Blades, Brain, Brawn and Good Hair Too
Hercules is buff and brave in “Happily Ever After,” the ice show based on an animated Disney film. As in the movie, Herc initially is not, however, the sharpest blade on the ice. Hercules is a wannabe hero who has a lot to learn about life, love and Lava monsters--though his heart is always in the right place.
When the search was on for a world-class skater to portray the mythical golden boy, L.A. native Troy Goldstein came to the mind of the show’s choreographer.
“It’s difficult to find someone who has a strong physique, who’s a decent singles skater and a very good pairs skater,” said Sarah Kawahara. Kawahara, a former skater herself and a Westlake Village resident, remembered Goldstein as an amateur and approached him to do the role.
Goldstein, 27, portrays Hercules as a sweet, clumsy yet powerful young gladiator. He has the moves, the physique--and the hair--to play the muscle-bound hero, yet there’s more than brawn beneath those long blond locks.
When Goldstein isn’t hitting the ice, he’s hitting the books. A graduate of Culver City High School, he attended Cal State Long Beach between ice competitions and recently earned a law degree. He’s scheduled to take a bar exam in February.
“My dad always taught me that everybody has the same amount of time, 24 hours in a day,” Goldstein said. “It’s all in how you use it.”
Goldstein’s sister and former pairs partner, Dawn, is already a practicing attorney in Los Angeles. An injury ended her skating career a few years ago, but she continues to judge skating competitions.
The Goldstein children grew up with an emphasis on athletics as well as education--their mother, Dee, was an skating coach, father Les has a doctorate in physics.
Having it all is simply a matter of setting your priorities, Goldstein explains. “Nobody believed I could compete while going to school. I went through four years of college and law school while competing and doing shows.”
Goldstein has gold medals in all four categories of the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. (free style, pairs, dance and figures), and so far he’s the only skater to qualify for the U.S. National Championships in all four events. He was a member of the U.S. national team from 1987 to 1994 and later performed in Japan, Italy and Las Vegas,
The Feld Entertainment team first approached Goldstein for “Beauty and the Beast on Ice.” Kawahara thought he was the ideal athlete to fill the skates of the beefy bully Gaston. Goldstein was just starting law school and declined. When it came time to cast “Hercules,” however, Goldstein had finished law school and was ready to tour.
When on the ice with sword in hand, Goldstein is Hercules. Besides possessing the bulging biceps that allude to Hercules’ otherworldly strength, Goldstein exudes a wide-eyed innocence that fits the boyish nature of the character.
“Hercules” is a spectacle that brings together world-class skaters, well-known Disney characters and extravagant effects that appeal to adults as well as children. “Kids are pretty sophisticated today,” Kawahara said. “Long gone are the days of the ice show variety where there was just one kiddie number in it that was sort of separated from the rest of the show.”
Because the caliber of skaters has risen since the restrictions on amateur competitions have changed, Kawahara said she is more apt to incorporate moves for these skaters that are more challenging or influenced by dance and theater. Among Goldstein’s most dazzling feats are his one-armed lifts.
Because pairs skating is where he excels, pairing up with Russian skater Larissa Zamotina (Meg) is one of Goldstein’s favorite parts of the show--that and tossing around Mark Farrington (Philoctetes), his good friend on and off the ice.
The toughest part of his role, he said, is being away from his family. His wife, Lisa (also an attorney), and daughter, who turns 1 on Sunday, live in Las Vegas.
Goldstein said that he hopes to eventually combine skating and law, perhaps as an entertainment attorney within Feld Entertainment, which produces the “Disney on Ice” shows.
“A family environment at work is hard to find,” Goldstein said. “I want to find some way to stay in the family.
“My first true love is performing,” he added. “I’ve always performed for audiences, not just for the judges’ marks. So this was an opportunity of a lifetime. I love to hear the kids: ‘Go Hercules, go get him.’ ”
BE THERE
Disney on Ice presents “Happily Ever After Featuring Hercules” today, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. (Spanish) and 4:30 p.m.; at LA Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Long Beach Arena Jan. 14-18. $11.50 to $30; 12 and younger save $2.50 on select shows. (213) 480-3232.