Disney musical comes to Redcliffe stage

Published 2:00pm 5 January 2023

Words by Ashleigh Howarth

A heartwarming story of sisterhood, true love, acceptance, magic and humour will delight audiences young and old at the Redcliffe Entertainment Centre next month.

A cast of 50 budding young actors from Redcliffe Musical Theatre’s ROAR Academy will take to the stage for four big shows from February 3-5 to present their own enchanting musical version of Disney’s Frozen Jr.

Redcliffe Musical Theatre Principal Madeleine Johns says they are among the first theatre groups in the state to perform this much-loved Disney fairytale.

“The performing rights to Frozen Jr only became available last year and we are one of the first in Queensland to perform this beautiful musical,” Madeleine explains.

“We auditioned in August 2022 and have been rehearsing for four months.

“We have 50 in the cast from age six right up to 18 - it's a similar size cast to Newsies Jr which we performed in September 2022, and one of the largest junior casts shows we have taken to the Redcliffe Entertainment Centre.

“We have drawn a cast from a wide geographic area to come and perform in this classic production.”

A spellbinding experience

Frozen Jr is based on the 2018 Broadway musical, and brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage.

Madeleine says audiences can expect all their favourite characters, plus some surprising twists.

“You can expect to see all your favourite characters – Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Hans, Kristoff, Sven and Oaken,” Madeleine says.

“The kids absolutely adore Olaf and in the promotional performances we have done up to now, Olaf has been everyone's favourite.

“Audiences can expect something that is quite relatable to the movie - and the main characters will be very familiar.

“All the songs you know and love are there – Let It Go, Do You Want to Build a Snowman, In Summer and Love Is an Open Door.

“The hidden folk aren't trolls in the musical - they are magical folk and their big number - Fixer Upper - will be a showstopper.”

In addition, there will also be five new songs.

Madeleine says she has multiple favourite scenes, but especially loves seeing the young actors that play Elsa and Anna interacting on stage.

“My favourite scenes are the ones with the young and teen Elsa and Anna - our younger cast members are so very talented and so adorable - they will definitely melt hearts,” she says.

“Also, the scene with Oaken singing Hygge is a comedic delight to open Act Two.

“Olaf's scene with the song In Summer is also a hilarious highlight, as is Let It Go, where we see Elsa in all her frozen glory and a beautiful snow chorus with lighting effects to enhance the whole thing.”