From 'Let It Go' to 'True Love' Frozen the Broadway Musical is a blending of the old and the new
Now on Broadway at the St. James Theater Frozen, based on the Disney classic from 2013, is fun for the whole family. The team of Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez return for the music and lyrics, and Jennifer Lee writes the book for this new hit musical.
The performances started on March 22, 2018, and have been going strong wowing audiences eight shows a week! Our story follows sisters Anna and Elsa as they learn that family is everything and that you must protect the people that are most important to you. A tale of hope, love, friendship and the power of family, this show is a journey that has something for everyone even people that are not interested in the world of musicals. Patti Murin plays Anna, Caissie Levy plays Elsa, Jelani Alladin plays Kristoff, Greg Hildreth plays Olaf and John Riddle plays Hans.
Related: Frozen Fridays: new songs dropped for Frozen on Broadway
From the opening lines of the chant "Vuelie / Let the Sun Shine On," the vibes are set for being into taken the world of Frozen. The way that the ensemble addresses the audience, telling the tale of the Anna and Elsa, only adds to the story told within the song.
Young Anna and Elsa sing "A Little Bit of You," a new song about the young sisters building the snowman Olaf the together. At the end of this song is when Elsa strikes Anna with her powers, hitting her sister in the head.
Everyone knows "Do You Want to Build a Snowman;" here the song remains the same with some additional dialogue as we see Elsa and Anna age through the years. The end of the song with older Anna and Elsa features new lyrics.
Another hit from the original movie "For the First Time In Forever," Murin’s voice mixed with the emotions she is giving is perfect for Anna. Levy‘s small section of the number gives you a sense of the great things to come in her performance as Elsa.
A solo for the show’s villain "Hans of the Southern Isles" is a number that fits, although we know where he is from and we know that he has 12 brothers, this is a new way to get to know Hans.
Chanting starts "Queen Anointed," a new song that features the ensemble; the harmonies in this song are exquisite only enhancing the music that you hear.
In "Dangerous to Dream," we hear Elsa’s thoughts on her coronation day. The listener gets a real sense of what is going on in Elsa’s head and her feelings. This is a welcomed new song because you understand more of Elsa’s character at this important moment of her life.
The duet by the princess and the villain "Love is an Open Door" is so fantastic in this new version, mostly because Murin and Riddle bring a new dimension to the characters of Anna and Hans.
The classic "Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People" is given new life by the performance of Alladin as Kristoff. The comedic timing that Alladin has between singing the lines of Kristoff and then speaking the lines of Sven is flawless.
The first song sung by Anna and Kristoff is a great way to start the relationship between the two of them. "What Do You Know About Love," a fun new duet where Anna and Kristoff are going back and forth asking each other what do they really know about the subject of love.
Greg Hildreth brings Olaf to life in his number "In Summer." His performance really shines in this tune, because he takes the song that you know and love and adds a jazzy spin with his voice.
Hans taking charge of getting Anna back in "Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise)" is lovely because we see his true feelings for Anna with this song. Riddle really shines as Hans in this number.
The infamous "Let It Go" begins with the chords that everyone knows. Levy enters with a new take on the song and the character of Elsa that only makes her journey more relatable in this context because it is softer, not as in your face. By the epic end of the song when Levy is coming in with a full belt, you can tell that she has the voice for the role.
The shop owner, who had a small part in the movie, now gets a number; "Hygge" is a song about the winters. Kevin Del Aguila shines as the minor character in the film that people still remember, bringing a new energy and life to his persona making him even more memorable.
In "For the First Time in Forever (Reprise)" the sisters Anna and Elsa are back together. This number is similar to the movie version, with new orchestrations and a new opening given by Elsa.
The new version of "Fixer Upper" features new harmonies that only enhance the song that you love. The ensemble really shines, blending with each other to assist in telling the story.
Written for the musical, "Kristoff Lullaby" is a sweet song in which he is singing about his feelings for Princess Anna.
In her last solo "Monster," Elsa is singing about how she sees herself. This is the final push for Elsa to be a better person.
Anna sings about her love in "True Love," a beautiful new ballad is sung amazingly on the cast recording by Murin. Murin’s fantastic vocal quality is very apparent in this number.
One of the final pieces is "Colder by the Minute," a song where a ton of things are happening and everyone is joining to make one cohesive, delightful sound.
An all-new version of the final song of the musical "Finale / Let It Go" is a different take on the number, but it is a way that you can feel the family connection in the song.
"When Everyone Falls Apart," a fun new song for Olaf, fits so well into the Arendelle world and the story.
Do you enjoy this cast recording? Let us know below.
'Fantastic Geeks and Where to Find Them' podcast started by YouTube stars