Michael Haynie News

Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Disney’s FROZEN is a family-friendly show that awes adults and children alike. Take a break from the heat to build a snowman, sing, dance, and fall in love. Music Hall at Fair Park July 20-August 7.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents One Last Toast (For Now), an evening of music from Drew Gasparini, composer of the Broadway-bound The Karate Kid, It's Kind of a Funny Story, and Skittles Commercial: the Broadway Musical on Monday, July 25th.

As the temperatures rise fairly quickly in our city, a musical of snowy and theatrical bliss inhabits the Hobby Center. Yes, I am talking about the much anticipated tour of the movie and Broadway hit, Frozen: the Musical. While I was a big fan of the movie, the musical takes the concepts from the film and creates a blizzard of talent and technical grandeur rarely seen from a touring production. 

After years of filling the basement at 54 Below with fans, friends and fun times, composer Drew Gasparini has decided to call it a day, at least for the time being, and July 25th there is a party to send him off to Broadway with The Karate Kid.

Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, Broadway Dallas, and Broadway Across America (BAA) have announced casting for the Dallas engagement of Disney's Frozen.

Ryan McCartan will return to the role of “Hans” on the Frozen North American tour from July 12 – September 4, 2022, replacing Austin Colby, who will play his final performance on July 10, 2022. McCartan has previously played “Hans” in the Broadway and touring productions of Frozen.

F Michael Haynie (Wicked, Carrie, Dogfight), currently leads the First National Tour of Disney's Frozen the Musical as Olaf. For one night only, they are back by popular demand for a special concert engagement! F returns to their second home, Feinstein’s/54 Below with F Michael Haynie: Into the Unknown on July 30th at 7pm.

When the movie Frozen came out, I was in New York City, and the most fascinating part about that time in Disney movie history was how Frozen was so excellently merchandised. Elsa and Anna dolls were on shelves everywhere, and little did anyone know in those early days how big of a hit the movie, and now the musical would become. When the decision to bring the movie to musical life came to fruition, I had my trepidations, but after discussing the production with the talented, athletic, and down-to-earth actors that play the lovable reindeer, Sven, it only heightens the excitement that Houston will be able to witness the incredible talents of not only Collin Baja and Evan Strand. These two wonderful actors are double cast in the touring production of Disney's Frozen because of the physical demands of the role. I personally can't wait to witness the athletic mastery of these two actors in one of the most iconic Disney musicals of our age.

​​​​​​​Fly More Than You Fall will be presenting industry readings of the production on May 9 at 2pm and May 10 at 11am.  Fly More Than You Fall tells the inspiring story of a young teenage girl, Malia who undergoes a frightening journey. 

From the producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, Frozen, the Tony-nominated Best Musical, will play an exclusive two-week premiere engagement at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center beginning Tuesday, May 17, 2022, with performances playing through Sunday, May 29, 2022. Opening night is set for Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30pm.

Original Broadway cast member Lauren Nicole Chapman will join the Frozen North American tour as “Anna.” Chapman begins performances on Thursday, May 19 at The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, WI.

Many of Broadway's biggest stars had dreams of making their debuts, just like Nate. BroadwayWorld has checked in with cast members from Disney's The Lion King, Aladdin and Frozen to hear about making their debut and how they made their Broadway dreams come true!

For Thursday evening’s performance of Frozen the Musical the crowd was buzzing, little girls and women of all ages appeared in Elsa and Anna dresses, and some were carrying Olafs by their side in anticipation of a magical trip to the fictional Arendelle. Like many of us immersed in pop culture and especially here in the Sunshine State where Disney makes Central Florida a primary vacation destination, the magic of Frozen has appeared in our lives in some form or fashion over the course of the last 8-9 years. Since its release in November of 2013, the Disney film Frozen has captivated audiences and families of all ages. From its hit musical numbers to the lovable characters Disney once again created something for everyone. In 2019 Disney released a sequel to the behemoth film and added yet another magical adventure to Arendelle with the release of Frozen 2. Led by an all-star cast of Broadway Legends from Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff to film actress Kristen Bell, Frozen and Frozen 2 warmed even the coldest of hearts and the world of Disney animation has never been the same since, and for that, we are forever thankful.

An all new music video has been released for the song 'I Can't Lose You' from Frozen, sung by Caroline Bowman and Caroline Innerbichler. The song is also now available to stream on all platforms.

Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, has announced that McKenzie Kurtz, who made her Broadway debut playing “Anna” in Frozen, will reprise the role on the North American tour March 17 – April 11, 2022.  She will play opposite her Broadway co-star Ryan McCartan, who is starring in the tour March 17 – April 17.

From the producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, Frozen, the Tony-nominated Best Musical, will play an exclusive 2-week premiere engagement at The Au-Rene theater beginning Wednesday, March 9, 2022, with performances playing through Sunday, March 20, 2022. Opening night is set for Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 8pm.

Ryan McCartan, who was last seen on Broadway playing “Hans” in Frozen, will reprise the role on the North American tour from March 17 – April 17, 2022, temporarily replacing Austin Colby.

Caroline Bowman approaches Elsa with a studied understanding of this show's central themes: the inner confusion of outward identity, the struggle between family ties and the daggers of life that threaten to slice them, and the feeling of danger inherent in any quest for self-acceptance - especially on the part of those marginalized by the masses. It's a story of coming (out?) into one's own. It is a love letter to the fairy tale form and the Disney classics of yore, but also a challenge to their conventions and ideals. Bowman's dynamic performance contains all that turmoil and triumph within it, the totality of it exploding in Act One's 'Let It Go' (reworked here for even greater musical might than the movie) and Act Two's brand-new 'Monster' (which has more oomph in the studio cast recording than on the tour stage, but it's still a powerful identity statement and an indisputable jam.)

Disney’s staged version of FROZEN, set to arrive at the Saenger Theatre February 10-20, brings the world of Arrendale to life with jaw-dropping pageantry. One of the biggest (and smallest) reasons behind the magic goes to the two non-human roles of reindeer Sven and snowman Olaf, created through the designs of Michael Curry.