Penn Middle School drama club director Maddie Nick has never heard children scream as loud as when she announced the group would perform “Frozen Jr.” as its spring musical.
“It was in the middle of the school day, too. We probably disrupted some classes with that,” Nick said with a laugh. “They’re really loving it. This age group grew up with ‘Frozen.’ It’s their childhood.”
The 80-person cast and crew will perform the Disney classic from April 24 to 26 in the middle school auditorium, bringing the magic of the film to life through costumes and digital backdrops projected on LED screen walls.
Despite being the junior version, the show stays true to the original movie and Broadway musical, Nick said, including songs such as “Let It Go,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “In Summer.”
This is the first time in Nick’s memory that Penn Middle has used puppets to portray select characters. Two actors will portray Olaf, a snowman, and Sven, a reindeer, using puppets designed to scale.
“We teach and guide (students) to act with their face and with their body, and it’s very personal to them,” she said. “Now, they have to portray that through a puppet. I think that’s been challenging and it’s going to continue to be challenging.”
The show also features a unique storyline for Penn Middle, Nick said, focusing on the relationship between two sisters, Anna and Elsa.
“I think a lot of times with Disney, it can feel very animated and silly at times. But I will say, this show has a pretty deep storyline, and I think there’s a lot of emotion… and a lot of really good lessons that come out of the storyline and the show,” she said. “I think it’s interesting, because it’s one of the only Disney musicals that isn’t focused around a prince and a princess and love. The focus is on two sisters and their love for each other.”
