San Francisco AT&T Park transformed into an ice palace for the December 5, 2007 figure skating show.

A 60’ by 120’ ice sheet was constructed centerfield in Giant’s Stadium for the 2007 Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular. This was the first skating show ever performed on the base ball grounds. It represents the venue’s attempt to host an increasing variety of family entertainment sports events.

Personifying that ideal, married couple Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen skated in each other’s arms while Barry sang: “My Eyes Adore You.” Their chemistry manifested almost a Gordeeva and Grinkov projection of love shared in their lives together on and off the ice.

David Pelletier was, on the other hand, without a partner for the first time in his pairs career. He and his wife, Jamie Sallè, are best known for sharing the gold medal with a Russian team after the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics judging scandal. At the time of Brian’s show, Jamie held their one-month-old son in the locker room while his daddy skated entertaining group numbers with the other guys on the roster.

Those group numbers, skated to a 70’s medley and Barry’s “Could It Be Magic,” opened and closed the show. The men also tried their hand at major league baseball – until a homely grounds keeper (in drag) used “his” feminine “parts” to sweep the boys off the field (ice) and literally knock them off their feet. This wasn’t, of course, until the crowd chimed in with: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” following a compulsory game of dizzy bat.

Victor Petrenko steadied himself for a fast-paced cowboy routine, complete with toe-tappin’ line dancing, cowboy hat and hanky. Like two voices blending in perfect harmony, Victor and Barry also performed “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”

Barry belted: “It Never Rains in California” while Steven Cousins got about as groovy on the ice as his zebra-striped shirt. Next, ice skating gymnast comedians Vladamir Besedin and Oleksiy Polischuk scared the crowd with their wigs and their routine to “Rock Me Amadeus.”

Later, the dynamic dudes dressed as ballerinas and sucked the sadness right out of the timeless “Dying Swan” classical piece. Pay close attention to where their blades go. Yikes! As if an on-ice one-armed hand stand on Oleksiy’s head isn’t impressive enough.

Professional figure skating champions Elena Leonova and Andrei Khvalko had fun in characters as robbers [in really sparkly shirts.] Their next routine, to Barry singing: “Even Now,” included more high-flying throws, jumps and tricks – even a bounce spin (head banger) thrilled the crowd.

While he’s not the most exciting stage performer, Barry Manilow clearly enjoyed working with the skaters and watching them interpret his music. His incredible songs were very well sung, but he made a couple of mistakes on one of Brian Boitano’s solos. In order for T.V. magic to captivate a flawless performance, audience members were treated to an encore of the number at the end of the show. Now you won’t notice any mistakes during Brian’s heartfelt tribute to his father with Barry’s “I Write the Songs.”

The always lovely Dorothy Hamill stole the show with her natural beauty but was visibly nervous (taking long deep breaths, relaxing her shoulders and closing her eyes) while she awaited the music for her first routine. Her edging to Barry’s “Weekend in New England” portrayed a gentle spirit and peaceful delight that planted smiles of awe and respect on audience members’ faces. In Act II, she skated to “Time in a Bottle,” perhaps giving the crowd a glimpse of her Broadway on Ice choreography.

More on Manilow

Ice skating fans experienced first-hand why Brooklyn-born Barry Manilow has been billed as the top adult contemporary recording artist of all time. This Julliard School alumnus crooned “The Way We Were” as Brian skated with the beautiful Dorothy Hamill, and the audience was spell-bound with nostalgia.

Barry is a philanthropist in his own right, so it was understandable that he showed interest in a charitable collaboration of this kind. The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope assists health and human rights organizations as well as music education.

Tickets for the figure skating event ranged from $55 to $125 plus fees, but a seldom-advertised family rate brought the cost down to around $40 per person. Barry Manilow tickets for the Las Vegas Hilton show are upwards of $250, so figure skating enthusiasts really scored when they chose to watch this music master live at the Skating Spectacular.

George Mark Children’s House

The Aflac-sponsored figure skating spectacular raised funds to help support the George Mark Children’s House. Since 2004, this facility (reportedly founded by a friend of Brian’s) has been “dedicated to helping the entire family before, during and after their child’s illness, and life, is over.”

Their services and websites (offered in Chinese and Spanish) are supported solely through contributions from individuals and corporations. For example, self-contained family apartments are offered free of charge to immediate relatives of ailing children.

Brian’s unspoken but obvious tribute to the cause was his “Imagine” routine. Sharing his vision for this show was Brian’s White Canvas Productions crew, including producer Scott Williams and ice dancing champion Renee Roca as choreographer.

Television Broadcast Dates

NBC, Saturday, December 22, 2007, 1:00-3:00pm (EST)

Style Network, Sunday, December 23, 2007, 10:00am-12:00pm

Style Network, Friday, December 28, 2007, 5:00pm-7:00pm