Seal brings his music to life
in one-time only skating production
GRAMMY AWARD WINNER WILL PERFORM LIVE
ALONG WITH OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS
KRISTI YAMAGUCHI AND BRIAN BOITANO
Listen to interview about the show
SHOW WILL BENEFIT AUTISM SPEAKS
YOUNG AUTISTIC ICE SKATER TO SHARE THE ICE
WITH WORLD CHAMPION SKATERS
MULTI-GRAMMYAWARD WINNING ARTIST PERFORMS LIVE
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| Krista Kellner |
Autistic teen Krista Kellner will take to the ice for a solo performance in “Musselman’s Applesauce Presents The Music of Seal on Ice.” The cast also includes Olympic Gold Medalists Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano, plus many other world and national champion skaters. The show is set for Tuesday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. and will be televised nationwide on NBC from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Ice skating helped Kellner discover her competitive spirit and strengthened her confidence in learning to live with autism. At a young age, Kellner was frightened of large crowds, but she has now proudly performed two solo performances in front of 2,000 people. “The Music of Seal on Ice” will be her third and largest performance.
Her parents, Dave and Maria Kellner say “the focus and discipline of skating helped her to focus better while studying for school”. It has also allowed her father to share the experience with her early on as Kellner’s volunteer. While struggling in other areas of her life, she has excelled at ice skating and has learned to apply that same hard work and dedication to school and music study.
This ambitious middle school student is in advanced Spanish and holds a A- average in most of her other classes. She’s been on the honor roll since 5th grade and Kellner loves to play the clarinet. Her magical fantasy idea and drawings were chosen this year as the theme of the 2008 show for her ice skating club, Gliding Stars.
Gliding Stars is a leader in adaptive ice skating for people with physical, mental, emotional or multiple challenges. Kellner’s coach, Elizabeth O’Donnell, is the founder who began teaching adaptive ice skating in 1976 in Buffalo, New York. O’Donnell began working with Kellner when she was three years old. Kellner screamed the entire first year on the ice, but by age seven was skating at an intermediate level and by age eight, was an advanced ice skater.
The “Music of Seal on Ice” is going to be a spectacular show benefitting an important cause. Five dollars from every ticket will be donated to Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the growing autism epidemic and to raising money to fund scientists who are searching for a cure.
“Performing for a live audience is always a thrill for me, particularly with songs from my new album that is really a return to my musical roots,” says multi-Grammy award-winner Seal. “The addition of these world class skaters as a visual element to the show will make this a fantastic event benefiting a wonderful cause.”
“The passion and heart that is the trademark of Seal's award-winning music clearly goes way beyond his musical talent," said Bob and Suzanne Wright, Co-Founders of Autism Speaks. "We cannot express our gratitude enough to Seal, NBC, Musselman’s Applesauce, Disson Skating and Comcast Spectacor, not only for helping us raise vital funds to support autism research, but also for shining a bright light on the autism epidemic that now affects 1 in 150 people."
Stephen Disson, whose company, Disson Skating, along with Comcast Spectacor, produces 10 nationally televised shows a year on NBC, has a personal connection with Autism Speaks. His step-son has been treated for the condition at Kennedy- Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
“This show will be extra special to me because I know the music of Seal and the skating will be spectacular, but also this will be the first time we’re using one of our televised skating productions to benefit a worthy cause,” says Disson.
Ticket Information: Tickets for Musselman’s Applesauce presents The Music of Seal on Ice are $60.00 and $40.00 (plus applicable service charges) and are on sale now. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Verizon Center box office, via Phonecharge at 202-397-SEAT, 703-573-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 202-661-5065. For more information please visit www.verizoncenter.com.
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MUSIC ARTIST SEAL JOINS KRISTI YAMAGUCHI, BRIAN BOITANO AND OTHERS TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR AUTISM
Washington, D.C. - The internationally acclaimed, three-time Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter, Seal, will perform live in a one-time only music and skating production, “Musselman’s Applesauce Presents The Music of Seal On Ice,” with a cast that features Olympic Gold Medalists Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano. The show is set for December 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., and will be televised nationwide on NBC from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day.
The London-born Seal, has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and will have a new studio album entitled “System” in stores November 13. Among his most popular songs are “Kiss From a Rose,’’ which won him a Grammy and was featured on Batman Forever soundtrack, “Crazy,’’ and “Prayer for the Dying.’’ The son of Nigerian and Brazilian parents, Seal began his musical career playing pop funk and eventually became a hot property on Britain’s house music/rave scene and has since become one of England’s best-selling artists. He is married to German model Heidi Klum, and together, they have two sons.
Seal will perform several of his hits live, including music from his new album, while a cast of Olympic and world-class skaters interpret his music on the ice. Skaters confirmed for the one-time collaboration include Olympic Gold Medalists Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano, six-time U.S. champion and World champion Todd Eldredge, and three-time U.S. champion and two-time World bronze medalist Michael Weiss. Many more Olympic and world-level skaters will be added to the cast soon.
“The Music of Seal on Ice’’ show will be the only time Yamaguchi will skate solo on national television this year. In addition, $5.00 from every ticket from “The Music of Seal on Ice’’ show will benefit Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the growing autism epidemic and to raising money to fund scientists who are searching for a cure.
“Performing for a live audience is always a thrill for me, particularly with songs from my new album that is really a return to my musical roots,” said Seal. “The addition of these world class skaters as a visual element to the show, will make this a fantastic event benefiting a wonderful cause.”
“The passion and heart that is the trademark of Seal's award-winning music clearly goes way beyond his musical talent," said Bob and Suzanne Wright, Co-Founders of Autism Speaks. "We cannot express our gratitude enough to Seal, NBC, Musselman’s Applesauce, Disson Skating and Comcast Spectacor, not only for helping us raise vital funds to support autism research, but also for shining a bright light on the autism epidemic that now affects 1 in 150 people."
Stephen Disson, whose company, Disson Skating, along with Comcast Spectacor, produces 10 nationally televised shows a year on NBC, has a personal connection with Autism Speaks. His step-son has been treated for the condition at Kennedy- Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
“This show will be extra special to me because I know the music of Seal and the skating will be spectacular, but also this will be the first time we’re using one of our skating television productions to benefit a worthy cause as well,’’ Disson said.
Ticket Information: Tickets for The Music of Seal on Ice are $60.00 and $40.00 (plus applicable service charges) and go on sale Saturday, October 20. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Verizon Center box office, via Phonecharge at 202-397-SEAT, 703-573-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT, or
online at www.ticketmaster.com. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 202- 661-5065. For more information please visit www.verizoncenter.com.
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