

Brauninger, who was off the ice for close to two years prior to auditioning, is happy to be back and performing in front of people again.

“Show skating is work, and getting used to the 12-hour days was tough,” Brauninger said. “By day three, we were all family and supporting each other.”

With an average of 34 cast members per show and seven principles, an intense month of show design preceded the July rehearsals in Lakeland, Fla. During that month, most of the choreography was put in place by a person who should be well known to skating fans: Cindy Stuart. Stuart has provided choreography for World champion Chen Lu, three-time U.S. pairs champions and three-time World medalists Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, two-time U.S. Champion Scott Davis and Olympic silver medalist Rosalyn Sumners.

“This work comes from a really happy place,” Stuart said. “Our creative team is so excited to be involved.”

Stuart's voice fills with energy when describing her latest project.

“This production has a real spirit that carries over from the wildly successful made-for-TV film,” she said. “It's about not letting people stand in your way and accomplishing your desires.”

A show about following your dreams seems appropriate for Stuart. In addition to her work with competitive skaters, she has lent her expertise to Disney on Ice and Stars on Ice, and has collaborated with fellow choreographers Christopher Dean, Robin Cousins and Sarah Kawahara.

On her own for six years, Stuart, a classically trained skater, said, “I did every job I could get as a skater – Ice Capades, Ice Follies, Holiday on Ice, Willie Bietak (Productions) – before working as a choreographer.”

Jordan Brauninger is playing lead character Troy Bolton in the upcoming production of "High School Musical: The Ice Tour." Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Rucker has already had a small taste of performing, having been the skating double for actress Michelle Trachtenberg in Disney's Ice Princess.

“In competition, you are just yourself,” says Rucker. “I think this experience will definitely make me more expressive.”

First-time professional skater Crystalrose Guerra says she is up for the challenge and is looking forward to performing in her hometown of Los Angeles.

“Competitive training is as intense as show rehearsals, but the duration is much longer,” said Guerra, an annual participant in the National Showcase. “When I saw the schedule, I thought, ‘All this in 10 hours? No way!' ” Neither Brauninger nor Rucker nor Guerra were prepared for being sore and tired. Rucker, who was sidelined for several months as a competitor after breaking her sacrum (a bone at the base of the spine), has learned how to care for her back, stretching in the morning and while on breaks. The regimen is equally as rigorous for Brauninger.

“I worked on strength training more than just skating to prepare for this,” he said. “It's a different skill set.”

Stuart believes HSM offers skating a much-needed “shot in the arm.”

“Skating today is a game of math,” Stuart said. “Shows give kids creativity and spark their interest in skating for entertainment.

“The skaters in pre-production were so pumped – it's very dance oriented. The kids get to play characters and can dance like they (never could before),” Stuart continued. “Every day we laughed. We headed into rehearsals with that positive energy and have a great team executing the material.”

Brauninger, Rucker and Guerra agree that being part of a team effort is a change

“It's just one life lesson after another,” Brauninger said. “We are learning how to live and interact with people. Every situation has taught me something.”

HSM premieres Sept. 29 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Three touring companies will perform more than 100 shows in North America, South America and Europe over a nine-month period.

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