Disney Theatrical’s new Broadway hit musical Frozen will have its premiere Australian season at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in July 2020.
Based on the 2013 film written by a trio of Oscar winners, Frozen features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Up Here, Winnie the Pooh, In Transit) and EGOT-winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, Up Here) and a book by Jennifer Lee (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph), the film’s screenwriter and director (with Chris Buck). Frozen won 2014 Oscars for Best Song (Let It Go) and Best Animated Feature.
Frozen’s director is Michael Grandage, a Tony Award winner (Red) and director of three Olivier Award-winning Outstanding Musicals (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel and Guys and Dolls), and Rob Ashford, Tony Award winner (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and multiple Tony and Olivier Award nominee, is choreographer.
“Frozen is one of the most highly acclaimed and sought after musicals currently in production,” said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. “It is a global cultural sensation, and we are thrilled to have secured the musical adaptation for Sydney. It’s yet another example of this Government’s commitment to building a world-class calendar of events for NSW.”
Frozen opened on Broadway in March 2018 and has set and broken four St.James Theatre house records. Placing in the top 10 best-selling shows every week, establishing itself as the biggest musical hit of its season.
A full-length stage work told in two acts, Frozen is the first and only incarnation of the tale that expands upon and deepens its indelible plot and themes through new songs and story material from the film’s creators; in fact, this new stage production features more than twice as much music as the film. Like the Disney Theatrical Broadway musicals that have come before it, it is a full evening of theatre running over two hours.
The design team for Frozen includes scenic and costume design by two-time Tony and Olivier Award winner Christopher Oram (Wolf Hall Parts 1 & 2, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Evita), lighting design by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Aladdin; Hello Dolly!; An American in Paris) and sound design by four-time Tony nominee Peter Hylenski (The Scottsboro Boys, Motown, After Midnight).
Video design by Tony winner Finn Ross (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), puppet design by Michael Curry (The Lion King, Spamalot), hair design by David Brian Brown (War Paint, She Loves Me), makeup design by Anne Ford-Coates (On Your Feet!; On the Twentieth Century) and special effects design by Jeremy Chernick (Aladdin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
Two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus (Avenue Q, Wicked, The Book of Mormon) is music supervisor and creates vocal, incidental and dance arrangements. He is joined on the music team by Tony nominee Dave Metzger (orchestrations), Chris Montan (executive music producer), David Chase (additional dance arrangements) and Brian Usifer (music director). Frozen is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher.
“The moment the lights came up following a 2013 screening of Frozen, I phoned my colleagues at Disney Animation to ask “when do we bring it Broadway?” It was immediately clear that this story of these two loving sisters would sing onstage,” said President & Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions, Thomas Schumacher. “This creative team has created a glorious production and I’m delighted that Australia will be its first international destination.”
Frozen plays Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from July 2020. To join the waitlist and for more information, visit: www.frozenthemusical.com.au for details.
Image: Caissie Levy as Elsa in the Broadway production of Frozen – photo by Deen van Meer