by Alison Brown
When I came home from Milano, my sister asked me to come with her to the Stifel Stars on Ice show in May. It seemed a million years away and we didn’t know the cast yet, but I said yes anyway. I’m so glad I did!
Last weekend, we traveled to the UBS Arena in Queens, NY for the show, and what a show it turned out to be. The cast included not only stars from Milano-Cortina 2026 but some of my favorite skaters: men’s skaters Ilia Malinin, Andrew Torgashev, and Jason Brown; women’s skaters Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito; ice dancers Madison Chock & Evan Bates and Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko; and pairs skaters Ellie Kam & Danny O’Shea.
Stars on Ice 2026 performance lineup
Each skater performed individually twice and in several group numbers. We saw some of the best competition programs, including Chock & Bates free dance to “Paint It Black” and Amber Glenn’s short program to “Like a Prayer.” Amber did not attempt the triple axel in this skate, but I would not expect her to, given that they are performing nearly every other day. She did throw in other triples, so the difficulty was absolutely there even though it is just a show and no one is scoring these programs. Also bringing back their competition show programs: Alysa Liu and the breathtaking “Promise” and Isabeau Levito with the charming “Zou Bisou Bisou,” both short programs from the past season. We got another look at Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko’s 90s rhythm dance to “Say It Right” and “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado. I’m not enough of an analyst to recognize if they took any of the difficulty out of the program but I don’t think so. They certainly brought all the sass and attitude, even more so than when they performed it at the Olympics.
Show programs made up the other half of the program and these skaters know how to put on a show. Danny O’Shea dressed as Pitbull, white suit and sunglasses included, for his and Ellie Kam’s ode to Miami “The 305 Experience.” They performed the crowd pleasing headbanger and one arm lifts. They had a bit of a stumble when Danny went to slide between Ellie’s legs but tripped her up instead. The crowd did not complain and cheered more loudly for their next trick.
The U.S. team event skaters stand atop the podium at Stars on Ice 2026. Photo: Alison Brown
Highlights of Stars on Ice 2026
Stripping became a theme for the men. Yes, the shirt came off Andrew Torgashev in his first number, “Out of Time.” Ilia Malinin shed his shirt in his first number then stripped his hoodie in his second. Jason Brown ripped off both his shirt and his pants, thankfully to reveal a different shirt and pants in the delightful “Friend Like Me.” The three kept their clothes on when they were joined by Anthony Ponomarenko and Danny O’Shea for “I Just Might” but they did throw flowers into the cheering crowd.
Olympic champion Alysa Liu had the show-stopper spot of final solo number right before the end of the show. She skated the same program we saw at the Olympics exhibition gala, “Stateside” with the best dress of the show – sparkly pinstripes, golden buttons, and flouncy tiered skirt.
The skaters who won the gold medal in the Olympics team event came out on the ice together and took turns with the microphone talking to the crowd. They each performed a minute or two of their long programs from the Olympics and re-created the podium moment with imitation gold medals. At the end of the show, Evan Bates brought out the real thing, holding it up to the camera and flashing it on the big screen above the ice. Did I get a little emotional seeing Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea skating to “Everyone Wants to Rule the World” again? Maybe! (Truth: absolutely!)
Group numbers are often throwaways at skating shows, but I found the ones here particularly charming. The “Blade Angels” skated an anime-themed program to KPop Demon Hunters “Golden.” The cast closed the first act with feather fans and lots of come hither looks skating to a compilation of different versions of “Too Darn Hot.” The show closed out with the joyful “Life in Color” with the entire cast.
Stifel Stars on Ice continues until the end of May. If it is coming to an arena near you, grab some tickets!
Featured photo: Alison Brown