Frozen Review: A Beloved Film Comes to Life on the Stage
The last time I went to see a stage show was when I went to see Hamilton, roughly 4 years ago. It has been far too long since enjoyed a night out at the fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta. So when I heard that Frozen was coming to town, I knew I had to be there. Because when you combine Disney and a musical stage show, it’s always pure magic – regardless of your age.
Frozen premiered on Broadway in 2018, and began its US tour in November 2019. But it came to halt in March of 2020 when the world shutdown. However, as our lives begin to resemble normal again, and theaters have reopened, our musical-loving hearts are full again. Frozen is a fantastic stage show to welcome audiences back. And it creates a wondrous experience for young viewers who perhaps haven’t seen a stage musical yet.
It’s no surprise that the audience was full of parents and their young children at the Friday night showing I attended. There’s always something magical about watching anything Disney-related while in the presence of young fans. Hearing their reactions to the characters, the insanely gorgeous sets, and Elsa’s costume change during “Let it Go” – it creates a sense of childlike wonder for all ages.
Frozen Review: The Story, The Cast, and The Sets
Frozen follows the same story as the beloved animated film. It’s filled with the same powerful ballads, lovable characters, and humor that made us fall in love when the movie first premiered in 2010. This story created a beautiful movie, but it’s also belongs on the stage.
The cast does a beautiful job at capturing the personality of the characters, specifically Berklea Going. Berklea delivered such a charming and vibrant performance as Anna that if I had been sitting further back, I would have thought it was actually Kristen Bell on stage. She had the mannerisms down to a T.
Caelan Creaser also wow’ed as Elsa. She brought the vocal power needed to send chills through the audience as she beautifully belted out “Let It Go.” Two days later, I’m still singing the song as I write this review.
The supporting cast does a great job as well. And the puppetry work with both Olaf and Sven (which was a tad reminiscent of the Lion King stage show for me), also brings a delightful sense of awe to the stage. The world of Arendelle truly comes to life thanks not only to the talented cast but also the incredible set design.
If you’re curious for more details about the stunning set designs, there’s a short (but great) interview that Architecture Digest did with Tony Award-winning set designer Christopher Oram, where he talks about where he drew his inspiration from.
Overall, this musical does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Warm your heart and put a smile on your face. I can’t recommend it enough for Disney fans! It’s pure musical magic.
Tickets
For its Atlanta run, Frozen will play an exclusive 2-week Atlanta premiere engagement at the Fox Theatre beginning Thursday, June 2, with performances playing through Sunday, June 12. VIP Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations and a VIP Fan Pack, are also available. Tickets are available by phone at (855) 285-8499, online at foxtheatre.org/frozen and at the Fox Theatre Box Office at 660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling Fox Theatre at (855)-285-8499.
Photos by: Deen van Meer
I was there Friday night too- just a correction, the understudies for the leads were on that night!
Anna- Berklea Going
Elsa- Caelan Creaser
Hans- Colby Dezelick
Oh thank you for the heads up! I didn’t see that at the event. I’ll update the article! 🙂
It was so detailed and I loved how you went into the story, the cast, and the sets. I think that’s a pretty good way to understand what to expect when you’re going to see the show.