Theater Review: 'Disney's Frozen' Tour at The Bushnell

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

“Disney’s Frozen The Hit Broadway Musical” has hit the stage at the Bushnell and the Hartford premiere of this highly anticipated show in the 2023/2024 season is truly an icy spectacle to behold. This is a touring company not to be missed.

This adaptation of the beloved Oscar-winning film contains the inspired music and lyrics by the team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“Finding Nemo: The Musical” at Disney World since 2006) and Robert Lopez (“The Book of Mormon,”) including Olaf’s “In Summer,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and the charming “Love is an Open Door.” The score has been expanded with new numbers such as “What Do You Know About Love?” and the sister’s duet “I Can’t Lose You.” To say that the first act closer “Let It Go” brings down the house is the understatement of the season.

“Hygge” performed by Oaken and almost all of the rest of the cast opens the second act with humor and Anna and Kristoff’s interaction with the “Hidden Folk” for “Fixer Up” is a fun second act scene. But make no mistake, the highlights of this production are the magical touches and the fabulous ice-laden transformations that Elsa causes. The production uses projections, lighting and frosty set pieces to convey the frozen elements and it is awe-inspiring to watch it happen more than once.

The Disney Theatrical Group is “committed to providing a welcoming space for everyone to share in the irreplaceable experience of live theater” and invite the audience to participate in “making touring Broadway a diverse and inclusive place.” The racially-diverse cast include impressive singing voices that blend as a choir for some wonderful harmonies.

At the performance that we attended, Annie Piper Braverman as Young Anna and Erin Choi as Young Elsa appear in the opening with “Let the Sun Shine On” until their characters aged up during “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” The two young actresses share their roles with Emma Origenes and Savannah Lumar respectively. All the young performers make their tour debut in “Frozen.”

It was then that Caroline Bowman took on the role of Elsa and slayed both her vocals and the look of the Ice Queen in beautiful gowns and pants. I was not surprised to learn that Bowman played Elphaba in “Wicked” on Broadway and Nicola in the opening and closing casts of “Kinky Boots.”

Lauren Nicole Chapman is a delight in her portrayal of the sheltered Anna, making the most of the comedic elements of her character that you can’t help but love. Chapman has been part of the “Frozen” family since the pre-Broadway development in 2017 through the Broadway shutdown in 2020.

Collin Baja (“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” on Broadway) tackled the role of the reindeer Sven, managing what is essentially a larger than life puppet and making it look real. Baja trained at The Juilliard School. Dominic Dorset was the loveable and down to earth Kristoff, the ice seller who helps Anna find her sister. Dorset had the opportunity to bring Kristoff to the White House for a special presentation with Dr. Biden.

Another puppetmaster is Jeremy Davis, who works the stage behind the adorable Olaf puppet, providing the voice for the hug loving snowman who has no idea that he would melt “In Summer.” Davis shared the role with Dan Plehal, a Chicago-based actor, acrobat and director. Equity’s Davis has been part of the “Frozen” family since the pre-Broadway workshop. Michael Curry (“The Lion King”) designed the puppets in the show. Jack Brewer is a comedic delight as Oaken, a character we meet at the top of the second act.

Kudos to Katie Mariko Murray who steps out the ensemble in her tour debut to play the regal mother of the princesses, Queen Iduna, and Yale University graduate Kyle Lamar Mitchell who plays King Agnarr. Also in featured roles are Tyler Jimenez as Pabbie and Renee Reid as the loving Bulda, both magical Hidden Folk. Evan Duff plays Weselton in his tour debut and Preston Perez as the villainous prince with eyes for Anna in his tour debut.

The talented singer/dancers in the large ensemble switch into a host of roles and add much to the look of this story. The touring orchestra under the direction of Seetoo made the score fill the theater, despite the fact that they were often on the receiving end of the dry ice smoke that covered the stage and drifted into the orchestra pit.

The stunning choreography by Rob Ashford is performed beautifully by the members of the ensemble and contains a challenging amount of lifts.

The set design is all-Disney and so multi-layered that it left me wondering where everything was hidden behind the scenes. There is a Maypole, an icy bridge and so much more. Christopher Oram designed both the scenic elements and the magnificent costumes. The lighting designed by Natasha Katz worked with the video design by Finn Ross and the special effects designed by Jeremy Chernick to create an overall magical look on the Bushnell stage.

The book was written by Jennifer Lee (“Encanto,” “Wish”) that is based upon the Disney film that she wrote and that she directed with Chris Buck. Michael Grandage directed the touring production, with Faith Seetoo as music director.

Join the "Snowflakes of Love" campaign during your visit to "Disney's Frozen" at The Bushnell. Write the name of someone you love on a snowflake, and we'll display it at the theater. For each snowflake, Max Cares Foundation will donate $1 (up to $5,000) to My Sister's Place.

The audience was filled with young children, some dressed as the characters and all excited to be there. The opening announcement included a welcome to those attending their first Broadway show. Performances run 2 hours, 15 minutes, with one intermission and continue through Feb. 18. Great tickets available now at bushnell.org with best availability at evening performances.

Recommended for ages 6+.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.