Scott City native combines passion for skating, theater with Disney on Ice job

Though Scott City native Matthew Buttrey has toured the world, he said he misses the people in Southeast Missouri the most and he credits a few of them with his success.

Buttrey grew up in Scott City and learned to ice skate at the Plaza Galleria in Cape Girardeau. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1995 and attended Southeast Missouri State University.

Buttrey received the bulk of his figure skating training at a rink in St. Louis and competed nationally in pairs figure skating, taking third place in novice pairs in the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Two years into studying at Southeast, he auditioned for Disney on Ice and was accepted.

"A couple months later I left for Japan for my first tour," he said.

He has been touring with the show for 13 years and returns to St. Louis on Wednesday with "Disney on Ice presents: Let's Celebrate!" a show encompassing celebrations from around the world.

Buttrey skated for 10 years, a few in the ensemble, six as Prince Eric from "The Little Mermaid" and one as Prince Charming.

He made the switch in 2007 to the creative side, where he now works as performance director, coaching the skaters and helping ensure the director and choreographer's vision of the show remains intact and on cue.

He gives the performers "all the tools they need in order to portray the roles in the best way," he said.

Because he sits in the audience taking notes for each performance, he gets to sees the children at the show and how they react and cheer for their favorite characters -- characters he has helped develop.

"I just really enjoy seeing the performers grow out there," he said.

"Let's Celebrate!" has more than 50 characters involved, from the princesses to the villains to the "Alice in Wonderland" gang.

"It's a huge party on the ice," Buttrey said.

The switch to performance director will hopefully help him take his next step, Buttrey said. He'd like to make his way up to a position of creating and planning a show from the beginning with a hand in costumes, choreography, set design and "as much as I can creatively," he said.

Buttrey attributes Cindy King, the theater director at Notre Dame, for his love of the theater.

"I would always go and talk with her after school about Broadway shows," Buttrey said. "She was definitely my theater inspiration."

King said Buttrey was always involved in the musicals at Notre Dame.

"Matt has a passion for performance, and not just performing, but the total picture of things," she said. "He always has had that passion for technicality ... scenery and props and everything."

His parents' support and sacrifice also contributed to his success, and Buttrey said he has tried to repay them by bringing them on tour.

"I owe them everything," he said. He brought his mother, Betty Buttrey, to Europe while he was touring through Paris, London and Rome.

"Seeing her take it all in is great," he said.

Buttrey said his mother, who now lives in Cape Girardeau, will probably come to a show in St. Louis, but he will not be able to visit "home" until the show closes in May. Then he will spend time in Southeast Missouri before going to his house in Florida.

"I miss how nice everybody is" in Southeast Misssouri, he said. "It's nice to feel home."

"Let's Celebrate!" will be performed Wednesday through March 14 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. For times and ticket information, visit www.scottradecenter.net.