Reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Knight Raymond, PhD and Theron Raymond (7th grader)
When Frozen was released in 2013, Theron was a toddler. Like so many families, the siren song of “Let it Go” became a mainstay earworm in our home. Disney subsequently swept this instant cinematic sensation to the stage as a musical in 2017.
The musical opens with a Greek chorus of dancers who introduce the royal family. Ryan J. Moller’s exquisite costume design enrobes the ensemble in mosses and plants that unite the dancers as creatures of the forest and foreshadow the role of the elements in this world. Robbie Roby’s expert choreography harmonizes nature and makes it flow.
While young Elsa (Laurel S. Denk) may be the future queen of Arendelle, young Anna (Hallie Camacho) instantly steals the stage with her delightful and precocious demeanor. Camacho elicits easy laughter from the audience as she deftly navigates her parents, shooing them out of her bedroom so she can beg Elsa to create snow. The two girls bring vocal power to “A Little Bit of You.” Elsa crafts Olaf out of their shared song vision, which includes Anna’s request that the snowman have a “big bouncy butt.” Kyle Kemph brings everyone’s favorite hug-loving snowman to life. Olaf is attached to Kemph who makes it easy to forget there’s a human behind the life-sized plush Olaf (a puppet triumph by Scott Molampy).
King Agnarr (Kai Sachon) demands Elsa wear gloves and mandates the sisters isolate after Elsa’s ice magic almost kills Anna. Sachon goes from caring father to controlling force as he commands Elsa to “conceal it, don’t feel it” in order to try to manage her magic. This phrase remains her guiding mantra, even after the untimely demise of her parents. It’s a potent reminder of the power parents have over their children and to be selective with our words to ensure those that linger with our kids are the ones we would choose.

The adult Elsa’s (Cate Hayman) transformation from restrained to unchained in “Let It Go” is visually amplified by her wardrobe. As Hayman beautifully belts out and “feels” the song, Moller has her costume transform from a stiff dress to a flowing, diaphanous gown.
The show exchanges bulky sets for high-resolution video-designed imagery. Director Michael Heitzman orchestrates the video design to perfectly synchronize with the dialogue and events on stage. As adult Anna (Daisy Wright) and Kristoff (Matthew Hydzik) dash whitherward through the snow in his sleigh, escaping wolves, Bryce Cutler’s exquisite video design raises the stakes. Cutler has snow blowing, and the sleigh’s path through the forest cuts from side to side.
Hydzik is irresistible as Kristoff, especially when he clamors into his sleigh and leans back to sing “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People.” As the song ends, he gives an affectionate “boop” on the nose to Sven the reindeer. If not better, reindeer(s) are certainly less emotionally complicated than people. Kristoff voices Sven’s point of view in the song, making the reindeer an anthropomorphic vessel.
Ultimately, King Agnarr is wrong. It is feeling, not concealing, that triumphs. As AI relationships flourish and politics threaten to divide us, Frozen’s message to lean into love is perhaps more relevant than ever.
-TKR, Ph. D. & TR
Disney’s “Frozen” runs until July 27 at the Benedum Center, 237 Seventh Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For tickets and additional information, click here.