Broadway at the Marcus Center presents: FROZEN

Caroline Bowman as Elsa in the North American Tour of Disney's FROZEN, The Hit Broadway Musical, through April 16th at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

By Mary Boyle

Since 2013, anyone who has had a child in their life has probably had the song “Let It Go” from Disney’s animated film, Frozen, stuck in their head at some point.  In fact, you may be thinking at the very reading of this, “Thanks a lot – I just finally got it out of my head and now you’ve put it back in there!”  People, I’m here to tell you that Disney’s FROZEN, The Hit Broadway Musical, is here in Milwaukee and it is worth getting that song stuck in your head again, I promise.

Frozen is the story of two sisters, Elsa and Anna, who are princesses of the Kingdom of Arendelle.  Elsa, the eldest, is born with a peculiar magic: she can create snow and ice out of thin air.  Her parents, the King and Queen, make sure to remind Elsa to keep her magic a secret, but Anna is enchanted by it and begs Elsa to demonstrate her skills whenever they’re alone.  One night, Elsa accidentally hits Anna with a blast of magic that nearly kills her.  From that point on, the King and Queen close up the castle and keep the girls apart, for the safety of both of them.  Unfortunately, in true Disney fashion, the parents both perish in a shipwreck soon after, leaving Elsa to prepare to be Arendelle’s future Queen and to learn to control and continue to hide her magic on her own, even from her own sister.  However, upon Elsa’s coronation, when the castle is finally opened up to guests, Elsa’s secret is revealed.  Now, it’s up to Anna to show Elsa and the rest of the Kingdom that Elsa is not the monster they believe her to be.

Directed by Michael Grandage, Frozen the musical follows essentially the same story as the animated film.  Jennifer Lee, who wrote the film, wrote the book for the musical, with added music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The creative team for Frozen also includes fantastic scenic and costume design by two-time Tony and Olivier Award winner Christopher Oram and all kinds of special effects in lighting by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, as well as video design by Tony winner Finn Ross. Everyone’s favorite characters, Sven the reindeer (Collin Baja/Dan Plehal) and Olaf the snowman, are puppets designed by Michael Curry.  Sven is an actor inside the puppet, while Olaf is controlled and voiced by the amazing Jeremy Davis. 
  
Young Anna (Avelyn Choi the night I attended) truly steals the show with her adorable sassiness, while grown Anna (Lauren Nicole Chapman) is also funny and sassy – what might be a bit too sassy for some audience members.  In their effort to make the musical appeal to all ages, the production does push a bit on the boundaries of appropriateness for young children, particularly between Anna and Hans (Will Savarese) and Anna and Kristoff (Dominic Dorset).  Then there is the hysterical, but naughty, “Hygge” scene with Oaken (Jack Brewer), which features a nearly nude ensemble from the sauna; nonetheless, when Elsa (Caroline Bowman) sings her signature song, you’d have to be made of ice to not be moved by it.  From the same producers as The Lion King, Frozen is a perfect show to introduce young children to Broadway musicals, with plenty of magic for all ages.

Tickets to FROZEN start at $40 and are available online at www.MarcusCenter.org, by calling 414-273-7206, or in person at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street in downtown Milwaukee.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207.  VIP Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations and a VIP Fan Pack, are also available.  Frozen will play Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Ticket buyers are reminded that the Marcus Performing Arts Center Box Office/Ticketmaster are the only official retail ticket outlets for all performances at Marcus Performing Arts Center. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that Marcus Performing Arts Center is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center
The Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) serves as a performing arts community gathering space in Southeastern Wisconsin, bringing high-quality arts and cultural programming to the region for over 50 years. As a mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of performing arts. Through multiple performance series and community events, MPAC brings a diverse range of performing arts to the region. Presented series include Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center, MPAC Presents, Dance, Jazz, National Geographic Live, Rainbow Summer, and additional special performances from internationally renowned artists. MPAC's education, community engagement, and inclusion initiatives provide free experiences that annually engage students and life-long learners in Milwaukee. MPAC is proud to be a dedicated War Memorial facility, honoring those who bravely served our country. For more information, visit www.marcuscenter.org.
 
Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services. For more information visit johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
 
Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 18-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird.