Review By Becky Evans, Front Row Reviewers
Princesses are taking over Ivin, Utah as Frozen and Anastasia are simultaneously
performing to sold out crowds at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts. My daughters and I
were awestruck as we walked up the waterfall path to the beautiful theatre surrounded
by red rock cliffs. The beauty and majesty of the Tuacahn setting is unforgettable and
totally worth a long drive if you don’t live in southern Utah. We experienced the familiar
musical Frozen in a way that both surprised and enchanted us. Many of the young girls
in attendance were dressed as princesses, which is fitting as earlier this month a world
record was set for the most princesses in one location: 1,382!
Frozen the musical closely follows the Disney movie (CCO Jennifer Lee) with music and
lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. It follows the adventures of two sisters,
one born with power (Elsa) to control ice and snow as they grow up and learn about love and
sisterhood. The musical version includes additional songs that bring additional depth
to characters such as Kristoff (Jonah Hookano) and Oaken played by Randal Keith.
“What do you know about Love?” is a duet sung by Princess Anna (Daisy Wright) and
Kristoff. Wright and Hookano’s performance is enchanting and explains some of
Anna’s quirky naivety about love and also Kristoff’s insecurity and emotional
detachment. Kristoff’s lullaby is a song that really allows the audience to get to know his
character in a way that the movie doesn’t show. Oaken (Keith) sings a song about
Hygge, which is a Norwegian word for a cozy quality that makes a person feel content
and comfortable and has become a popular trend lately. This song showcases the
production’s stellar ensemble as they came in and out of the Oaken Saunas dressed in
only their towels.
To say their dancing is amazing is an understatement. I particularly
enjoyed the choreography by Robbie Roby. The whole ensemble works together in
harmony and energy that carries away all who watch them. The dancing is sharp,
precise, professional and energetic. During the ball, there are a lot of graceful lifts and
elegant grandiose movements that enhance the feeling of regality.
Although I have seen Frozen before, Tuacahn’s production is more than a performance
and is the most professional and magical I’ve seen, including pyrotechnics, magical
snow flurries, projections which made the castle and ice palace come alive. My
daughters’ favorite, a magical dress transformation as Elsa changes before our eyes.
The show begins after sunset. Ours started at 8:45 PM, which lends itself to a late night,
especially for littles but that didn’t stop many young people from coming out donned in
their Anna and Elsa dresses and tiaras. One young girl on the row in front of us found
herself singing along and laughed hysterically at all the jokes and squealed with joy
each time Elsa appeared or surprised us with some beautiful magic. This girl made my
heart happy as I understood there is a little child inside each of us and theatre has this
power to release our inner child, transport us, and totally immerse us in a story.
From the first note, we could tell we were in for a treat with a live (although unseen)
orchestra. Christopher Babbage’s musical direction is spot on, and the music leads
each scene with the emotional intensity it needs. He follows the actors perfectly and
made me believe Christoff is actually playing his lute on “Reindeers are Better than
People.”
Director Michael Heitzman truly worked magic with the cast, bringing out the best of
both the show itself and the cast members’ unique talents. All of the actors are amazing.
Starting with the adorable young Elsa and Anna played by Harper Griffith and Bentley
Nuila who are just adorable, professional little actresses. I was especially charmed by
little Anna’s feisty personality and energy. Anna, played by the wonderful Daisy Wright
brings a sincerity to her role as Anna that instantly endears her to the audience, coupled
with phenomenal vocals and effortless dance skills. Elsa, played by Cayleigh Capaldi is an
absolute hit with the audience. Her “Let it Go” number brings the house down with perfect
pitch and build up to her finale of embracing her powers and allowing herself to be all she
was meant to be. As she belts out her last notes, she shoots her hands to the sky and
actual fireworks put the exclamation on her powerful number. Hans is played by Preston
Taylor who adds humor to his lovable fiancé gone wrong. He is extra sinister in one of my
favorite songs called “Monster” while searching for Elsa to lock her up.
One of the fan favorites of course is Olaf played by Kyle Kemph whose comedic timing
and clever turn of phrase entertains and delights. Two other stars of the show Adam
Koslowski (Pabbie) and Suzanna Guzman (Bulda) play the hidden folk who raised Kristoff. Their
duo brings a unique humor and endearment as they banter and show their devotion to
Kristoff as they sing “Fixer Upper.”
Other notable cast members include Ashley Bruce (Queen Iduna), James Everts (King
Agnarr), Jeffery Landman (Weselton), and William Bishop who plays Sven. These amazing
performers share phenomenal vocals, truly fun acting, and only serve to heighten an
already wonderful show.
The costuming (Ryan Moller) is stunning. I loved the magical
dresses and he chose to dress Elsa in an awesome dress with leggings and boots while she
was running for her life across the Fjord, which would have been a much more practical
choice for the queen than her “Let it Go” stunner. The costumes for all of the leads are just
perfect, the colors vibrant and fun. The scenic design (Adam Koch) deserves special
mention. Koch brought a combination of moving pieces, visual projections, and lighting
(Dalton Hamilton) to effortlessly flow from Arendelle to Oaken to the Ice Palace with
minimal scene changes and no down time. The lighting and special effects are well placed
and add to the magic and enjoyment of the performance.
Overall, the setting is simply lovely for this musical. The Tuacahn is a very large theater,
and as such, is able to appropriately tackle this enormous show. The seating is stadium-
style, so there’s not a bad seat in the house. Since the last time I was here, they have
improved their seat cushioning in the center sections and added seating on the sides
which were previously grass. They rent cushions for the seats, which I recommend for the far sides. I recommend getting there early to find good parking and leaving time to explore
the huge gift shop, eat at the café, take pictures at the photo ops, and grab some snacks.
In all, I would absolutely recommend Frozen at Tuacahn as it is a production unlike what
you have previously experienced. I am in awe of the talent, professionalism, and sheer
pleasure of seeing this production. You really must experience this magical show at
Tuacahn.
Tuacahn Center for the Arts presents Frozen, music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and
Robert Lopez, book by Jennifer Lee, Produced by Scott Anderson.
Tuacahn Amphitheater 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, Utah 84738.
Frozen runs select evenings until October 17, 2024.
Tickets: $35-$140
Contact: 800-746-9882
Tuacahn Center for the Arts Facebook Page
Frozen publicity reel
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