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Lipinski invading Kitchener
Tara Lipinski, the reigning Olympic figure skating champion, is coming Dec. 9-22 to tape her first special for U.S. network television at the Kitchener Auditorium.
The two-week production will take over one of three rinks at the complex, forcing some adult recreational users to sit on the sidelines and minor hockey groups to juggle their schedules.
But Keith Baulk, manager of the city-owned complex, said the deal is worth the inconvenience because of direct rental revenues and spin-off economic benefits.
The diminutive Lipinski, 16, who won gold for the U.S. at the Nagano Olympics in February, is one of the biggest stars in the world of figure skating.
So when she struts her stuff at the Kinsmen rink, a crew of up to 50 stage hands, technicians, designers and others will be there to capture it on tape.
"It's a fairly big production because we're constructing a set right on the ice,'' said Joan Tosoni, the producer/director for Insight Productions of Toronto.
The hour-long, variety-style show, also featuring skaters Scott Hamilton of the U.S. and Kurt Browning of Canada, is tentatively scheduled to air on CBS in February.
The production company will pay more than $40,000 for "exclusive, 24-hour" use of the arena, about $25,000 more than it would generate in rental revenues during the same period.
With crew members staying in local hotels and eating in local restaurants, Baulk said, there will also be "significant spin-off for the community.''
As well, the taping will allow competitors from the K-W Skating Club to rub shoulders with the figure skating elite.
About 40 club members aged 16 to 24 are being recruited to perform as extras in a swing number with Lipinski and Browning, also a former world champion.
"It's exciting for the kids,'' said Carolyn Fedy, the club's technical director of programs. "They're all rising to the occasion by signing up.''
Tosoni said the company was impressed when it used the complex for a few days to tape part of a similar show featuring Hamilton two years ago.
A solid block of ice time is hard to find, Fedy said, and "it's a U.S. show, so the crummy Canadian dollar really works for us.''
Lipinski and Hamilton, also a producer on the show, will stay in K-W throughout the taping, but will keep a low profile.
"It's really, really hard work,'' said Tosoni.
"They'll only be going from the hotel to the rink and back again, likely.''
And although a number involving a live crowd was considered, she said, the taping will probably be closed to the public for the duration.
"I hate to be negative, but I really don't think that's possible,'' said Tosoni. "I'm afraid we can't do it.''
Baulk said he appreciates the understanding of regular rink users, mostly adult hockey players, who'll lose their ice time during the taping.
"We just think the benefits outweigh the downside of these kinds of things,'' he said.