Ice stars will put DeSoto Center in a spin

The winter Olympics may be over, but DeSoto residents will get a chance to see Olympic-quality figure skating in their own backyard this weekend.

Stars on Ice glides, spins and triple lutzes its way into the DeSoto Civic Center Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

This year's cast of stars includes Olympic champions Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski, Katarina Witt and Ilia Kulik; Olympic silver medalist Denis Petrov; and six-time U.S. national champion Todd Eldredge.

"This year it is about the women," said four-time world champion Kurt Browning, another of the Stars on Ice skaters.

The show centers on Yamaguchi, Lipinski and Witt and the female perspective of life and love. The skaters will perform to new arrangements of the Carpenters' classic hits and the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

"It is a great opportunity for people to see three generations of Olympic champions together," Browning said.

In its 16th year, Stars on Ice has a 61-city U.S. tour itinerary. Since 1999, the tour has supported Memphis's Target House, which provides housing for patients and families undergoing long-term treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The DeSoto Civic Center is anticipating one of its biggest audiences of the year for this event.

"We're expecting big crowds, just like last year," general manager Stuart Taylor said. "They have a great group of people coming. You're seeing some of the best athletes in the world."

More than 7,000 people attended last year's Stars on Ice. The 8,000-plus seat Civic Center has yet to sell out an event.

Last year, a free Easter worship service featuring country singer Randy Travis drew more than 8,000.

So far this year, the record stands at 7,501 for last Saturday's Memphis RiverKings hockey game.