With stage productions of Disney’s animated feature mega-hit “Frozen” already in place at Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line, it’s already plain to see that the tale of two sisters from Arendelle translates well to the stage. But now, Disney Theatrical Productions is assembling a cast and crew with the ultimate goal of a profitable enterprise on the great white way of Broadway in NYC. Frozen will join Disney hits Aladdin and The Lion King on Broadway in spring 2018 at the St. James Theatre.
Joining previously announced stars Caissie Levy (Elsa), Patti Murin (Anna), Jelani Alladin (Kristoff), Greg Hildreth (Olaf), John Riddle (Hans) and Robert Creighton (Duke of Weselton), are principal cast members Kevin Del Aguila (Oaken), Timothy Hughes (Pabbie), Andrew Pirozzi (Sven), Audrey Bennett (Young Anna), Mattea Conforti (Young Anna), Brooklyn Nelson (Young Elsa), Ayla Schwartz (Young Elsa), Alyssa Fox (Elsa Standby) and Aisha Jackson (Anna Standby).
In a cast of 40, Frozen will also feature Alicia Albright, Tracee Beazer, Wendi Bergamini, Ashley Blanchet, James Brown III, Claire Camp, Lauren Nicole Chapman, Spencer Clark, Jeremy Davis, Kali Grinder, Ashley Elizabeth Hale, Zach Hess, Donald Jones, Jr., Nina Lafarga, Ross Lekites, Austin Lesch, Synthia Link, Travis Patton, Adam Perry, Jeff Pew, Olivia Phillip, Noah J. Ricketts, Ann Sanders, Jacob Smith and Nicholas Ward.
Frozen will play its out-of-town tryout at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts August 17 – October 1, 2017. Tickets for performances in Denver are on sale now. For information on the Denver engagement visit DenverCenter.org. Tickets for Broadway performances will go on sale later this year.
Broadway preview and opening night dates will be announced in the coming months.
This Broadway-bound Frozen, a full-length stage work told in two acts, is the first and only incarnation of the tale that expands upon and deepens its indelible plot and themes through new songs and story material from the film’s creators. Like the Disney Theatrical Broadway musicals that have come before it, it is a full evening of theatre and is expected to run two and a half hours.
Based on the 2013 film written by a trio of Oscar winners, Frozen features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Up Here, Winnie the Pooh, In Transit) and EGOT-winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, Up Here) and a book by Jennifer Lee (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph), the film’s screenwriter and director (with Chris Buck). Frozen won 2014 Oscars for Best Song (“Let It Go”) and Best Animated Feature.
Frozen’s director is Michael Grandage, a Tony Award winner (Red) and director of three Olivier Award-winning Outstanding Musicals (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel and Guys and Dolls), and Rob Ashford, Tony Award winner (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and multiple Tony and Olivier Award nominee, is choreographer.
The design team for Frozen includes scenic and costume design by Tony and Olivier Award winner Christopher Oram (Wolf Hall Parts 1 & 2, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Evita), lighting design by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Aladdin; Hello Dolly!; An American in Paris), sound design by four-time Tony nominee Peter Hylenski (The Scottsboro Boys, Motown, After Midnight), video design by Tony winner Finn Ross (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), puppet design by Michael Curry (The Lion King, Spamalot), hair design by David Brian Brown (War Paint, She Loves Me), makeup design by Anne Ford-Coates (On Your Feet!; On the Twentieth Century) and special effects design by Jeremy Chernick (Aladdin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
Two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus (Avenue Q, Wicked, The Book of Mormon) is music supervisor and creates vocal, incidental and dance arrangements. He is joined on the music team by Dave Metzger (orchestrations), Chris Montan (music consultant) and Brian Usifer (music director).
Frozen is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher.
The Frozen Company: Credits
CAISSIE LEVY (Elsa). On Broadway, Ms. Levy created the roles of Fantine in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables, Molly in Ghost (also West End & cast album) and Sheila in the 2009 revival of Hair (also West End & cast album), and played Elphaba in Wicked (also Los Angeles) and Penny in Hairspray (also 1st national tour & Toronto). Off-Broadway, she starred as Julie Nixon and Patti Davis in First Daughter Suite (The Public Theater), Sara in Murder Ballad and Maureen in the national tour of Rent. She has played solo to sold-out audiences throughout the US, UK & Canada, was a guest soloist with The United States Military Academy at West Point, backed up Sir Rod Stewart in Las Vegas and most recently made her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops. Her debut solo album, With You, is available on iTunes.
PATTI MURIN (Anna). Broadway/national tour: Lysistrata Jones (Lysistrata), Wicked (Glinda), Xanadu (Euterpe). Off-Broadway: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare in the Park); Fly By Night (Playwrights Horizons); Lady Be Good! (Encores!). Almost Broadway: Nerds (Sally). TV: recurring roles on “Chicago Med” (Dr. Nina Shore), “Royal Pains” (Ava). Proud alum of the Syracuse University Drama department.
JELANI ALLADIN (Kristoff). Broadway debut. Off-Broadway: Sweetee (Signature Theatre), Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope (York Theatre). Regional: I and You (TheatreSquared), Choir Boy (Studio Theatre DC, Marin Theatre Company – San Francisco Critics Circle Award Best Leading Actor in a Play), The History Boys (Palm Beach Dramaworks – Carbonell Award for Best Ensemble), Violet (Clarence Brown), Josephine (Asolo Rep – world premiere). Graduate of the NYU Tisch New Studio on Broadway. @jelanialladin
GREG HILDRETH (Olaf). Broadway: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Peter and the Starcatcher, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Off-Broadway: The Robber Bridegroom (Lortel nomination). TV: “The Good Wife” (recurring), “Royal Pains,” “Kings,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” Film: Radium Girls; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows; Wall Street II. Education: Boston University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
JOHN RIDDLE (Hans) was last seen on Broadway in Kander and Ebb’s The Visit starring Chita Rivera. His other stage credits include Tony in West Side Story (Casa Manana), Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (St. Louis MUNY), Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees (PCLO), Evita (1st national tour), Little Dancer (Kennedy Center) and My Paris (Long Wharf). Other: The Secret Garden in concert at Lincoln Center, Cincinnati Pops. Last year, John debuted his solo show, Keep It Simple, at Feinstein’s/54 Below. He can be heard on John Kander’s Hidden Treasures from Harbinger Records. CCM grad.
ROBERT CREIGHTON (Duke of Weselton). Co-author and star of Cagney (Fred Astaire Award, Drama Desk & Outer Critics noms for Lead Actor in a Musical.) Broadway: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Durdles), Anything Goes (Purser/Moonface), Chicago (Amos), The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis), The Lion King (Timon), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Laughing Room Only. Shakespeare in the Park’s Comedy of Errors (Angelo). TV: “The Good Fight” (CBS), “The Family” (ABC), “Elementary” (CBS), “Law & Order” (NBC), “Life on Mars” (ABC). Album: Ain’t We Got Fun!. www.RobertCreightonNYC.com
KEVIN DEL AGUILA (Oaken). Broadway: Smee in Peter and the Starcatcher, Rocky. Off-Broadway: Starcatcher; Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare in the Park); Jacques Brel; God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (Encores!). TV: “Peg + Cat;” “Law & Order: SVU;” “Deadbeat.” Kevin is also an Emmy-winning writer and book-writer of the musicals Altar Boyz and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Fun fact: Kevin was a Troll in the original Frozen movie. delaguila.info
TIMOTHY HUGHES (Pabbie) plays the Strong Man in 20th Century Fox’s upcoming movie The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, score by Pasek and Paul. He made his Broadway debut in Chaplin and was part of Paint Your Wagon at Encores!. Regionally, Timothy has performed at the MUNY, Goodspeed, Fulton Opera and was directed by Kathleen Marshall in My Paris at the Long Wharf Theatre.
ANDREW PIROZZI (Sven). Broadway debut. TV/film credits include: “Hairspray Live!,” “Peter Pan Live!” (NBC); “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS); “The Real O’ Neals” (ABC); Ted 2 (Universal) and many more. National tours include: Movin’ Out, Dirty Dancing, Follies (CTGLA). www.andrewpirozzi.com. Insta @afpirozzi.
AUDREY BENNETT (Young Anna). Broadway: Amélie (u/s Young Amélie). National tour: The Sound of Music (Gretl). Instagram @audreybennettactor.
MATTEA CONFORTI (Young Anna). Broadway: Sunday in the Park with George (Louise) and the title role in Matilda The Musical. Film credits include 3 Generations and The Super. On television she has appeared on “Gotham” and “Power.” Workshops: Frozen.
BROOKLYN NELSON (Young Elsa). Broadway: Matilda (Amanda, formerly Small Girl swing). Workshop: Frozen (Young Elsa). Various commercials, voiceovers and films.
AYLA SCHWARTZ (Young Elsa). Broadway debut. Regional: Queens Theatre The Miracle Worker (Helen Keller).
ALYSSA FOX (Elsa Standby). A Dallas, TX native, Alyssa was most recently seen in Wicked on Broadway as the Elphaba standby, after playing the lead role on the national tour. Twitter @AlyssaFox. IG @AlyssaJoyFox.
AISHA JACKSON (Anna Standby). Broadway: Waitress, Beautiful The Carole King Musical. Regional: Memphis (Felicia), Witness Uganda.
ALICIA ALBRIGHT (Swing). Broadway: Wicked. Tours/regional: Wicked, Transcendence Theatre Company, All Shook Up, Jesus Christ Superstar, Seven Brides, A Chorus Line and more. Follow her adventures @aliciaalbright.
TRACEE BEAZER (Ensemble). Broadway: Something Rotten!; Honeymoon in Vegas; Holler If Ya Hear Me; Memphis; The Wedding Singer; Good Vibrations; Hairspray.
WENDI BERGAMINI (Ensemble). Broadway: Doctor Zhivago; Evita; Promises, Promises; South Pacific. Tours: Light in the Piazza (Franca), Guys and Dolls, Evita, Cats. Regional: Little Dancer, Secondhand Lions, Night Music. TV: “Sound of Music Live!.” www.wendibergamini.com
ASHLEY BLANCHET (Ensemble). Broadway: Beautiful (Little Eva – Locomotion), Annie (Star to Be), Memphis. National tour: Beautiful (Little Eva). Regional: How to Succeed… (Rosemary) – TUTS, Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) – KCRT. BFA U. Michigan. Please visit Ashleyblanchet.com.
JAMES BROWN III (Ensemble). Broadway: Rocky, Wicked, Ghost, Priscilla, Memphis, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple, The Frogs. National tours: The Lion King, The Producers. TV: “The Wiz Live!;” “Peter Pan Live!;” “The Mysteries of Laura;” “Forever;” “Mr. Robot;” “The Get Down.” Insta: @JamesBrownIII.
CLAIRE CAMP (Ensemble). Broadway: Cats (dance captain, swing). National tours: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Mrs. Potiphar), Flashdance the Musical (ensemble). Bill T. Jones Broadway workshop Super Fly. Received BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase.
LAUREN NICOLE CHAPMAN (Ensemble). Broadway and first national tour: Kinky Boots (ensemble, u/s Lauren). Select regional: A Sign of the Times (Goodspeed) and Legally Blonde (Sacramento Music Circus). BFA Emerson College. Laurennicolechapman.com
SPENCER CLARK (Swing). Broadway: Cats, Paramour. Other: West Side Story (Paper Mill Playhouse), In Your Arms (The Old Globe Theatre). Pace University 2016, BFA commercial dance. @thespencerclark
JEREMY DAVIS (Ensemble). Broadway: Cats (Skimbleshanks), Annie (Bert Healy), The Last Ship, South Pacific, Billy Elliot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 9 to 5, The People in the Picture, Ghost. BFA U. of Michigan. Equity member since 1998.
KALI GRINDER (Ensemble). Broadway/NYC: Wicked (ensemble) and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette). National tour: Wicked.
ASHLEY ELIZABETH HALE (Swing) Broadway: Matilda. US: Carmen; Mamma Mia!. West End: Shrek, Jersey Boys, Candide, Dirty Dancing, Guys and Dolls, Fame. International: Finding Neverland, Starlight Express, Saturday Night Fever. Film: Cinderella, Ted 2.
ZACH HESS (Ensemble). Broadway debut! National tours: The Book of Mormon (Elder Price standby), Cats (Munkustrap). AEA.
DONALD JONES, JR. (Ensemble). Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Broadway: Aladdin (OBC), Chicago (Sgt. Fogarty). Off-Broadway: Sweet Charity (Philip), Carnegie Hall’s West Side Story (Bernardo). National tour: The Color Purple. Seattle’s Spectrum Dance Theater. @doniejunior #blocSTAR
NINA LAFARGA (Ensemble). Broadway: On Your Feet! (OBC); In the Heights (OBC); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown; Sweet Charity; Aida. Off-Broadway: Capeman, Fanny. TV/film: “Elementary,” “Smash,” “30 Rock,” Friends With Kids, Sleeping with the Fishes, Ted 2. @ninalafarga, ninalafarga.com
ROSS LEKITES (Ensemble). Broadway: Kinky Boots. National tours: West Side Story (Tony), Kinky Boots. Regional: Theaterworks Silicon Valley, Goodspeed Opera House, Riverside Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, TOTS. TV: “Time After Time” (ABC). www.Rosslekites.com. Insta @rjlekites.
AUSTIN LESCH (Ensemble). Broadway: Something Rotten!; Violet; Billy Elliot. Off-Broadway: Altar Boyz. New York City Center Encores!: Violet. National tour: Altar Boyz. TV/film: “Peter Pan Live!;” Across the Universe. Original music on iTunes as Boo Riley. @boorileymusic
SYNTHIA LINK (Ensemble). Broadway: How to Succeed…, Big Fish, Bullets Over Broadway. 1st national tour: Young Frankenstein (Inga). NYC: Radio City Rockette. Met Opera: Merry Widow (Lolo). TV: “Smash.”
TRAVIS PATTON (Swing). Tours: Fosse, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Regional: Dreamgirls; Chicago; Fosse; Cats (Alonzo); Swing!; Pippin (Leading Player); The Wedding Singer. @trvspttn
ADAM PERRY (Ensemble). Broadway: Rocky; Nice Work…; Anything Goes; Promises, Promises; A Chorus Line and Wicked. Other: Joan of Arc (Public Theater). Tours: Wicked, Cats, Sweet Charity. TV/film: “Law and Order: SVU;” “Smash;” Hail, Caesar!. @adammperry
JEFF PEW (Swing). Broadway: Cinderella (Prince Topher u/s), Radio City Summer Spectacular. Tours: Billy Elliot. @jeffpew1
OLIVIA PHILLIP (Ensemble). Select credits – Broadway: Waitress; Disaster!. West End: The Book of Mormon, Ghost The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Instagram @olivialucyphillip. Twitter @oliviaphillip. Facebook Olivia Phillip.
NOAH J. RICKETTS (Ensemble). Broadway and 1st national tour: Beautiful The Carole King Musical. Favorite regional: Dreamgirls (C.C.) – NSMT; Hello, Dolly! – Muny; Tarzan (Terk) – WWT; La Cage (Jacob) – Summer Lyric. BFA CCM. @noahjrkts
ANN SANDERS (Ensemble). Broadway: Lincoln Center’s The King and I, If/Then, Leap of Faith, Avenue Q (Christmas Eve), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Off-Broadway: Plenty, Falsettoland. Regional: Shrek, Hair, Allegiance. TV: “Elementary,” “Unforgettable, “The Big C,” “Johnny and the Sprites.”
JACOB SMITH (Ensemble). Broadway: Doctor Zhivago (ensemble). Other credits: The Spongebob Musical (Patrick u/s, swing), Spamalot (Galahad) and Rock of Ages (Dennis). Instagram: @LumberJakeSmith.
NICHOLAS WARD (Ensemble). Broadway: In Transit, On The Town. NY City Center Encores!: The Golden Apple, 1776, Cabin in the Sky, Paint Your Wagon. National tour: Show Boat. European tour: Porgy and Bess. Regional: Big River, Ragtime, Once on This Island.
St James Theatre photo courtesy: Andreas Praefcke – Own work (own photograph), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2242376
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St._James_Theatre#/media/File:St_James_Theatre_NYC_2007.jpg
Pingback: Disney's Frozen musical starts rehearsals with Broadway in mind | The Disney Blog
Comments are closed.