Disney's "Frozen" - Lee, Lopez & Anderson-Lopez - Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse (Putnam, CT) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Tristan Arnold as "Olaf" with Arianna Hamill as "Anna" in a scene from the Disney Musical "FROZEN" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Emelie Gallow)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Some people are worth melting for.”
- ("Olaf") / Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee
Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc.
at the Bradley Playhouse
Presents the Disney Musical
"FROZEN"
Music & Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
Book by Jennifer Lee
Based on “Frozen” by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee & Shane Morris
Directed by John K. McElroy II
Music Director Brittany Dyer
Choreographer Kat MacInnes
Stage Manager Brian McElroy
Cast Includes: Cierra Schultz as “Elsa,” Arianna Hamill as “Anna,” Sofie Nesanelis as “Young Elsa,” Rowan Vadenais as “Young Anna,” Melanie Kane as “Queen Iduna,” Jordan Miller as “King Agnarr,” Christopher Currier as “Pabbie/Oaken,” Alaina Belsito as “Bulda,” Anthony Francis DeRose as “Weselton,” Dan Pickar as “Hans,” Adan Hernandez as “Kristoff,” Dean Hernandez as “Sven,” Tristan Arnold as “Olaf.”
Ensemble: Colin Bragdon, Stephen Clarke, Natalie Crino, Aurora Currier, Faith Currier, Flynn Currier, Emelie Gallow, Melanie Garcia, Lucas Giacomo, Meghan Harrington, Meeah Hart, Tristan Jolley, Kat MacInnes, Nora Miller, Amy Stoelzel, Casey Stoelzel, Catie Verostick.
Additional Creative Team:
Assistant Stage Manager - Anthony Archambault; Artistic Committee Liaisons - Sarah Oschmann, Jeremy Woloski, Christine Healy; Production Manager - Jeanne Foley; Assistant Production Manager - Carol Schimmelpfennig; Production Coordinator - Kathleen Atwood; Puppet Design/Lead Puppeteer - Dean Hernandez; Costume Design - Carol Webb; Associate Costumers - Sharon Bishop, Caleigh Ducharme, Teal Griswold, Melanie Kane, Amelie Van der Swaagh, Luis Alvarado; Hair and Wig Design - Jennifer Douglas; Set Design - Andrew Lugo, Carl Mercier, Dillon Bates, John K. McElroy II, Rebecca Patenaude; Set Artists - Diana Lee, Rebecca Patenaude, Maria Bessette, Amanda Bessette, Jasmine Gervais, Sandy Lazarou, Casey Stoelzel, Avery Sumner, Anna Lonkin, Nani Garcia, Jen Atwood; Props - Andrew Lugo, Melinda Collelo, Bonnie Theriault; Lighting Design/Operator - Maria Venturelli; Sound Design/Operator - Aidan Horrigan; Stagehands - Stephanie Hebert, Josie Hebert, Jaime Hart, Danny Hart, Jr., Lisa Ahern, Katie Vadenais; Set Construction - Tom Thurlow, Andrew Lugo, Jordan Miller, Anthony Archambault.
Performances:
July 24, 2026 through August 8, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE, 30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam, CT. 06260-1942
TICKETS:
All seats reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887.
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT) is cooling down those dog days of summer with the delightful Disney musical "FROZEN" now playing at the Bradley Playhouse.
This splendid TNECT production is expertly helmed by director John K. McElroy II, supported by music director Brittany Dyer and choreographer Kat MacInnes.
Without a doubt, the assembled creative team at TNECT has thrown everything into the wintery mix to provide audiences with a fantastic family-friendly experience.
Added TNECT specialized lighting and effects enhance the overall experience.
The principals combined with the supporting ensemble all give admirable performances.
While based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios' 2013 animated motion picture "FROZEN," it is not mandatory to have ever seen the film in order to enjoy this staged musical adaptation (but it couldn’t hurt, either).
There is fine attention to detail with all TNECT costumes and props, with some added high praise to the entire cast and team for some of the more quickly rendered costume changes.
Puppetry is also an integral part of the TNECT musical "FROZEN" in the forms of sociable snowman Olaf (performed in full-body costume and voiced by Tristan Arnold) and raucous reindeer Sven (performed in full-body costume and voiced by Dean Hernandez) in equal scene-stealing performances.
"FROZEN" has music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, with its book by Jennifer Lee.
After tryouts in Denver, Colorado in 2017, Disney's "FROZEN" debuted on Broadway in 2018.
However, by March, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately ended the show after 26 previews and 825 regular performances.
Post-pandemic, though, "FROZEN" saw a resurgence in popularity evidenced by sell-out crowds around the world.
(Photo: Sofie Nesanelis as "Young Elsa" with Rowan Vadenais as "Young Anna" in a scene from the Disney Musical "FROZEN" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Emelie Gallow)
The story centers on the relationship between two sisters who are princesses, the strong, level-headed Elsa (Cierra Schultz) who is destined to become Queen of Arendelle and the younger, more naïve but stoical Anna (Arianna Hamill).
Schultz and Hamill give splendid portrayals of the estranged older sisters, whom we are first introduced to as children.
Young Elsa (Sofie Nesanelis) has magical powers to freeze objects and people, which she does not know how to control and accidentally injures Young Anna (Rowan Vadenais).
Musical highlights for the above duo are the heartwarming songs, “A Little Bit of You” and a show staple, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”
Nesanelis and Vadenais are very good in their portrayals of the young siblings who become estranged, with their parents concerned for Anna’s safety.
After a tragedy befalls their parents (played by Melanie Kane as “Queen Iduna” and Jordan Miller as “King Agnarr”), upon adulthood, Elsa inherits the throne to serve as Queen of Arendelle.
Hamill astounds in her exuberant portrayal of Anna, who is resolute in reuniting with her estranged Elsa, not realizing the reasons for Elsa’s self-imposed isolation.
(Photo: Adan Hernandez as "Kristoff" with Arianna Hamill as "Anna" in a scene from the Disney Musical "FROZEN" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Emelie Gallow)
Schultz is a dynamic singer, giving a memorable rendition of Elsa’s signature number, “Let It Go!”
As a pivotal moment for the story, the song comes with high expectations from fans of either the movie or the original Broadway production.
For the TNECT staging, director McElroy pulls out all the stops and has cleverly augmented the above number by using specialized lighting effects for Elsa's magic, encompassing the entire stage space.
Earlier in the story, though - Elsa is given a coronation ball in which many dignitaries appear, including Prince Hans (Dan Pickar) who immediately sets his sights on Anna.
Pickar and Hamill have fine chemistry as evidenced in the playful musical number “Love Is an Open Door.”
Anna falls for Hans instantly, much to the annoyance of ice peddler Kristoff (Adan Hernandez) who is aided by the aforementioned ornery reindeer, Sven.
Hernandez gives a terrific performance as Kristoff, also showcasing a fine voice in the number, “Kristoff Lullaby.”
The outstanding onstage teamwork between the Hernandez siblings results in genuine onstage chemistry exuded between Kristoff and Sven.
After an unfortunate incident at the ball exposing her wintery powers, Elsa is forced to flee, inadvertently causing the kingdom to become frozen in an eternal winter.
(Photo: Tristan Arnold as "Olaf" with Arianna Hamill as "Anna" in a scene from the Disney Musical "FROZEN" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Emelie Gallow)
All costumes used in the Disney musical "FROZEN" are not only clever but gorgeous and completely in step with the story.
The "FROZEN" ensemble expertly maintains its vocal strength, difficult while both executing the extensive choreography by Kat MacInnes and while executing numerous costume changes throughout the show.
Additional memorable performances by the TNECT cast include Christopher Currier in the dual role of “Pabbie” and “Oaken” (the latter of which leads the fun Act Two group opener “Hygge”); and Anthony Francis DeRose as the funny, foppish Duke “Weaselton”…err…“Weselton.”
Throughout much of the relatively straightforward story, Elsa continues to try and stay far away and isolated expecting that, by sacrificing her own needs to show how much she loves her sister and the kingdom of Arendelle, she will save all from great harm.
What she does not anticipate, however, is that, by setting these events in motion, these two sisters will not only discover the strengths they each have within themselves, but also the strength of the bond they carry between them.
(Photo: The CAST of the Disney Musical "FROZEN" by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Mike Scott)
Even with a few minor technical issues witnessed at the July 25th performance with regard to some microphone mishaps, and set redress/scene changes, this TNECT production of "FROZEN" is still an absolute joy from beginning to end.
The delightful Disney Musical "FROZEN" continues from TNECT at the Bradley Playhouse until August 8th, 2026.
Coming in the fall from TNECT at the Bradley Playhouse will be the Agatha Christie mystery “THE MOUSETRAP" beginning October 9th and running through October 25th, 2026.
For tickets and more information, visit www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or call # 860-928-7887.
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Approximately two hours, 20 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
In the Disney Musical "FROZEN" - Based on the hit 2013 film, "FROZEN" reveals how true love can come in many forms and that the bond between sisters is something truly special.
In the kingdom of Arendelle, young sisters Princess Elsa and Princess Anna share a joyful childhood filled with magical play, as Elsa possesses the innate ability to create ice and snow.
Tragedy strikes when the royal couple perishes at sea during a storm, leaving the sisters isolated—Elsa locked away in her room to conceal her powers, and Anna yearning for connection.
Thirteen years later, Elsa's coronation as queen arrives, opening the castle gates and allowing Anna to mingle with suitors, including the charming Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, to whom she becomes instantly betrothed.
Elsa struggles to suppress her powers during the ceremony, but when Anna defends her impulsive engagement, Elsa's fear erupts, freezing Anna's heart and blanketing Arendelle in eternal winter.
Elsa flees to the North Mountain, where she builds an ice palace and embraces her freedom in the iconic song "Let It Go," declaring herself liberated from societal constraints.
Determined to end the freeze and mend their bond, Anna sets out with the rugged ice harvester Kristoff and his reindeer Sven.
Along the way, they encounter Olaf, a cheerful snowman unwittingly created by Elsa's magic, who dreams of experiencing summer and provides comic relief with his naive optimism (STAGEAGENT).
ABOUT THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE
THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE is a 117 year-old vaudeville theatre in the heart of the Putnam antiques and restaurant district in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeastern Connecticut. Since 1991, THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE has been managed by the volunteers of The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT). ABOUT THEATRE OF NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT (TNECT)TNECT produces eight main season shows per year and a number of special fundraising events for The Bradley Playhouse Restoration Fund. TNECT’s mission is to produce and sponsor quality theatre and entertainment for the residents of Northeastern Connecticut and the surrounding areas, to encourage the development of creativity through the support of local artists, and to support education and hands-on experience in the creation, direction, and production of theatre and the performing arts.
30 Front Street
P.O. Box # 71
Putnam, CT. 06260-1942
