Disney’s ‘Frozen’ Offers a Blizzard of Talent at Olney Theatre Center

Gabriela Hernandez as Elsa and Alex De Bard as Anna

Less than two months away, winter and its likely snow will be upon us. What better way to get in the mood for the season than to see the magical spectacle Disney’s Frozen at the Olney Theatre Center.  How about some warmth from a tender story to create a thaw? 

Directed by two-time Emmy Award winner and Sesame Street veteran Alan Muraoka, Frozen is a snow-filled delight with an extraordinary cast and a stellar creative and technical team. Olney theatergoers may remember the work of Mr. Muraoka as he had helmed the splendid shows Once On This Island and South Pacific. In Frozen, Mr. Muraoka directs this well-paced musical with precision and skill as well.

Disney had authorized the Olney Center to be one of a handful of regional theatres to create the musical on its own and is the first professional theatre in the DMV to do so.

Based on the Oscar-winning 2013 animated Disney film, the musical is also magical on the stage.  With the score and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and book by Jennifer Lee, the story and songs, with some added from the original film, are mostly wonderful. The original Broadway production received three Tony Award nominations in 2018.

Frozen is an endearing fairy tale that the young and the not so young will enjoy. The story focuses on two orphaned sisters, Elsa and Anna, who are princesses in a Scandinavian kingdom. Their relationship is torn apart when Elsa cannot control her powers in which she can turn anything and anyone into ice. When Elsa, accidentally hurt her younger sister Anna while building a magical snowman Olaf, that’s when the problems become real.

Years later, Elsa is depressed because she cannot reign in her powers, which left the town of Arendelle in a state of eternal winter.   She remains guilt-ridden for hurting Anna and fears she has become a monster. Elsa heads to the icy mountains and builds an ice palace in order to cope with the situation. She ultimately learns that her powers can be controlled only by love.

Noah Israel as Hans and Alex De Bard as Anna

Anna, with the help of three friends, the kind-hearted Kristoff; Olaf, the adorable, crowd-pleasing
snowman (puppet) whom the sisters built when they were young children; and Sven, the equally lovable reindeer (also a puppet), go on an adventure-filled trek to find her sister to help restore summer to Arendelle.

Prior to that journey, Anna had fallen for Hans, a handsome prince, who becomes an important figure at the show’s end. But it is the love and bond between the two sisters that warms the heart enough to melt the prevalent ice.

Gabriela Hernandez excels as the adult Elsa. She demonstrates her powerful soprano vocals in conveying her burdened character. Ms. Hernandez belts out the first act finale the Oscar winning showstopper “Let It Go,” the popular girl-power anthem, to perfection. She hits it out of the park with another quality number in the dramatic song “Monster.”

Alex De Bard is wonderful as the adult Anna who is determined to find her sister and renew their love for each other. She falls in love with Hans (Noah Israel) only to be betrayed later on. Not all princes are princes apparently. Their duet in the comical “Love Is an Open Door” with its terrific choreography is one of the show’s best. Ms. De Bard and Ms. Hernandez hook up well in the emotional “I Can’t Lose You.” The chemistry between the two sisters is amazing.

As Kristoff, the ice harvester who joins Anna on her quest to find Elsa, Ricky Devon Hall is excellent. With his reindeer Sven (Alex Mills) in tow, Mr. Hall’s character finds himself increasing attracted to Anna.  He performs well in “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People,” “Kristoff Lullaby,” and a duet with Ms. Debard in “What Do You Know About Love?”

Kennedy Kanagawa is superb as the puppeteer for the adorable snowman Olaf. Both Olaf and Sven are clear audience favorites, especially the kids in attendance, and provide much of the comical moments throughout. He performs well in the reprise of “Do You Want To Build a Snowman?”

"...Frozen is a snow-filled delight with an extraordinary cast and a stellar creative and technical team."

Noah Israel portrays the role of Hans adroitly. With his good looks featuring long flowing locks, Mr. Israel is convincing as the prince for whom Anna falls. But his dark side emerges later, leading to a dramatic conclusion. Mr. Israel possesses a strong tenor voice, and what I mean by strong, I mean Phantom of the Opera strong. It is evident in “Hans of the Southern Isles” and the aforementioned duet with Ms. De Bard in “Love Is an Open Door.” He also performs well with Ms. Hernandez and the company in “Monster.”

Additionally, superb performances are turned in by Aliza Cohen (alternates with Elise Chrappah) as Young Anna, Ruth Eloise Benson (alternates with Taylor Esguerra) as Young Elsa, Sarah Anne Sillers as Queen Iduna, Jay Frisby as King Agnarr, Tyler Dobies as Pabbie, Crystal J. Freeman as Bulda, Jared Michael Delaney as the comedic Weselton, and Jamie Smithson as another comical character Oaken.

The members of the Ensemble are also talented with their vocals and dancing abilities and provide added energy to the production. They include: Jessica Bennett, Quadry Brown, Mia Goodman, Angelo Harrington II, Stephen C. Kallas, Ariel Kraje, Robert Mintz and Haley Nachlas. Stellamaris Orellana and Walker Vlahos are the Swings.

Gabriela Hernandez as Elsa

The production features the meticulous choreography by Kelly Crandall d’Amboise, musical direction by Christopher Youstra and his nine-piece orchestra, vibrant lighting design by Christina Watanabe, clear sound design by Matthew Rowe, and brilliantly colorful costuming by Kendra Rai.

The skilled choreography of Ms. d’Amboise is on display in the various lively production numbers including in “Love Is an Open Door” and “Fixer Upper,” a high-energy romp. And there are others, which are stirringly entertaining as well.

Paige Hathaway’s scenic design is gorgeously imaginative. A glacier-like frame adorns the sides of the stage and above. Drop-down scenery and screens containing projected images of indoor and outdoor locales as designed by Patrick Lord add quality texture to the production. Along with dazzling special effects, representations of snow falling or blowing throughout much of the show form the perfect backdrop to the uniquely creative optics.   

There is no question that Frozen is geared towards children. However, there is sufficient humor, warmth, songs, dancing and dazzling scenery and costumes to entertain adults as well. And entertain it does.

I have seen over the course of many years a number of bravura productions at the Olney Theatre Center. This iteration of Disney’s Frozen takes it to a new level.

Running time. Two hours and 20 minutes with an intermission.

Disney’s Frozen runs through January 25, 2025, on the Roberts Mainstage at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD. Tickets ($45–$60) are available online here or through the box office at 301-924-3400, open from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. 

Discounts for teachers, active military, and first responders are available here

Performance Schedule

Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:00 pm.

Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday matinees at 1:00 pm.

Select Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm.

Additional performances around Thanksgiving and Winter Break.

See the full schedule here.

Accessible Performances

Audio-Described Performance – Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m.

ASL Interpreted Performance – Thursday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Sensory Friendly Performance – Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 p.m.

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Photos: Teresa Castracane Photography