FROZEN Broadway Details Revealed!

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:36pm

Alex Timbers will direct!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:42pm

Perfect show for the winter. Underwhelmed by the movie (saw a boot) & I am of the opinion it is not a national necessity to musicalize every Disney animated movie ever made. If that is your thing, great.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:47pm

^I'm sure Disney does not intend to theatricalize every single one of their own movies, because certain ones like Enchanted, Princess and the Frog, or Tangled would be impossible to figure how they could be staged.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:47pm

Such a fan of Alex Timbers! I knew this project would be perfect for him

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:49pm

Too bad they are spending all the money on this and not Hunchback.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:59pm

Disney would musicalize anything for a buck.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 8:01pm

I think that used to be true, Roxy. But they have been smarter and more careful these past couple of years.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 8:09pm

Got over Disney awhile ago.Saw a boot of,Aladdin and looked like a glorified Disneyworld show. It appeals to many but not me. If you enjoy them great.

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:40pm

Even though I consider myself a Disney fan, even having worked at Disneyland as a Cast Member for ten years, I agree with much of what has been said here.
First off, I was underwhelmed by Frozen, even though it has proven to be the most popular or bestselling or whatever that Disney has ever done.
I mean, whatever. It did little for me, as well.
I guess movies are like plays though….all comes down to personal opinion. And I'm apparently in the minority on this movie too.
I also don't think that Disney has to musicalize every movie it has ever made either. In much the same way I don't think every movie that has ever been made has to see a Broadway rendition either.
I mean, what's next? Valley Girl, the musical.
Just not into that phenomenon, I guess.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:14pm

It will take just as long (a year late) as B&TB and LION KING to make it on Broadway. So, workshop this year and then a pre-Broadway run next year?

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:20pm

^That would have to depend on when they plan to open in 2017. The Spring? Summer? Fall? Winter?

[Jonwo]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:55pm

When Frozen became a huge hit, it was inevitable a stage version would happen, I imagine theatre wise, I would say somewhere like the Palace, Lunt Fontanne or Marquis if Aladdin is still doing good business at the New Amsterdam although they might decide to move Aladdin and have Frozen at the New Amsterdam

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:00pm

I would just about be willing to guarantee that this show will open with the largest advance sales of any show in Broadway history.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:07pm

So how does one become an investor in these Broadway shows, anyway........

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:12pm

"First off, I was underwhelmed by Frozen, even though it has proven to be the most popular or bestselling or whatever that Disney has ever done. "

IMO - the major reason for the popularity is obviously the incredibly catchy song "Let It Go", it has more than one princess which is huge for retail sales and it has beautiful animation scenery. It is not even close to the best Disney films which include "Beauty and The Beast", "Lion King" etc. but still a pretty decent movie.

Updated On: 2/12/15 at 11:12 PM

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:12pm

"So how does one become an investor in these Broadway shows, anyway........"

LOL

Updated On: 2/12/15 at 11:12 PM

[Starship]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:20pm

By the time this happens, Carly Rose Sonenclar will be 18...would love to see her as Ana.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:23pm

"IMO - the major reason for the popularity is obviously the incredibly catchy song "Let It Go", it has more than one princess which is huge for retail sales and it has beautiful animation scenery. It is not even close to the best Disney films which include "Beauty and The Beast", "Lion King" etc. but still a pretty decent movie."

That's only one part of the equation, though definitely a big one as different populations have adopted it as private anthems (LGBT, autism, etc.). Many, many articles have been written about why Frozen became as popular as it did, though, and the best explanation I've seen was in the New Yorker describing the college student experiment ("everyone identified with Elsa" regardless of background). Though obviously not everyone does, the character's symbolism far outreaches other Disney protagonists to encompass not only the young female audience but adults as well. After all, Frozen could not have made anywhere near as much money if the parents didn't want to pay for theater trips multiple, multiple times with their children (moreover, the anti-tropes aspect is a clear attraction to many). Or not having children. That's why criticisms dismissing this film as children's tripe miss the mark by quite a bit; kids don't have money, but adults do.

[Starship]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:28pm

I really think people look too far into its success...

1) Simple storyline
2) Colorful visuals
3) Not just one, but two princesses
4) Easily merchandisable characters

Mix that with Disney's advertising budget, and the 21st centuries rapid fire social media-sphere, and you've got a highly popular film. Updated On: 2/12/15 at 11:28 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:28pm

FROZEN will most likely open at the New Amsterdam and Aladdin probably move over to the Lunt-Fontanne or the Palace as Lion King will be playing at the Minskoff still

[Pootie2]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:37pm

"I really think people look too far into its success..."

Or some don't look far enough. So why didn't this happen with Tangled? Or that Frog thing? Let's look at Tangled, then. The only argument you have is an extra princess, which isn't much. And I'm not sure you can argue white snow as being particularly colorful, but eh. Trying to simplify the cultural phenomenon only indicates that you didn't connect with any aspect of the film, and that's fine, but claiming a simple formula like that is naïve at best, otherwise every film Disney (or other studio) makes would aim for those monetary heights using such a simple bullet list.

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:45pm

Agree with a lot of what you have to say, yankeefan.
Though I'm not particularly fond of "Let it Go." Find it a little grating actually.
But you're right. It has other draws that I can certainly admit to.
And as a Disney fan, I'm very happy to see them continue in the tradition of providing good family entertainment, and not fleeing from the animation part of the company.
And the animation is indeed good.
I guess I just don't see it as a standout, far beyond the rest of the Disney canon.
But again, it's all about personal taste.
I'm sure the box office soars when this one opens on Broadway. For some time to come.

[Starship]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:50pm

Frozen is a far more, feel good, musical spectacular than both Tangled and Princess and the Frog. And as for PATF, the story had a much more complex storyline and a far darker tone. I mean, at the end, the lead villain gets dragged to hell by demons? Yes, there was a twist at the end of Frozen, but for the most part, it was a mad musical romp that played on all things that Disney's fanbase likes.

And yes, the extra princess IS something. The Disney Princess franchise is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) franchise and marketing angle that Disney has and they've reaped the financial benefits from it for decades. For a while, Disney tried tried to attract more boys to their films (ala Tangled and PATF). But even for the posters, Disney took a different angle, placing Anna/Elsa front and center with their male counterparts buried in the snow behind them alongside Olaf and Sven. Frozen's target demographic was girls from the start and they made both female leads strong, wise, powerful female leads. For once it wasn't the lead and her dumb friend or something like that, it was too different leads with different personalities that girls are able to relate to.

And also, don't assume things. I have no idea how simplifying the cultural phenomenon's success indicates I didn't connect with any aspect of the film. I thoroughly enjoyed it and say it NUMEROUS time in theaters. I have the soundtrack on loop frequently. However, as much as I love it, I'm not running around saying it grossed what it did because it's a "Disney classic" or it's "the best Disney film ever" or "it's up there with The Lion King." Frozen was devised by a creative group of individuals who knew their market and knew what appealed to them and they had Disney as support.

Why so defensive though? I don't see why I'm branded a "hater" or as someone who didn't enjoy/appreciate the film just because I pointed out why I personally found it was so successful? Not once did I attack anybody or force you (or anybody else) to agree with me.
Updated On: 2/12/15 at 11:50 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:01am

I think people are too quick to write it off. It's a fun, beautifully animated movie with great songs.

I'd love to see the score expanded since it's only a few songs but I'm afraid what charm it had would be lost in a stage recreation. Plus it's waaaaaay over-exposed even now a year and a half since it's release (though that may be less of a problem in two years).

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:12am

I've never cared for this film. I really don't understand how this became such a hit. The only scene worth watching is the Let it Go number. All the other songs are completely forgettable.

Yes the ending is "progressive" but that doesn't make it good or entertaining. Frozen is fine and all but it doesn't hold a candle to Beauty, Lion, Hunchback or even Mermaid and Aladdin.

It will be interesting to see the changes they make. The film climaxes too soon at "Let it go" and then it just drops.

I really do think that mediocre song has become such a hit because of Idina Menzel's insane vocals on it. That and the beautiful animation of that one song.

Besides that, It's just a cookie cutter bland animated cartoon with no soul.