Olympic gymnasts at Allstate Arena like you've never seen before
On the heels of their dramatic performances in Beijing, American gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin bring their medal-winning routines into Rosemont's Allstate Arena for a one-day show.
Both are part of the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars, which gives local fans a chance to see a different side to their gymnastics than seen during the Olympics, namely more dance elements and artistry.
The show takes place 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Johnson and Liukin headline an all-star cast that includes Olympic high bar silver medalist Jonathan Horton, as well as Kevin Tan, Joe Hagerty and Justin Spring.
Former Olympic medalists also will be joining them, including Paul and Morgan Hamm - whose injuries kept them off the team - Shannon Miller and Blaine Wilson.
Ken Neal, tour manager, says audiences across the country have responded well to the show. In fact, he adds that the current tour is outpacing its 2004 counterpart by as much as 25 percent.
Locally, Allstate Arena officials reported more than 5,000 tickets sold as of last week, though nearly 5,000 remain available.
Elk Grove Gymnastics School has a group of 70 going to see the pro tour. An informal survey of their favorite gymnasts, split down the middle, between Johnson and Liukin. Either way, they're excited to be going.
Katie Strack, 14, will be competing with the Buffalo Grove High School varsity gymnastics team this winter, where she hopes to emulate the artistry and long lines of Liukin, her favorite.
"She's really graceful, and just good at everything," says Strack, of Arlington Heights.
Meantime, Amelia Rafferty, 12, of Elk Grove Village, cannot wait to see Johnson, and her signature move of doing a standing full twisting back flip on the balance beam.
"I work on the beam, but I can't do that," Rafferty says.
Maegen Bohac, a junior gymnast from McHenry West High School, convinced her teammates from the Fox Valley Tumbling & Trampoline Team to attend. Their favorite, hands down, she says, is Johnson.
"She's my age and she's just an amazing gymnast," Bohac says, adding that the team is hoping qualify for next year's Junior Olympics, taking place in Des Moines, Johnson's hometown.
Neal points to the show's mix of music from Walt Disney Records, including cuts from the "Disney Girlz Rock 2" CD, and live music performed by teen sensation Jordan Pruitt and his band, KSM, as helping to drive the show.
A group routine performed by the male gymnasts on the high bar to a medley of hits by Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers has proved to be a real crowd-pleaser so far on the tour, Neal says.
"These guys are terrific on that apparatus," Neal says. "There's an element of daredevil in the air, when you're that high up and can do these kinds of dismounts."
He also points to the floor exercise routine done by the Olympic all-around champion, Nastia Liukin, when she performs to the hymn, "Ave Maria," while using silks to enhance the artistry of her routine.
"It's pretty classical and not the kind of thing you usually see in gymnastics," Neal adds, "but with her elegance and grace, there's a real measure of artistry to her routine."
The overall favorite in the show, hands down, Neal says, is Shawn Johnson, the gold medalist on the balance beam and silver medalist in the all-around competition.
She performs her energetic floor exercise routine to "American Woman," by Lenny Kravitz.
"It just shows her athleticism and skill," Neal says. "She's such a little dynamo of a girl."
2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15
Where: Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road in Rosemont
Cost: $79.50, $49.50, $39.50, and $29.50
Call: (312) 559-1212 or visit ticketmaster.com or gymnasticssuperstars.com