I would estimate that 90% of the audience that watched Frozen: The Musical at Shea’s Performing Arts Center were little girls in princess dresses and their mothers. Although I’m not in the prime demographic for this exciting production, I enjoyed the spectacle and most of the music.
The play version of Frozen follows the main plot of the movie version: two young princesses grow up in a small kingdom. One of the princesses, Elsa, has magical powers. When Elsa accidentally almost kills her younger sister, Anna, their parents separate them for safety.
Years go by and the princesses grow up. It’s time for Elsa to be coronated but that triggers a disaster as her magic powers are unleashed. Elsa flees to the wilderness and Anna decides to follow Elsa and try to help her.
I loved the redheaded Anna, played by Caroline Innerbichler. She was clever and funny and…gullible. Caroline Bowman, who played Elsa, belted out “Let It Go” at the end of ACT I and brought the house down.
Shea’s Performing Arts Center required everyone to wear masks. Diane was hoping they would also require proof of vaccination, but that didn’t happen. The audience of about 3000 showed their enthusiasm and loved the performance. Plenty of cool special effects, too! GRADE: A-
Musical numbers:
All songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez unless otherwise noted.
| Act I “Vuelie”†‡ – Company (music and lyrics by Christophe Beck and Frode Fjellheim) “Let the Sun Shine On” – Young Anna, Young Elsa, King, Queen and Townspeople “A Little Bit of You” – Young Elsa and Young Anna”Hidden Folk” – Queen, Pabbie, Young Elsa, King and Company “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?“† – Young Anna, Anna and Elsa “For the First Time in Forever“† – Anna, Elsa and Townspeople”Hans of the Southern Isles” – Hans “Dangerous to Dream” – Elsa and Townspeople “Love Is an Open Door“† – Anna and Hans “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People“† – Kristoff “What Do You Know About Love?” – Anna and Kristoff “In Summer“† – Olaf “Hans of the Southern Isles” (reprise) – Hans, Weselton and Townspeople “Let It Go“† – Elsa |
Act II
- “Hygge” – Oaken, Kristoff, Anna, Olaf, Family and Friends
- “I Can’t Lose You”∞ – Anna and Elsa
- “Fixer Upper“† – Bulda, Pabbie, Olaf and Hidden Folk
- “Kristoff Lullaby” – Kristoff
- “Monster” – Elsa, Hans and Men
- “Hans of the Southern Isles” (reprise 2) – Hans and Anna
- “True Love” – Anna
- “Colder by the Minute” – Anna, Kristoff, Elsa, Hans and Townspeople
- “Finale: Let It Go” (reprise) – Company
† Featured in the 2013 film.
‡ “Vuelie” written by Frode Fjellheim and Christophe Beck
∞ Song added February 2020, replacing a reprise of “For the First Time in Forever”
Not a fan of musicals but if I had to choose one to go to this wouldn’t be it. Certainly not one with singing children. Ugh.
Steve, the singing children grow up quickly (minutes actually) and the special effects are eye-popping!
Since I couldn’t even make it through the animated movie, this is a Hard Pass for me.
Jeff, this week Shea’s Performing Arts Center instituted a new policy of requiring attendees to all their future productions to provide proof of vaccination (in addition to wearing masks). The Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres also require proof of vaccination and masks for their games.
Glad you got out and had some fun. I have never seen the movie so am not familiar with much of the music. Just Let it Go actually. 3000 people. What a huge auditorium. I wonder if the Fisher, our big one, is that big. Have to check.
It’s about 2100.
Patti, we’ve been supporters of Shea’s Performing Arts Center for years. The capacity is officially 3,019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shea%27s_Performing_Arts_Center
I have given a lot to see you in your princess dress, George. I didn’t see the movie nor do I know the music, but it seems you liked it a lot.
Big deal here: it’s raining. It is the first real measurable rainfall since March, we are (were) nearly 10 inches under normal rainfall, a terrible drought. Today’s rain won’t solve that, but it’s a start, and it may rain again tomorrow, too.
Rick, glad to hear you’re getting rain! We had three night-time rain storms this week (accompanied by lightning & thunder) so we’re in good shape with regards to rainfall amounts. Unfortunately, we’re in a HOT weather pattern next week. Back to the 80s! Yuck.
I wish we could ship some of ours out there. July and August were close the monthly records for most rainfall and We had SEVEN INCHES in one day from Ida on September 1. We’re fine here but a lot of places in New Jersey in particular had flooding from river runoff.
Jeff, the scenes of the flooding of the subways during Hurricane Ida resembled Niagara Falls!
Flooding here and there in the state…locally, great big galumphing tornadoes.
Todd, tornadoes are rare in Western NY but surrounding states have seen an increase in number.
The only way I’d see this is if I took one of my granddaughters!
Bob, your granddaughters would love FROZEN! They’ll probably dress up in their Princess costumes!