SCARE TACTICS INNOVATIVE COSTUMES BRING 'MONSTERS, INC.' TO THE ICE.

Byline: Michel Nolan Staff Writer

Monsters, in all their wacky glory, reign supreme over frozen water for the latest Disney on Ice production, ``Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc.''

``This is the most fun show - it's nonstop laughter,'' said Pasadena costume designer Scott Lane, who created more than 140 costumes for the show. ``You're making monsters. How can you not have fun when you're dealing with big purple blobs?''

Think of the funniest, most extravagant Disney on Ice show you can. Then super-size it.

The eye-popping, larger-than-life show opens Dec. 23 at Staples Center in Los Angeles for a four-venue tour of the Southland.

The monster menagerie bursts onto the scene Thursday through Dec. 26 at Staples, Dec. 28 through Jan. 2 at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and Jan. 12-16 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

``Monsters, Inc.'' is the story of monsters who generate their city's power by scaring children, but they are terribly afraid themselves of being contaminated by the little ones.

Monsters James P. Sullivan (aka Sulley) and one-eyed Mike Wazowski, along with their adorable pint-size friend Boo, will spark the ice with daring acrobatics in the enormous production.

The massive sets and colossal costumes, with help from world-class skaters, make this production different in size and scope from other Disney shows.

``We used more than two football fields of foam for the 143 costumes,'' said Lane, who manipulated mounds of foam and rubber into ``screamtastic''-looking monsters that still had to be able to perform on the ice.

A former musical theater performer, Lane understands the importance of being able to move in the restrictive costumes.

``I used to sing and dance. That's why I'd climb into the stuff to see how constricting it was and what the visual limitations were,'' he said.

``There was a lot of trial and error - or shall we say research and development - on these costumes. We'd just say, 'Let's try it! Let's see what happens!' ''

In the end, he combined high-tech (carbon fiber) with low-tech (aluminum) to create the magical monsters. Even everyday objects such as dryer hoses and salad bowls inspired the creations.

``I did a lot of apologizing to these young skaters,'' he said, ``Eighty pounds of costume is like a sauna.''

The costumes are great, said Raegan Brierton, 25, who convincingly plays the toddler, Boo. ``Scott did a wonderful job.''

Boo, who triggers a Child Contamination Scare at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory in Monstropolis, is not as afraid of the monsters as they are of her.

``I studied how toddlers move,'' said the diminutive Brierton. ``I watched little kids play and have tantrums. It was a lot of fun.''

The 4-foot-10 native of Illinois has been skating since she was 9. ``It's hard work being a 3-year-old. They go nonstop,'' she said.

``I go to work and let all adult problems and worries go away, basically become naive again,'' Brierton said. ``Children are so innocent to the world.''

In this production, even the monsters will not be behaving badly. Said Lane, ``The monsters will be on their best behavior.''

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS DISNEY/PIXAR'S MONSTERS, INC.

Where/When: Los Angeles Staples Center: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 1 and 5 p.m. Friday; 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 26; 1111 S. Figueroa St.

Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28; 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29-30; 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31; noon, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1-2; 2695 E. Katella Ave.

Los Angeles Sports Arena: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12-13; 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14; noon, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15-16; 3939 W. Figueroa St.

Tickets: $13, $19 and $23. Family Premiere Nights (first night at each venue) tickets are $10. [phone], [phone], www.disneyonice.com.

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) A giant set is part of the Disney/Pixar traveling ``Monsters, Inc.'' ice show that begins its local run at Staples Center.

(2 -- color) The fanciful ``Monsters, Inc.'' costumes need to look good while allowing the ice skaters freedom of movement.

(3 -- 5 -- color) The ice-bound ``Monsters, Inc.'' characters begin in sketch form.

(6 -- color) SCOTT LANE