Review: Family Music Theatre flourishes and flurries with its regional premiere of DISNEY’S FROZEN!

Photo Credit: Angela Germany Photography and Sydney Cornelius

Disney’s Frozen

Book by Jennifer Lee 
Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez 
Directed by Dr. Sam Germany 
Produced by Family Music Theatre

Audience Rating: G / Family-Friendly 
Run Time: 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission 
Accessible Seating: Available 
Hearing Devices: Not Available 
ASL Showing: Not Available 
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available 
Volume Level: Loud at times 
Audio/Visuals to prepare for: Some flashing lights and some sudden sounds

Reviewed by Troy D. Murray 

It’s baffling to think that only a short while ago, Dallas was facing winter weather so intense that it put the entire metroplex on pause. A month has passed since then, and an even bigger storm has arrived! This blizzard, however, is one that everybody can look forward to in the coming weeks! 

Family Music Theatre (FMT) proved that “love is an open door” by welcoming the public this weekend to its regional premiere of Disney’s Frozen. Under the superb direction and musical guidance of Dr. Sam Germany, this stellar cast of Arendellians brought this musical to life and set the bar high for all future productions in the area that are to come after it. 

The playbill for this production gives insight into how it truly took an entire village to bring this production to life. With the help of an astounding 11-piece orchestra, a committed 20-member production staff, and an ensemble of 35 standout performers, it is an understatement to say that Family Music Theatre had all hands-on deck to effectively capture the magic that this show demands. 

Initial kudos for this production goes to the production team, as its members managed to tackle several challenging elements of this show with well-executed simplicity and strategic attention to design detail. Dr. Sam Germany (Director, Music Director), Liz McWhorter (Asst. Director), Ethan Thatcher (Asst. Music Director), Cody Slusher (Stage Manager), and Michael Johns (Asst. Stage Manager) stand at the forefront of this vision, as their combined efforts allowed this cast to have great confidence in their vocals and sense of direction. Together, they effectively prepared this sizable ensemble for the cold front of opening weekend, enabling them to shine and prosper when finally under the bright lights. 

This show also thrives with the aid of many other members in production. Choreography by Tianta Harrison and Dauri Poole is both tactful and artistically elaborate, with numbers like “Fixer Upper” and “Monster” being prime examples of how to balance dynamic spirit with radiant pulse. Wiloni Rollins Darrington (Costume Mistress) does a phenomenal job dressing this cast, as many of them look as if they were pulled straight from the 2013 film! Her work truly speaks for itself, as every piece of attire in this show is well-crafted, functional, and flattering for all involved.
Props also go to the Rachel Verbeck (Prop Manager) Darla Bicknell (Asst. to the Prop Manager), Aaron Anderson (Sound Engineer), and Paul Sollenberger (Lighting Designer), as their combined efforts allowed this masterpiece of a musical to thrive without the need of a Broadway budget. This team successfully jumped all of the technical hurdles that a Disney production presents through precision and poise, allowing them to convincingly convey this story without a hitch. 

Volumes can be spoken of the cast of characters that put on a barn-burner of a show in the midst of an arctic tundra. The ensemble is effectively utilized in every element of this production, from elegant dances to powerful vocal performances, to even special effects relating to the winter weather! 

Featured performers like Jeremy Hamilton (Bishop), Jaida Pruitt (Hand Maiden), Ismael Ortega (Pabbie), and Riley Kemp (Bulda) deserve praise for their elegant depictions and commitment to character when at the forefront of the plot. Dan Collum (King Agnar) and Audra Tibboel (Queen Iduna) convincingly exude royal behavior and tenderness when taking care of their daughters. Autumn Weaver (Young Anna) and Moriah Balthrop (Young Elsa) bring such endearing elements to their characters, as Weaver exonerates spunk and commands audience attention with a bright smile, while Balthrop encapsulates anxiousness and fear of the unknown, that being herself. Samuel Germany (Weselton) is a hilarious instigator and conspirator throughout, with swordsmanship and dance moves that make the audience want to root for him. Jacob Zufelt (Oaken) gives a standout performance at the top of Act II with his unparalleled resonance in “Hygge”. One would agree that his disguised beard alone is worth the price of admission.

Excellent demonstrations of puppetry are also on display through the talents of Julia Burnham (Sven) and Deshawn Thomas (Olaf). Burnham is giddy and lively in her depiction, masterfully blending the reindeer’s expressions with her own facial reactions. Her expert body maneuverability and little hoof taps during the dance breaks make her incredibly fun to watch. Thomas does a swell job of embodying the sprightliness and humor of Olaf to a T, allowing him to deliver his rousing rendition of “In Summer” with ease. A massive shoutout goes to Samuel Germany, Angela Germany, and Vekr Studio, as their puppet craftsmanship of these two characters would certainly make Walt Disney proud. 

The lovers that complete Anna’s love triangle are Raphael Dunne (Hans) and Daniel Walker (Kristoff). Dunne is both confident and conniving in his role as the 13th-born son of a small kingdom in the Southern Isles. He is charismatic and charming as he attempts to sweep Anna off her feet in numbers like “Love is an Open Door”. Walker naturally embellishes the stubbornness and sober side of Kristoff, all while having a dynamically powerful voice that soars in numbers like “What Do You Know About Love”. He is endearing and engaging from beginning to end, making him a fan favorite by the end of it all. 

This story would not be what it is without the bond of its two sisters, Paige Shick (Anna) and Franny Sadler (Elsa). Both of these women are absolutely marvelous in their portrayals, from their commanding voices to their refined character choices. Shick is as whimsical as she is aloof in her depiction of Anna. She is cleverly clumsy and is always “on”, whether she is in the spotlight or not. Her rendition of “For the First Time in Forever” set the standard for the quality of the show to come, and her sporadic mannerisms coupled with captivating grace make her a joy to watch onstage. She is truly the perfect princess for the job. Sadler gives Idina Menzel a run for her money in her leading role debut as Elsa. The deep connection she has with her character is evident from the get-go, as Sadler handles every one of her emotional moments with skill and great maturity. Her Act I finale performance of “Let It Go” will certainly give anyone with a love for musical theatre chills, so do yourself a favor and witness it while you still can. 

Those looking for a fun family activity during the tail end of winter should definitely stop by the New Vida Center to catch this scintillating production at Family Music Theatre.  Their production of Disney’s Frozen will run through March 14th, and tickets can be purchased at familymusictheatre.com. 

Now you know, so go see the show!

Troy