Disney’s ‘Frozen’ melts the hearts of young and old

By Rich Fahey

BOSTON – If you are one of the many children who are being introduced to the magic of live theater with the national tour of Disney’s “Frozen,” congratulations. I’m sure you’ll be back.

The Citizens Bank Opera House is rocking these days with cheers and sing-alongs as the young theater-goers celebrate their relationship with the blockbuster animated movies “Frozen” in 2013 and “Frozen II” in 2019 by following the work to the stage.

Very good news for the adults attending is there is plenty in “Frozen” for you to appreciate. There’s laughs to be had in the high humor of several production numbers and the stagecraft that went into the efforts to being characters such as Sven the reindeer (played by Colin Baja) and the snowman Olaf (Jeremy Brewer) to life.         

There are also spectacular costumes, special effects, lighting, sets and projections that rival the best of past Disney shows.

The musical has what the theater would call “good bones.” It is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 fairy tale “The Snow Queen.”  The animated film “Frozen” won two 2013 Oscars, for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, the iconic “Let It Go.”  It was the highest grossing animated feature in history until “Frozen II.”

 It may not have gotten the Tonys on Broadway that its sister musicals did, but it had of run of 825 performances and 26 previews at the St. James Theatre after opening in February 2018, ending on March 11, 2020, before becoming a victim of the pandemic in June 2020.

“Frozen” is the story of two young royal sisters named Elsa (Erin Choi at some performances) and Anna (Annie Piper Braverman at some performances) who are pulled apart by parents King Agnarr (Kyle Lamar Mitchell) and Queen Aduna (Belinda Allyn) when a playful encounter between the two sisters almost turns deadly.

As an adult, Elsa (Caroline Bowman) still possesses magical powers that she struggles to control but cannot avoid her royal duties when she becomes queen of the kingdom of Arendelle. She finally re-connects with Anna but at her coronation ceremony, things go out of control, especially when the adult Anna (Lauren Nicole Chapman)  – with no experience with men – announces her love for Hans of the Southern Isles, (Preston Perez), a man she has just met, and seeks permission from Elsa to marry.

 Elsa refuses and in a moment of anger  unleashes her powers and turns Arendelle into a permanently frozen kingdom. When Elsa is accused of treason, she flees, leaving the throne vacant.

After finally re-connecting with her lost sister, Anna is alone again. Chapman makes the character funny and lovable, a plucky heroine determined to find her sister, reunite the family and bring Elsa back to the kingdom and her rightful place on the throne. She is aided by a kindly ice harvester named Kristoff (Domenic Dorset) and his reindeer Sven as well as the snowman Olaf.

To break Elsa’s spell and bring summer back to the kingdom, a specific task must be accomplished.

Both renditions of the Oscar-winning song “Let it Go” featured sing-alongs to Bowman’s lovely voice and were greeted with rock-star applause that seemed to shake the venerable Opera House.

The production values are simply spectacular, befitting a show that reportedly cost $35 million to mount. Michael Grandage directs, and the pacing is brisk.  

Rob Ashford’s choreography is lively and fresh and often hilarious, such as Act II’s opening number, “Hygge,” in which men and women emerge from a sauna to perform a peek-a-boo chorus line.

Christopher Oram designed both sets and costumes, and Finn Ross’s video projections and Jeremy Chernick’s special effects work hand in hand with Oram’s scenic design and costumes to vividly recreate iconic scenes from the animated movie.   

Natasha Katz’s lighting design and Peter Hylenski’s sound design perfectly complement the other artists, and Michael Curry’s puppet designs are simply sublime.

The book by Jennifer Lee and the score by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez capture the spirit of the animated movie, with 12 additional songs added to the music from the film.

“Frozen,” carried aloft by Disney theatrical magic, will melt the hearts of young and old.

Broadway in Boston presents the national touring production of Disney’s “Frozen.” At the Citizens Bank Opera House through Nov. 12. For ticket information go to, broadwayinboston.com