SOI news

[Debbie S]

There are several posts on Skatefans that say Steven Cousins is out of the tour w/ an ACL tear (apparently from playing soccer) and that Tara has re-injured her hip and will not be doing the tour this year either. That last fact seems to be confirmed by her official web site.

Rumor is that Ilia Kulik has been approached about replacing Steven, but no official word.

Personally, I can do w/o Tara - I'm most looking forward to seeing B/S, S/P, Todd, Kurt, and Yags (assuming he's there) - but this has got to be a big blow for the tour producers. Interesting that the USFSA web site, in its article about John Z. and Silvia getting engaged, mentioned that they both skate with SOI - maybe they know something we don't.

[JD]

I am not surprised given that her hip was hurting in London....my prayers are with her....

[Debbie S]

Fran Buhman posted at MKF that the producers are trying to get Ilia and Katia to replace Steven and Tara. But they don't want to do the whole tour - understandable given the demands of raising two kids.

Fran also says that Roca and Sur have been signed for this season - assuming it's true, it'll be good to see them again.

Apparently, the cast has not started rehearsing in Lake Placid yet, b/c of the uncertainties.

[jcspkbfan]

Gee, it looks like this year's "injury curse" isn't just affecting the eligible skaters after all. :cry:

Tara and Steven's injuries both sound serious enough for them to have to skip out on the entire tour this year--we all know how much Tara's struggled with hip injuries over the past few years (and reviews from the events she's skated in already this season don't sound too promising) and Steven's injury (apparently quite common among football players, etc.) could possibly take about six months to completely heal. :(

I must admit I was especially shocked to hear about Steven's injury--it sounded like he was skating pretty well just a few weeks ago. :(

This is the first I've heard about R&S possibly rejoining the SOI tour, but it sounds like they could use help from any skaters willing to take on the task at this late date (not to mention the fact two other SOI cast members--Kyoko Ina and Alexei Yagudin--are still suffering from their own serious-sounding injuries!)

SOI could probably make do with only three male singles skaters if they can't find a last-minute replacement for Steven, but there would be a huge gap in this year's cast with only one female solo skater--as much as I'd love to see Katia and Ilia back on this year's tour, I completely understand the reasons why they wouldn't want to make such a big commitment. Gee, I wonder if Yuka and Lucinda have any big plans this winter? ;)

I hope both Tara and Steven get well soon and take all the time they need to recover completely from their injuries, and the rest of the SOI cast (both old and "new") stay injury-free for the duration of the tour!

[SkateSand]

SOI rehearsals are going on in Lake Placid right now and have been since yesterday.

Laurie

[gandalf]

I really hope they call Yuka and Lucinda. They were highlights for me when they were on the tour.

[jcspkbfan]

Finally, here's an official statement from the official SOI website:

http://www.starsonice.com/news/detailnews.asp?NewsID=47

To sum it up, Scott will be making a "special guest star" appearance at the Lake Placid show, Roca and Sur are back, Steven will have to miss the entire tour, Tara won't be skating in Lake Placid, but "will be able to return to the tour at a date yet to be determined."

[speedy]

Sounds like Scott is doing more than just the Lake Placid show...

http://www.whiteface.com/ordapublic/cnewsdetail.cfm?id=418

[CarolA0923]

Now the question is where else is he performing. It looks like I will be seeing this show in Orlando since I will be there on business until the day before. (The show is not coming to Nashville)

[Meredith]

(Poof) There go my hopes Katia and Ilia would tour - even for a short time. Really pleased that Roca and Sur will be back though. :D

[Rebekka]

Sorry to hear about Tara and Steven injuries.

I'm happy that Roca & Sur are back.

[jcspkbfan]

Here's a news article about the recent SOI cast changes (including quotes from quite a few of the skaters):

http://www.pressrepublican.com/Archive/2002/11_2002/112320026.htm

[HeatherC]

Sounds like the Lake Placid show is going to be one big adventure with cast changes and everything else. 8O I think the show is going to be fantastic though. I am looking forward to it for the first time in a few years now. I am actually going for the first time this year too and I can't wait! I hope both Steven and Tara get well soon though. It is NO fun to be injured! :( Thanx again for all the info.

Heather :)

[Kylah]

ROCA AND SUR ARE BACK???


I must, MUST go see SOI this year!!

[Tigger]

Could someone pick Kylah up off the floor before the thread finishes, please!?!

:D

;)

Hee hee hee!!!

It sounds like everyone is taking the various changes in stride. Saturday could end up being quite the show.

[Rogue]

From Press Republican article:

"Hamilton plans to appear in just a fraction of the tour’s 60-plus stops, an arrangement he said should give him more time to focus on starting a family — he’s getting married next month — while keeping him involved in skating."

Boy, that was one quickly planned wedding. Didn't they get engaged just a couple of months ago?

[Kylah]

Yes, yes YES!!

Convinced hubby-to-be that a nice, romantic weekend in Pittsburgh, PA the weekend of March 14 would be a wonderful idea. :D

I'm going to see SOI!! I'm going to see SOI!!!

[backspin]

When someone has seen the show will they please post a review? If it's as hokey as last year I'm not interested in paying the money to see it.

I'd like to know if there's less group "fluff" numbers, less talking amongst cast members that is corny & painfully staged & stiff, & more focus on skating & showcasing the awesome talent that is there.

I'd appreciate it!

[jcspkbfan]

I don't want to post too many spoilers here, but judging from the reviews I've read from this year's Simsbury rehearsals, it sounds like many of the things people criticized about last year's show (that lame-sounding "GOLD" rap, the overuse of props and furniture, too much talking, not enough skating, etc.) will be gone from this year's version. I guess we'll know for sure by this weekend; the reviews should be even more interesting than usual this year! ;)

[tdnuva]

As I couldn't find new reports yet - does someone know something about who's choreographing now? Only S. Bezic or which other choreographers?

[Jenny]

For the past few years at least, as many as 10 different choreographers have contributed to SOI, so I suspect this year will be no different. Sandra is the director of the show, but the number of pieces she personally choreographs is limited.

Jenny

[Teenes]

I think choreographers this year include Christopher Dean, Michael Seibert, and A.C. Ciulla (worked a few years back with them on Strobe's Nanafushi and the Club A.C. section). Kurt's also been seen working closely with the choreographers before and after practice sessions but he's not listed as a choreographer this year on the SOI site.

[tdnuva]

Yes, I know about that situation with many choreographers - normally. I just wondered what happens this year cause of those injuries, cast changes and also the news that Chris Dean couldn't stay to work with the cast (some family thing). Someone said that they had two weeks now to work out the show before Lake Placid and perhaps that might result in kind of composing existing pieces from each cast member together and not much new choreography at all?

[jcspkbfan]

I remember the choreographers didn't have to make too many changes when Yuka replaced Katia on SOI at the last minute a couple of years ago (at almost exactly the same point in rehearsals, if I remember correctly). I have to give R&S huge credit for having to learn this much choreography at the last second, though! I'm not sure about Tara, but I remember Steven skated in a lot of the group numbers at Simsbury rehearsals a couple of months ago.

I posted this link on another thread, but I thought I'd post it here as well just in case some of you might be interested in how the SOI cast will change when the tour comes to Canada:

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/sports/RTGAM/20021127/wsale/Sports/sportsBN/breakingnews-sports