Jul. 7--One of the country's top ice skaters will headline an upcoming production in a Myrtle Beach theater with a new owner.
Renaissance Entertainment, Inc., bought the Savoy Theatre at Fantasy Harbour on Wednesday. The Orlando, Fla.-based production company has renamed the theater The Ice Castle.
Renaissance Entertainment officials announced Thursday 'Southern Ice' will continue through September, but on Oct. 5 the bill will change to 'Halloween on Ice,' starring Olympic medal-winning skater Nancy Kerrigan.
Kerrigan has headlined the Halloween production since 1995 at various arena venues, but when it moves to the more than 900-seat theater, it will allow for a more intimate show.
'Nancy has always wanted to fly in as part of the show,' said the skater's husband, Jerry Solomon, explaining Kerrigan's desire for a Peter Pan-type entrance. 'She can do that here. It's different in arenas.'
Solomon is president and chief executive officer of StarGames, a sports and entertainment marketing, management and production agency. Through the agency, Renaissance Entertainment has entered a five-year agreement with Kerrigan for her to perform in seasonal productions.
The new Ice Castle schedule lists 'Christmas On Ice' starting Nov. 2, 'Spring Fling on Ice' beginning March 23 and 'Summer Fun on Ice' from June through Aug. in 2001. The castle is now home to the show 'Southern Ice,' which takes a look at what could happen if Jack Frost put the Grand Strand in a deep freeze.
It incorporates ice skating, gymnasts, juggling and trained animals. The show will continue through Sept. 27. Renaissance president Jon Binkowski said the new shows will incorporate some elements from 'Southern Ice,' and the core cast would probably not change much, other than the addition of Kerrigan.
'We'll keep as much as we can,' he said, '...but we reserve the right to change.' Stephen DeWoody, a producer/ director with Renaissance, said the company is working to finalize a deal to tape 'Halloween on Ice' for a television special.
The Nashville Network (TNN), Turner Network Television (TNT) and the Entertainment Sports Program Network (ESPN) have all been contacted to broadcast the Renaissance production.
'They're leaning toward ESPN,' DeWoody said. 'We're working with Nancy and Jerry -- they have ideas for the show.' The skater and her husband made their first-ever visit to Myrtle Beach a month ago to look over the theater. Although Kerrigan has done a Halloween show for five years, this one will be completely different from previous versions.
'We're going to turn the theater into a prop itself,' Solomon said. 'Like in the show `Cats,' where they make use of the entire theater.'
Solomon said his company chose Myrtle Beach as the site for skating specials featuring Kerrigan because of the theater, which was specially built five years ago to house 'Snoopy's Magic on Ice.'
'And the fact that it has a high turnover, a large number of visitors, is a great element,' he said.
Another deal in the works is for Renaissance to purchase The Cercle Theater, which recently was transformed into an indoor ice skating rink. The public may skate there, and 'Southern Ice' performers give lessons there to children who live as far away as Charleston.
Kerrigan, mother of a 3-year-old son, said providing family entertainment and exposing children to the sport of skating is her motivation for doing the shows.
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