Frozen the Broadway musical
Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards
Over the weekend, I went to the Moorhead High School Theatre production of Disney’s Frozen at the Horizon Performing Arts Center. This is the fourth and final year that Moorhead High is presenting their musical at the Horizon Middle School. Phase two of the new High School is under way, and according to the program next years musical will be back at the new High School. That’s exciting news! I have been impressed by the stage/theatre at Horizon Middle School too.
This stage musical is based on the 2013 Disney animated movie of the same name. I got to see the Broadway production spring of 2018 with the original Broadway cast. Then I was able to see the National Tour at The Orpheum Theatre. in downtown Minneapolis in fall of 2021. The Moorhead High School Theatre production is the Fargo-Moorhead debut of Disney’s Frozen. When Disney was working on turning Frozen into a stage musical, they engaged the Frozen movie song writing duo Kristen Anderson-Lopen and Robert Lopez, to write additional songs for the stage musical, along with the book for the stage musical by Jennifer Lee.
The movie was inspired by the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. The story follows two sisters, Elsa the oldest child and heir to the thrown of Arendelle, and Anna the youngest sister/princess. Elsa has abilities over snow and ice. At a young age, their parents leave on a journey and their ship sinks. Else, per her parents wishes, isolates herself from Anna. Anna doesn’t understand why. She just remembers being close to Elsa. The story really picks up with Elsa’s coronation. The townspeople come into the castle, people and those of rank from nearby kingdoms arrive too. Anna falls for Hans, who’s is the 13th son of a king. There’s also the Duke of Weselton. In a moment of frustration Elsa unleashes here powers at the coronation celebration. Elsa runs away, meanwhile it’s supposed to be summer, but Arendelle is now plunged into a blizzard. Anna leaves Arendelle to find her sister. Anna meets Kristoffer and Sven (his reindeer). They offer to help climb the mountain. Along the way they find Olaf, a living breathing snowman from Anna’s and Elsa’s childhood. Else has brought him to life for real.
The first act ends with the song Let It Go. Where Elsa accepts here abilities and doesn’t hide who she is and what she can do anymore. This number was amazing in the animated movie. Disney did a really an amazing job with this on stage. You can see the Broadway version on YouTube. Also Disney recently filmed the London stage production of Frozen, which is on Disney+. Moorhead High did very good job with their version of the song Let It Go. When Else did the big costume change on the ice stairs upstage center, big reaction from the audience. The song Let It Go did not disappoint!
Outside of the spectacle. At the core of Frozen, the story is about family, sisters and the power of love.
I want to mention the costumes designed by Norah Carlson. Felt like I was in the world of the Disney movie. The scenery along with projections on the back screen, really took us to the different locations of Arendella and the mountains.
The cast! What an amazing pool of talent. Dawsin Raok as King Angarr, Lily Damico as Queen Iduna, Ireland Woodward as Elsa, Magnolia Burns as Anna, Jack Simon as Hans, Ashton Baker as Kristoff, Davie Judd as Olaf, Tristin Sullivan as the Duke of Weselton, and the actors who make up Sven the reindeer. We had an understudy for part of Sven at Saturday night’s show. Plus the ensemble.
I am continually impressed by the musicals at Moorhead High School Theatre. From the show titles, to the cast, scenery and costumes. Disney’s Frozen is playing over Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family.
A question that I have after watching this production is, does Disney provide the puppets for Olaf, and the reindeer costume for Sven? What I had seen on in this production looked just like these two characters from the movie.
Rumor had it that Saturday’s nights show was sold out. Another rumor says the rest of the run is sold out! If that is true, congratulations to Moorhead High School Theatre on selling out the rest of the run. I did hear that there are rush tickets, but they are only available in person 5 minutes before the musical begins. The musical runs through Sunday November 30, 2025.
