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Grosse Pointe's Best to Skate in Oz

Grosse Pointe skaters' talents will be showcased in this weekend's Wizard of Oz Ice Show.

Grosse Pointe’s best skaters will be out in force this weekend to perform in the 40th Annual Reflections on Ice Show, as the St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Club presents The Wizard of Oz.

Claire LaDue directs a cast of more than 100 regional, sectional, national and international competitive skaters in a show that is an adaptation of the classic story and includes an appearance by Grosse Pointe Park resident Grant Hochstein.  Hochstein currently competes on the national and international circuit.

Featured in the show are many high school varsity skaters including Grosse Pointe North junior Kimberly Morawski as Glinda the Good Witch and Grosse Pointe South senior Lara Willmarth performing as Dorothy. 

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This year will be Morawski’s ninth year as a participant in the show and she looks forward to the nice change of pace and camaraderie amongst her fellow skaters.

“This ice show is always something the skaters look forward to,” said Morawski.  “It’s so different from our usual competition atmosphere.  We get to skate together instead of against each other.  It’s fun to play roles and wear the costumes.” 

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Other Grosse Pointe North skaters include junior Shanya Whitfield and sophomores Mandy Caruso and Paige Pringle.

“It’s cool because normally these girls are my competition,” said Morawski.  “But in the show we support each other and work together to make the best show possible.  We are true teammates.”

In addition to the high school students, Grosse Pointe will be represented by resident skaters of all ages including middle school students performing as skater/actors Alexandra Kaul as the Lion, Heide Washburn and Glinda and Celeste Franke-Joyce as the Tin Man. 

Before the weekend performances begin, the group performs a benefit show sponsored by the Shorewood Kiwanis Club.  This performance is on Thursday and benefits the handicapped of Macomb County.

“The benefit show is so fun,” said Morawski.  “There is no pressure and we get a chance to give back to the community and make the kids smile.”

Show times at the St. Clair Shores Figure Skating Club are April 1 (7:30pm), April 2 (1:00pm and 7:30pm) and April 3 (2:00pm).

Tickets prices are $10 at the door for adults, $9 in advance; children/seniors are $8 at the door, $7 in advance and group discounts are still available.   

For more information, please visit the show’s website at http://www.iceshow.info/ or call 586/774-7530 or 586/445-5350.

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