Frozen has been an absolute juggernaut that has conquered movie screens and the hearts of children, now the blockbuster sets its sights on the stage. We have the first look at the Broadway cast and they look perfect. Check out Anna, Elsa, Hans, and Kristoff in their costumes that look like they've come to life directly from the animated original.
From left to right you have John Riddle as Hans, Caissie Levy as Elsa, Patti Murin as Anna, and Jelani Alladin as Kristoff. The four actors are currently performing Frozen in preview shows through October 1, taking place in Denver, before the performance opens officially on Broadway in February 2018. Needless to say, they look amazing as the costumes reflect their film versions perfectly.
However, based on the story in Entertainment Weekly, it may be that the outfits are the only thing that will mirror the film so closely. While all the music you remember from the movie, including, of course, "Let it Go," will be there, the stage show will include new music as well and according to the show's director, Michael Grandage, it will also have bigger narrative arcs, allowing the show to develop storylines in greater depth.
Seeing Frozen make the leap to Broadway was probably a foregone conclusion after its remarkable box office run. Disney has seen huge success by adapting their hit films for the stage with the like of Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and, The Lion King all becoming hits through this second medium. That last stage musical, The Lion King, was also well-known for its use of puppetry and other stage effects to bring the world of talking animals to the audience. Frozen will be doing some of that as well, as Sven, Kristoff's reindeer partner will be played by dancer Andrew Pirozzi with the use of a prosthetic. Olaf the snowman is being handled by Greg Hildreth. The non-human characters certainly represent challenges in bringing Frozen to the stage, but Disney has always been good at developing creative solutions to problems, and they tend to find inventive and visually stunning solutions.
The Broadway stage show of Frozen is just the latest in Disney's ongoing attempt at world domination via the animated musical. Last year, a Frozen-themed attraction opened at EPCOT in Walt Disney World, which set records in the world of theme park wait times. Later this year a Frozen short film, Olaf's Frozen Adventure, will premiere alongside Pixar's Coco, which will hit just about two years before Frozen 2 opens in theaters. No, Disney will not be letting it go anytime soon.
Unfortunately, for those of us who don't live in Denver or New York, it will also be a few years before Frozen is ready to start touring so the rest of us can check it out. Assuming Frozen's popularity doesn't wane, and it hasn't yet, the show will likely be sold out on Broadway for years to come.
