A decade after the animated film made an impact, kids in Southeast Asia now have the chance to experience Disney's Frozen as Broadway's latest musical is coming to Singapore. It will be staged at the Lion City's Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands from Feb 5 next year until March 5. Tickets are now available via SISTIC.
Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (The Lion King, Aladdin, Mary Poppins), the musical was adapted from the Disney film and original 1844 fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen The Snow Queen. But now, Frozen is being brought to theatrical life in this new musical. Frozen's journey sweeps audiences into its thrilling world of adventure and classic comedy, and of course the mega-hit song Let It Go which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. While the story in Frozen features true love, it has become loved around the world for breaking the princess mould of girls needing to be saved by a prince, and focuses on the bond of two sisters Elsa and Anna.
The musical Frozen first opened in New York City's St. James Theatre in March 2018 with the highest box office advance in Broadway history. Since then, the global footprint has expanded to include a North American tour, London's West End, Japan, Germany and Australia. The Singaporean stage production will feature a full score, including 12 new songs from the original Academy Award-winning songwriters written especially for the stage.
Life recently joined in a media launch of Frozen at Marina Bay Sands where Australian musical theatre director Benjamin Osborne, as well as actors Jemma Rix and Matt Lee who played the roles of Elsa and Olaf, teased the press and fans with what to expect, and how they will bring a new flavour of a beloved tale to Asian audiences.
Ben, you're bringing a very big-scale musical cue to Singapore. How are you preparing for the opening in February?
Osborne: Our crew is packing and dismantling everything. And we didn't have a little break in the shows, because I'll come back here in mid-January to start rehearsing local children. We've got six local children in the show. And they're going to be playing the roles of young Anna and young Elsa. I auditioned them a few weeks ago, and they were wonderful, and I can't wait to start working with them. And then we open in February. So it's a mammoth task.
How big is the production for the shows in Singapore?
Osborne: We're talking about shipping over 26 containers. When you guys see this production, it is everything that you will want to see. It's bigger than Broadway or London. It is massive, so you get everything and it's the only stop in Southeast Asia. So make sure you guys can make it.
Jemma, you're accustomed to staging musicals with visual spectacles such as Wicked, The Wizard Of Oz and Disney's Frozen. How did you get the role of Elsa? And can any of your past experiences help you in this process?
Rix: Well, definitely. I think every job that you do, you harness a little bit more skill. And so I think that I was ready to play Elsa when I was auditioning for her. It was a six-month process. It was very, very long. There were multiple auditions, so it was very high-pressure and it was nerve-wracking.
How about you, Matt? How did you actually land the role of Olaf?
Lee: It was interesting because I went in when I originally auditioned for Prince Hans. I went into the room and I was reading a little bit of the scripts, and the director says to me, how do you feel about Olaf? I was like, sure. Then, we went down the Olaf path and started to audition and here I am. I got the role of Olaf!
Could you share with us more about your thoughts when you first learned that you're going to play Olaf, since it's not exactly a human role?
Lee: No, it's not a human role. When I got offered the role, the first day I was super excited and nervous. There's a lot of pressure that comes with playing these characters the world has fallen in love with. But the great thing is I got to learn a new skill because of the role. It's a skill because not only do I have to tell the story through a puppet, but you also see my face as the actor behind the puppet. So it was quite a challenge, but something that I've had fun with.
Olaf is such an adorable character that we all love. Please tell us what you love most about your character since you have the added complexity of commanding puppets during the performance. How difficult was it to do the puppet movements?
Lee: The greatest thing about Olaf is that he says it how he sees it. He doesn't really have a filter, and the cup is always half full. He is full of joy, and it was a pleasure to play him because seeing everything through rose-coloured glasses is fun. I think we could all be a little bit more like Olaf. The complexity of having to tell that story through a puppet is challenging, but it's been something that's rewarding because when I run on stage, the audible gasp from the audience is quite overwhelming. To hear the kids enjoy it, it's been amazing to get the chance to play Olaf.
Jemma, Elsa is also an iconic role that is loved by many and has been played by many actresses. So how do you make this character your own?
Rix: In the rehearsal period, we had a good director who was wanting to find my unique Elsa, so there wasn't any desire for me to fit into a certain mould. I think that every Elsa is different and unique vocally to who they are as a person and how it comes out. You've got a deep basis of the direction of who Elsa is, and how she's feeling in certain scenes, but how that flourishes and comes out is something unique because we are all unique. So that was really embraced, which I really liked. You can really be very truthful when you're not trying to replicate, and audiences connect with truth. Otherwise, there's a veil and a disconnect if you're trying to be something.
Ben, Disney's Frozen is such a huge production with high expectations. And of course, Disney is known for its extravagant productions. What will we get to see in terms of the sets and costumes? And will there be Disney magic?
Osborne: There are 440 costumes on stage. Elsa's ice dress took three months to make, and the detail in this show is incredible. There are 120 pairs of handmade shoes. Ninety wigs are made out of human hair, and there are 45 tonnes of flying scenery in this show. We really are transported to Arendelle which is fantastic. There are also a lot of Easter eggs hidden throughout the city, so when you come, have a look.
