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”