i saw frozen the musical and cried

loving your extracurriculars as they get more competitive

Two weekends ago, I saw Frozen the Musical for the second time, and I cried all the way through it. I suppose this is my official outing as a theatre kid on Substack.

It was completely beautiful, and every actor was excellent. As a musical, I think it’s one of the best adaptations Disney-wise from the movie. The characters, especially Elsa, become so much more well-fleshed out. I also think Anna’s naivety is much better expressed with more run time, and her somewhat irrational ideals for love are better represented. Also, the added songs are really wonderful, and genuinely help advance the plot. My personal favorites are Monster and Dangerous to Dream.

But the musical actually means a lot more to me than just a good show. When I was thirteen, I got to be in a production of Frozen (admittedly the junior version), and it completely changed my life. 

I remember the opening night of Frozen Jr. was the most thrilling feeling I’ve ever experienced. There was such an exciting feeling backstage, and we all went around wishing each other a thousand broken legs and telling all of our best inside jokes. The curtain rose for the opening number, and I was clutching my green ribbon on the maypole fiercely, determined to do my very best work. In that moment, I truly felt like I was part of something important and special, which is a feeling that isn’t easily replaceable. Every time I hear Vuelie (the iconic Frozen na na nas), I’m whisked back to thirteen year old me onstage for the first time, feeling positively infinite. When I hear it professionally, I am reminded of the pure eagerness to perform and be onstage, and I cry. 

exposing myself, this was during covid and this is my townsperson outfit. holding the magic light up wand my friend bought. we also had to wear fake braids on top of our heads!

The whole rehearsal process was so incredible for me as well. The theatre company I did the show with was something I had always wanted to be a part of. From as far back as I remember, I was hardwired to perform. Look on my mom’s phone, and there are countless videos of me singing and dancing for the small audience of, admittedly, only my parents. So naturally, I begged to do musical theatre, which my parents always said no to. When I finally got my yes, I had such high expectations of what it would be like. It was everything a thirteen year old could have asked for.

I idolized all the older kids playing the leads. Near the end of the rehearsal process, I painted a little Anna peg doll, and gave it to the girl playing her. She was so kind about it, and I was so thrilled. At the end of the show, she thanked me for it again, and told me she was so proud of me for doing my first big show. I’m positive she doesn’t remember this in the slightest, but it was these types of reactions that motivated me to continue doing shows. I am so privileged to have had such good role models as I grew in theatre, ones that were kind and dedicated. As I become one of the older kids in the theatre, I hope I can play the same role for the younger kids. 

the anna peg doll in question

I don’t think of theatre the same way anymore. Growing older, I find more pressure in performing to get leads, despite quite bad audition fright. There’s an emphasis on proving yourself, and being the best, which is good in theory but taxing in execution. I don’t discourage healthy competition, but the constant need to perform becomes tiring. It’s easy to forget why you enjoy it in the first place, with the long hours and issues between cast members. It’s easy to forget the reason you ever loved it in the first place. I think as you grow older, it’s more important to remember why you did adore it, and reconnect with the way you felt.

I still try to find joy in it the same way I did when I was in Frozen Jr., the pure joy of getting to be on stage with your very best friends, doing what you believe is very special. It was naivety, but in the best form. I should be able to find joy in doing what I love! 

Watching Frozen onstage is an excellent reminder of that. I get to remember the songs I was so excited to learn, see the characters who were played by the people I thought were the most incredible ever.  I’m reminded of why I initially fell in love with musical theatre, and why I continue to come back for every show my theatre company does. 

(cover by @rosaura.studios on instagram)