advertisement

Pure magic: ‘Frozen’ regional premiere a triumph for Paramount Theatre

“Frozen, The Broadway Musical” — 4 stars

As dazzled audience members exited Paramount Theatre opening night following the marvelous regional premiere of Disney’s “Frozen, The Broadway Musical” one young girl — having succumbed to the late hour — slept peacefully in her seat.

Her counterparts — little girls with side braids, wearing ice blue dresses and carrying wands and one young boy with a stuffed reindeer — were awake. And every bit as awestruck as their parents by the artfully designed spectacle that seamlessly integrated set, sound, lighting, projections, props and costumes.

With this stunning production, director Trent Stork has set an impossibly high bar by which future revivals of this show — a combination coming-of-age tale and sibling bond celebration adapted from the 2013 Oscar-winning animated film — will likely be measured. Stork’s production is magical, and much of the credit rests with the creative team.

Beth Stafford Laird plays Anna in Paramount Theatre’s regional premiere of Disney's “Frozen, The Broadway Musical.” Courtesy of Liz Lauren

Set designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec provides the foundation in the form of a grand castle whose latticed arches drip with Spanish moss and an icy tundra dominated by giant snowflakes. Greg Hofmann’s ethereal lighting ranges from moody interiors to pastel-colored northern lights to sparkling, spiraling bursts. Paul Deziel’s gorgeous, Nordic-inspired projections include bucolic gardens, majestic mountains and undulating rivers. Mara Blumenfeld’s costumes range from homespun peasant garb to sumptuous ballgowns, one of which transforms in the blink of an eye into a glittering blue sheath that would make Bob Mackie envious.

Tiffany Krause’s whimsical choreography; Jesse Mooney-Bullock’s adorable, applause-inducing puppets; sound designer Adam Rosenthal, properties designer Aimee Plant, wig/hair/makeup designer Katie Cordts also deserve mention for their part in crafting an enchanting show that credibly reimagines some of the film’s memorable moments.

Emily Kristen Morris, Elsa in Paramount Theatre’s production of Disney’s “Frozen, The Broadway Musical,” stops the show with the anthemic “Let It Go.” Courtesy of Liz Lauren

But those glorious visuals (including extra-special effects) would be for naught without superb leads Beth Stafford Laird and Emily Kristen Morris and a stellar supporting cast, which under music director/conductor Kory Danielson is one of the most vocally robust ensembles in recent memory.

The effortlessly charismatic, eminently personable Laird plays impetuous, non-magical younger sister Anna, a young woman who is fully herself, whose devotion helps Elsa embrace her true self. The stately Morris (a formidable vocalist) plays circumspect snow-queen-in-training Elsa, who transforms from a repressed youngster forced to conceal her abilities into a young woman, fully in control.

Young Elsa (Genevieve Jane), center, conjures a snowman for younger sister Anna (Avelyn Choi) in Disney’s “Frozen, The Broadway Musical,” running through Jan. 19 at Aurora’s Paramount Theatre. Courtesy of Liz Lauren

Equally impressive are their younger counterparts: the impish Avelyn Choi (who alternates with Elowen Murphy) as Young Anna and the kindly indulgent Genevieve Jane (who alternates with Everleigh Murphy) as Young Elsa.

The musical opens with the royal siblings happily at play in fictional Arendelle. After Elsa unintentionally injures Anna with her magic, their parents (played by Brian Hupp and Allison Sill) separate the girls to protect young Anna, leaving the sisters estranged.

Fast forward to the adult Elsa’s coronation where Anna finds romance with the princely charmer Hans (Jake DiMaggio Lopez) until another of Elsa’s unintentional magical eruptions — a midsummer blizzard — interrupts the festivities.

Kristoff (Christian Andrews) and Anna (Beth Stafford Laird) share what they know about love in director Trent Stork's dazzling production of Disney’s “Frozen, The Broadway Musical” at Aurora's Paramount Theatre. Courtesy of Liz Lauren

Fearful, Elsa flees for the mountains. Anna pursues her accompanied by ice merchant Kristoff (Christian Andrews, an affable, everyman here) and his reindeer pal Sven, whose outsize personality comes courtesy of actor/puppeteer Adam Fane. The group is joined by Olaf, singer/actor/puppeteer Ryan Stajmiger in a winning performance as the hug-loving snowman with a sunny attitude.

Emily Kristen Morris plays snow queen Elsa in Paramount Theatre's magical regional premiere of Disney’s “Frozen, The Broadway Musical” directed by Trent Stork. Courtesy of Liz Lauren

“Frozen” screenwriter Jennifer Lee penned the book and composer/lyricists Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez wrote the score featuring bright spots such as the familiar “Do You Want to Build a Snow Man?”; a lovely Anna-Kristoff duet titled “What Do You Know About Love?”; and the cheeky “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People.” But what the crowd really wanted to hear was the anthemic “Let It Go.” Greeted with excited murmurs, it was exquisitely delivered by the clarion-voiced Morris who stopped the show.

“Stunning,” exclaimed a man sitting behind me.

Stunning indeed. In every way.

Beth Stafford Laird, left, plays Anna and Emily Kristen Morris is Elsa in Paramount Theatre’s magnificent regional premiere of Disney's “Frozen, The Broadway Musical.” Courtesy of Liz Lauren

• • •

Location: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com

Showtimes: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 22. Also 3 p.m. Nov. 29. No shows Nov. 28 and Dec. 25. Beginning Dec. 26: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 19. Also 2 p.m. Dec. 27 and 1:30 p.m. Jan. 2.

Tickets: $28-$95

Running time: About 2 hours, 15 minutes, with intermission

Rating: For most audiences

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.