On Tour: Disney’s Frozen

Temperatures dropped in Boston as the North American Tour of Disney’s Frozen took the stage at the Citizens Bank Opera House.

Based on the 2013 Disney film of the same name, Frozen is Disney’s retelling of the beloved Hans Christian Anderson tale The Snow Queen. In this adaptation, royal sisters Anna and Elsa endure years of separation, following an accident with Elsa’s ice powers, which turn her to a life in isolation. Years later, the sisters reunite on Elsa’s coronation day, a day marked not only by Elsa taking the title of Queen of Arendelle, but also a reveal of her ice powers, as an emotional outburst plunges Arendelle into an eternal winter. Elsa flees Arendelle, leaving Anna to embark on a search for her sister to repair their broken relationship.

In true Disney fashion, this stage production is spectacular, using big sets, luscious choreography, and magic special effects to enchant audience members of all ages. From turning the stage to palace walls, to a grand cathedral, to a trading post, to an ice palace, the set design leaves no stone unturned. Audiences who are familiar with the animated film might be surprised to find this production is a bit more mature in its presentation, focusing on the challenge of Elsa’s ice powers rather than the comedic bits with Sven the reindeer and Olaf the talking snowman, which fans may remember fondly from the film.

The choreography is big, but what catches the eye is the use of choreography in scenes that extend beyond the limits of the stage. One particular standout is the use of choreography as King Agnarr (Kyle Lamar Mitchell) and Queen Iduna (Belinda Allyn) go off to sea—which leads to their ship getting lost— and how the ensemble mimics the movement of the ocean and eventually choreographs the king and queen lost at sea. The same can be said in the second act, when the ensemble acts as the snow storm in the final scene of the show.

Caroline Bowman is the powerhouse behind the production, bringing Elsa to life. From her icy elder sister demeanor to her powerful vocals that bring the house down with “Let It Go” and “Monster,” Bowman is a standout in this production. Bowman’s performance is as enchanting as the touch of magic at her fingertips. The special effects used to give Elsa her snow powers are perhaps one of the most exciting features of the production, delighting audience members of all ages.

At the heart of the production is Lauren Nicole Chapman as Princess Anna. Chapman’s quips and comedic timing balance out Bowman’s regal Elsa — a match made to be. The Broadway production softens many of Anna’s solo moments from the film, although the addition of her duet with Kristoff (Dominic Dorset), “What Do You Know About Love?” and her new duet with Elsa, “I Can’t Lose You.” As an audience member, you can’t help but smile as warmth and joy radiate from Chapman’s Anna.

Additional performances by Jeremy Davis (Olaf), Renee Reid (Bulda), Tyler Jimenez (Pabbie), and Jack Brewer (Oaken, Bishop, Ensemble) were also a highlight of the production.

Frozen is touring across North America. To see if the production is coming to you, visit frozenthemusical.com.