Four weeks ago, Frozen: The Musical, the stage adaptation of Disney's iconic 2013 film Frozen, made its Broadway debut, as previews commenced at the iconic (and newly-renovated) St. James' Theatre. This week, the much-loved story of Anna and Elsa, the royal sisters of Arendelle (played by Patti Murin and Caissie Levy), celebrates its official opening night on Broadway. This represents the culmination of a long and eventful journey- the first readings of the script took place two years ago, and there were numerous changes to the cast and crew before Frozen: The Musical was ready to be shown to theatregoers. There even have been a few substantial changes over the preview period- Elsa has recently been given an impressive new costume to wear during the climax of the production. However, it seems like all the hard work will pay off. Frozen fans have generally been full of praise for the musical, and the preview performances have already earned large amounts of money. It seems like Frozen: The Musical will be another big hit for Disney Theatrical, emulating the success previously enjoyed by their adaptations of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Aladdin.
When the preview period began, this blog provided a post highlighting a variety of fascinating articles about Frozen: The Musical. Here, we will showcase 33 more articles about this new Broadway spectacular, including interviews with the cast and crew, information about the costumes and choreography, and exclusive revelations about the new songs created especially for this production...
(Note: This post contains spoilers, as it assumes that most of us are familiar with the story of Frozen by now. If you aren't, be careful...)
Behind the Scenes
With an estimated budget of up to $50 million, it took plenty of effort to make Frozen: The Musical into a unique and impressive spectacle. The costumes, sets, choreography and music have been edited and refined extensively during the production process, and these articles show that the team behind Frozen: The Musical are working incredibly hard in order to live up to the high standards set by the original film...
A Deep Dive Into the Costumes from Frozen on Broadway - The sets and costumes for Frozen: The Musical were designed by Christopher Oram, who has collaborated with director Michael Grandage on numerous projects over the years. In this interview with Time Out, Oram discusses how he designed the costumes of the main characters, staying true to the look and feel of the film whilst altering the clothes to meet the requirements of a stage musical where actors sing and dance in them up to eight times a week. He also reveals how he was inspired by his visits to Norway and his research into traditional Norwegian clothing...
Broadway gets 'Frozen': How A Modern Movie Classic Became a Hot New Musical - This article from USA Today provides plenty of information about Frozen: The Musical, as the Lopezes discuss the new songs added to the musical and its "Shakespearean" tone, Patti Murin and Caissie Levy explain why they love Anna and Elsa so much, and Jelani Aladdin reveals what he brings to the role of Kristoff. In addition, we learn how Murin and Levy prepare for their performances in Levy's dressing room...
Disney's Challenge: Keeping it Frozen, But Still Fresh - This article from The New York Times was published shortly before the Denver tryouts commenced, and it provided audiences with plenty of intriguing information about Frozen: The Musical . This article was the first official source to reveal some of the biggest changes made for Frozen: The Musical, such as the decision to re-imagine Kristoff's troll guardians as Scandinavian forest spirits called 'Hidden Folk' and the removal of Elsa's snow monster Marshmallow. The cast and crew also explain how much effort went into turning Frozen into a stage musical, and we get to see Caissie Levy rehearsing her take on Elsa's signature song, 'Let It Go'...
Dressed to Chill: The Costumes of ‘Frozen’ - In this interview with Newsday, Christopher Oram and Michael Grandage reveal how the costumes used in Frozen: The Musical were created, talking about the challenges posed when adapting clothing from an animated movie to a world of "gravity, physics and mic packs". However, they also reveal the advantages of using these costumes, including the ability to constantly alter them after every performance, and add the sort of details which would be impossible to include in an animated movie...
How Frozen Reimagines Its Icy World for the Broadway Stage - One of the most important selling points of Frozen: The Musical is seeing how Elsa's ice powers are brought to life on stage. This article from Vulture reveals how a wide range of equipment was used by Christopher Oram in order to convey the illusion that the young queen has accidentally created an eternal winter. The items utilised by Oram include crystal curtains, a giant bridge covered in ice, icicles sprouting from the floor, video projections, dry ice, and even dancers dressed entirely in white. There are also a couple of new photos, which show just how spectacular this production is...
Inside Disney’s Ambitious Plan To Bring Frozen To Broadway - This in-depth report from Time highlights the challenges faced by the cast and crew of Frozen: The Musical as it arrives on Broadway, where it will compete with other family-friendly productions such as Wicked and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The article provides plenty of information about the ways in which Frozen: The Musical will appeal to an older audience (around 70% of Broadway theatregoers are adults seeing a show without children) and how the production will try and maintain the feminist appeal of the source material in an era where women's issues are more prominent than ever. We also learn how Patti Murin and Caissie Levy used fanfiction to help them prepare for their roles as Anna and Elsa, and discover how much effort went into designing costumes and scenery...
What Can You Expect from Disney's "Frozen" on Broadway? We Sat Down with the Choreographic Team. - Elaborate dance sequences are one of the key features of musical theatre, but they meed to be planned and rehearsed in great detail in order to impress audiences. In this report from Dance magazine, we follow Rob Ashford, the head choreographer of Frozen: The Musical, and his assistants as they edit the choreography for the song 'Fixer Upper' in order to emphasise Anna and Kristoff's growing connection to each other. The article highlights the demanding and insecure nature of work in the choreography team, but also shows how important every single movement is when you are making a musical...
Changes Since Denver
Given the intense levels of anticipation for Frozen: The Musical, the mixed reviews for the Denver try-out were a bit of a disappointment. In the five-month period between the end of the Denver run and the beginning of previews on Broadway, around 30% of Frozen: The Musical has been altered in order to make it as impressive as possible and win over audiences. These changes were covered in more detail by a variety of media outlets.
'Frozen' Comes to Broadway with a Tighter Focus and a Timely Message - Here, the cast and crew of Frozen: The Musical tell The Hollywood Reporter about the need to explore Elsa and Anna's emotional turmoil in greater detail, whilst also preventing the production from getting too dark. Michael Grandage reveals that he has responded to criticism of the Denver try-outs by adding a lighter opening, whilst Patti Murin confirms that Anna and Elsa have been given more time together...
How Broadway's 'Frozen' Will Surprise Movie Fans - In this article from Variety, Michael Grandage discusses some of the new scenes created for Frozen: The Musical and outlines a few interesting changes made since the Denver tryouts. A narration provided by Pabbie (head of the 'Hidden Folk') has been cut, more scenes with Anna and Elsa have been added, and (this is the most exciting change of all) the conclusion has been altered to include a reprise of an iconic song from the original film...
Will ‘Frozen’ Succeed on Broadway with a British director and a Different Ending? - In this article from The Washington Post, Michael Grandage discusses the challenges faced when directing a mega -musical like Frozen: The Musical, explaining how he chose to depict characters such as Olaf the snowman. He also reveals how the feedback for Frozen: The Musical in Denver influenced him whilst preparing for the arrival of the show on Broadway...
Reactions to the Previews
Although reporters and critics are unable to publish reviews of Frozen: The Musical until opening night, the start of the preview period is still an incredibly significant event worth mentioning in the media. As a result, several prominent newspapers provided articles commemorating the first performances on Broadway, and commenting on the Frozen fans who were the first people to see Frozen: The Musical at the St James' Theatre...
Disney's Frozen musical opens on Broadway: 'More nudity than expected' - The day after previews officially began, The Guardian provided a report on the reactions of the audience. Viewers of all ages were present at the first performance of Frozen: The Musical on Broadway, and they seemed to be full of praise. The title of this article refers to the fake nudity which occurs during the new musical number 'Hygge', which is sung by flamboyant salesman/sauna owner Oaken and a chorus of sauna users. Unsurprisingly, this sequence has generated quite a bit of debate amongst theatregoers...
'Frozen' has its First Performance on Broadway, and the Fan Frenzy Begins - Here, The LA Times highlight the excitement of audiences at the first preview performance of Frozen: The Musical, their passion for Anna, Elsa and friends, and their enthusiastic reaction when watching the production for the first time. They also provide photos of fans (and a few key members of the crew) waiting to enter the St James' Theatre and watch the show...
Frozen: The Musical First Look: Elsa and Anna's Surprisingly Risque Broadway Debut is a Hit with Adults - Like the Guardian article, this report from The Daily Telegraph highlights some of the racier aspects of Frozen: The Musical, including several "kissing scenes" and the "Hygge" sequence. It also features interviews with audience members, who generally provided positive reviews (although some expressed criticisms and doubts) and ends by speculating that its only a matter of time before Frozen: The Musical debuts in London's West End...
Frozen: the Musical Opens on Broadway – but Will Audiences Warm To It? - Here, The Daily Telegraph comment on the popularity of Frozen and its accompanying merchandise, whilst Michael Grandage provides some information about the development of Frozen: The Musical and the changes made since the Denver try-outs. Like most of the other articles unveiled the morning after the previews began, this report also highlights the numerous positive comments provided by the Frozen fandom...
Inside the 'Frozen' Dress Rehearsal: Broadway's New Musical Prepares to Lift the Curtain - This article from the LA Times chronicles the 'Gypsy Run' - a special dress rehearsal for Frozen: The Musical attended by numerous key Broadway figures. Jennifer Lee, who wrote and co-directed the original Frozen and has written the book for Frozen: The Musical, praises the actors and discusses the importance of a live audience, whilst the actor Alfred Molina (Jennifer Lee's boyfriend and one of the guests at the 'Gypsy Run') gets to provide his opinions on the production. This rehearsal took place just two days before previews began, but Jennifer Lee and the rest of the Frozen: The Musical team were still making changes to the opening number...
The Cast
Media coverage of Frozen: The Musical have unsurprisingly focused on Patti Murin and Caissie Levy, the actresses who play Anna and Elsa. There has been considerable interest in the reasons why they love playing Frozen's two iconic protagonists, and numerous reports have highlighted their unique bond. However, other cast members, such as Jelani Alladin and Greg Hildreth, have also revealed what its like to have a lead role in such a prominent musical...
Bow Down to the ‘Frozen’ Stars Ruling Broadway - In this article from The New York Post, Caissie Levy and Patti Murin explain their contrasting backgrounds and growing friendship, and also reveal why they don't like it when people refer to Elsa and Anna as 'Princesses'. In addition, Levy gets to talk about some of the elaborate costumes which Elsa gets to wear during Frozen: The Musical, including an all-new second-act outfit (complete with boots and trousers) to make Elsa seem more bold and assertive as she prepares to fix the damage her actions have caused...
‘Frozen’ on Broadway Made Them Sisters. Heartbreak Made Them Friends. - This report from the New York Times focuses on the friendship between Caissie Levy and Patti Murin, as they discuss their interests and explain why they relate to Elsa and Anna so much. More tragically, the two actresses reveal their experiences coping with miscarriages, and we find out how Murin's loss of a child has influenced her portrayal of Anna's search for a proper family....
Meet the Guy Behind Olaf in Broadway’s ‘Frozen’ - In Frozen: The Musical, Anna's snowman sidekick Olaf - one of the most memorable characters from the original movie - has been re-imagined as a full-bodied puppet being controlled by actor Greg Hildreth (The Olaf puppet has been designed in a manner similar to the 'double event' puppets in the stage version of The Lion King - both the actor and the character are fully visible at all times). This New York Post article reveals how Hildreth brings his puppet to life, and we also learn why Olaf is more than mere comic relief...
Propelled by New Canaan program, Jelani Alladin stars in Broadway’s ‘Frozen’ - One of the biggest talking points about Frozen:The Musical is the casting of African-American actor Jelani Aladdin as Anna's love interest Kristoff, which adds some much-needed racial diversity to the cast. Here, Alladin tells Connecticut Post about winning a theatrical scholarship at high school inspired him to pursue his acting dreams. He explains the demanding training regime he has to go on in order to prepare for the role, and talks about meeting his idol, Lin-Manuel Miranda...
Q&A: Jelani Alladin of ‘Frozen' - In addition to his Connecticut Post interview, Jelani Alladin has talked to Showtickets.com about playing Kristoff on Broadway. He reveals how he reacted when he first saw Frozen, and explains why he loves that movie so much. Alladin also praises the some of the changes made for Frozen:The Musical, including a new solo for Kristoff in Act two...
Q&A: Patti Murin of 'Frozen' - Showtickets.com have also provided a Q&A with Patti Murin, who is finally receiving a solo interview after sharing numerous interviews with Caissie Levy. Here, Murin explains how she became a fan of musical theatre, reveals how Anna became her favourite Disney Princess, and talks about having a "real life Elsa" in her older sister...
The Curious Care and Feeding of Olaf the Snowman in Broadway's 'Frozen' - This article from LA Times provides more information on Greg Hildreth, as he discusses the physical demands of bringing Olaf to life, and reveals how Michael Grandage taught him to base the character on the silly but wise comic fools traditionally found in Shakespeare plays. The article also highlights the work of Daniel Mura, who is in charge of maintaining the Olaf puppet and ensuring that it remains in good condition during every performance...
The Crew
The stars of Frozen: The Musical are aided by a large crew who help transfer the characters and their world from the screen to the stage. In addition to director Michael Grandage and songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (who appeared extensively in the previous collection of links) a variety of prominent crew members have also enjoyed some time in the spotlight during the Frozen: The Musical publicity campaign...
Exclusive: Choreographer Rob Ashford Gives Us All the Deets on Broadway's 'Frozen' - In this interview with DanceSpirit, Rob Ashford, the head choreographer for Frozen: The Musical, talks about the need to add dance to the story and explains how choreography was used to highlight the differences between the kingdom of Arendelle and the world of the mountains. He also discusses the constraints posed by the elaborate costumes, and reveals what his favourite sequence in the musical is...
Frozen on Broadway is a Grown-Up version of the Disney Movie - This interview with the Lopezes is from Metro.US, and features them explaining how Frozen: The Musical is aimed at more mature audiences. Kristen Anderson-Lopez discusses the dark themes and the Scandinavian-inspired sets and costumes, whilst Robert Lopez talks about the staging of Elsa's coronation, which is soundtracked by a new ballad called 'Dangerous to Dream'...
How 'Frozen' Has Changed from Screen to Stage, Including Elsa's Brand-New Power Ballad - Here, The Lopezes tell Yahoo Entertainment about the differences between Frozen: The Musical and the original movie. They explain why the world of Frozen means so much to them, and provide some intriguing comments about the forthcoming sequel Frozen 2. They also reveal some of the most interesting changes made to Frozen: The Musical since the Denver tryouts concluded...
Here’s the New ‘Frozen’ Musical Poster (and Seven That Didn’t Make the Cut) - As most theatre fans tend to focus on the play and the people who bring it to life, the importance of good marketing (even for a property as iconic as Frozen) is often overlooked. In this article from the New York Times, Disney Theatrical executive Andrew Flatt reveals the official poster for Frozen: The Musical, and shows us seven rejected designs. His comments highlight how much time and effort go into selecting the perfect poster - considering the quality of the final image, he definitely made the right choice...
They Wrote the 'Frozen' Musical for Broadway, but Can they Make it Sing? - The Lopezes have appeared in more promotional material for Frozen: The Musical than anyone else, but Jennifer Lee, who wrote and co-directed the original film, has not appeared very often in the promotional campaign. However, this LA Times article rectifies that imbalance by putting the trio together, and they provide a variety of insights about how closely the songs and dialogue are linked. The Lopezes and Jennifer Lee also explain how a psychologist helped them work on Frozen: The Musical and Frozen 2 (which is due at the end of 2019), and discuss the need to communicate feminist messages in the era of Times Up...
Why is a Master of Shakespeare Directing the Musical 'Frozen'? Because 'Let It Go' isn't too Far From the Bard - Michael Grandage has spent several interviews discussing the parallels between Frozen: The Musical and iconic Shakespeare plays such as As You Like It and Hamlet. He repeats these comparisons in this interview with LA Times, but also provides some new insights, pointing out that the St James' Theatre is famous for hosting some of the greatest American musicals (including Oklahoma! and The King and I), revealing why he needs to make Frozen: The Musical feel new and unique, and explaining why theatre means so much to him...
The New Songs - Frozen Fridays
Since the preview period began, four of the most significant new songs from Frozen: The Musical have been officially released on-line on four consecutive Fridays. The four new songs released during these 'Frozen Fridays' were: 'Monster' (an epic eleven o'clock song for Elsa), 'What Do You Know About Love' (a upbeat duet for Anna and Kristoff), 'Dangerous to Dream' (a song which Elsa sings as she prepares for her coronation) and 'True Love' (a sombre second-act ballad for Anna). All four of these songs can be heard here, and they represent interesting and memorable additions to the Frozen soundtrack. The Lopezes have provided plenty of insights into these new songs, and the way in which they advance the narrative and develop the characters...
Watch a New Song From ‘Frozen’ on Broadway - The first new song to be released was 'Monster', which Elsa sings as she prepares to face up to the damage which her ice powers have caused. In this New York Times article, the Lopezes provide further information about Elsa's "Moment of Reckoning", discussing the need to explore her emotional turmoil in detail whilst also providing hope and optimism for audiences who want Elsa to be a strong and powerful role model. The article also provides audiences with an exclusive look at the music video, which shows Levy performing the song at Manhattan's Gotham Hall...
These Broadway Stars Reacting To A New Song From Frozen On Broadway Are All Of Us- With its dark lyrics and powerful rock-orientated hook, 'Monster' seems to be one of the most popular of the new songs added to Frozen: The Musical. This article from OhMyDisney shows several Broadway stars (who have appeared in Disney Theatrical hits such as The Lion King, Aladdin and Newsies), listening to 'Monster' for the first time, and their excited and emotional reactions indicate that the song is going to be a major fan favourite...
The Inside Story behind Anna and Kristoff's new Broadway 'Frozen' Duet (plus exclusive song premiere) - The song released on the second 'Frozen Friday' was 'What Do You Know About Love?', a number where Anna and Kristoff sing about their conflicting perspectives on romance as they cross a treacherous bridge. In this article from Yahoo Entertainment, the Lopezes reveal how they adapted Anna and Kristoff's journey for the stage, and explain how they drew on their own relationship in order to develop the dynamic between the two protagonists, as their initial hostility towards each other gradually turns into a powerful friendship...
'Frozen' Exclusive: Hear Elsa's Emotional New Song from the Broadway Musical - In this article from USA Today, written to coincide with the release of 'Dangerous to Dream' (the third song to be released during the 'Frozen Fridays), The Lopezes provide a brief but interesting commentary on all four of the 'Frozen Fridays' songs. They explain how Dangerous to Dream functions as "an 'I want' song for a character who's not allowed to want anything", and how Kristen Anderson-Lopez's history of heartbreak inspired 'True Love'...
Listen to the Frozen Musical’s New Solo for Princess Anna, ‘True Love’ - The final 'Frozen Fridays' release was 'True Love', an eleven o'clock ballad which Anna sings at her absolute lowest point, after Hans betrays her and the 'Frozen Heart' curse accidentally inflicted by Elsa begins to take its toll. In this article from Vulture, Patti Murin and Kristen Anderson-Lopez reveal how 'True Love' conveys Anna's growing disillusionment, and we also learn how the song elaborates on the arrangement and themes of Frozen's iconic opening ballad 'Do You Want to Build A Snowman?'...
Summary
Based on these articles and interviews, it seems like Frozen: The Musical will satisfy Frozen fans whilst providing enough unique elements to please more critical audiences. As the official opening night gets increasingly close, the enthusiastic reactions of Frozen addicts and the goings on behind the scenes have been emphasised in greater detail, but the publicity campaign for Frozen: The Musical has not changed much over the past month, with the Lopezes, Michael Grandage and Caissie Levy still extensively promoting the darker, more mature tone of this production. Overall, Frozen: The Musical is likely to enjoy a long and successful run on Broadway. It will probably receive several nominations in the Tony Awards (Broadway's equivalent to the Oscars) and audiences all over the world can look forward to seeing Frozen: The Musical arrive in major theatres all over the world over the next few years...
