The Riverside High School Theater will present the musical, Frozen March 19-22 in the high school auditorium. A cast and crew of over 80 students from the school district will participate in the production directed by Brent Rodgers. This is the 63rd anniversary of theatre at Riverside.
Full of magic, humor, and a stunning musical score, Frozen is a powerful tale of sisterhood, acceptance, and finding the real meaning of true love.
Today’s review is part three in a three-part series about Frozen. Previous stories featured cast Q&As.
It’s not surprising that the cast and crew of Riverside’s Frozen is bringing the heat … errr … the frost … let’s just say it’s truly a blizzard of brilliance all around!
The show starts with young Anna and Elsa, played by supporting cast of youth actresses that stand strong among their older counterparts. My prediction … Riverside will see these young ladies in leads in the next few years. And lucky us because we have that to look forward to. Their small but mighty voices were simply a delight, pure and on point. Talent beyond their years.
As the show begins to develop, we are quickly introduced to the grown-up Anna, played by Molly Linville and the grown-up Elsa, played by Corrina Freed. Linville brings the sweet Anna to life with her soft, melodic voice and even from the audience her facial expressions tell the tale of a loving, worried sister who longs for a bond. Freed plays Elsa brilliantly with a “chilly side” that is really just hesitation to let anyone in and see her true magic. She masters the vulnerability of the character but shows her true vocal power during “Let it Go,” where she truly seems to do just that coming to life as the song grows.
Also in the mix are some strong male leads. Donovan Hunter plays Hans of the Southern Isles, a gentleman that quickly catches Anna’s eye. Hunter plays the role perfectly and brings a certain charm to his character. And if you don’t notice the Duke of Weselton, played by Luke Grodson, you simply must be sleeping in the audience. He’s loud and over the top. He takes drama to a whole new level in a good way. Grodson’s portrayal leaves a lasting memory.
Then there’s Olaf … everyone loves Olaf! Chase Emerick plays the part so well. He balances the challenge of playing a character at the same time as physically controlling the Olaf puppet. Emerick has a singing voice that is not easy to forget.
I’d be missing the backbone of the production if I didn’t mention everything that supports the show. The choreography is done so well by the Riverside cast, enthralling, detailed, and emotional. The sets never cease to amaze as they take to you places so far beyond where you really are. They are a true escape from reality and into the story.
Frozen is one of those tales that will simply warm your heart.
Don’t Miss the Show!
Dates and times
- Thursday March 19 – 7:30 p.m.
- Friday March 20 – 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday March 21 – 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday March 22 – 2 p.m.
All tickets for these performances are $12.00 and can be purchased here. Riverside Beaver County High School is located at 300 Country Club Drive, Ellwood City, PA 16117. If you have questions, email the producer at brodgers@rbcsd.com
Frozen is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.
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