Frozen was released in November of 2013 and soon became the most loved, successful animated Disney musical in years, certainly since the studio’s “golden age” of the early ‘90s. It won Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, it spawned a successful soundtrack, a short film sequel, and even a Disney on Ice show. In addition to all of that, the characters were featured prominently in a storyline on Once Upon a Time – not to mention the presumably millions of costumes for little girls on the last two Halloweens.
Now, Frozen is getting ready to take the next step, as a Broadway musical adaptation, from the team behind the film is now in the works, and will be produced by the Disney Theatrical Productions division.
The Wrap reported Tuesday that Frozen is officially headed to the Broadway stage, in the spring of 2018. Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the husband-and-wife team who wrote the movie’s songs, will return, as will writer/co-director Jennifer Lee, who is set to write the stage show’s book.
A “developmental version” of the production will open out of town sometime in the summer 2017, before the show arrives in New York the following spring. Although no actors are officially on board for the stage show as of yet, several voice stars from the film, including Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, and Santino Fontana, have appeared in high-profile Broadway shows in the past, so it would certainly make the production seemingly more attractive if it were able to land one or all of the stars.
It was probably inevitable that Frozen would one day become a Broadway musical. It was a hugely popular movie, with a score full of beloved original songs, written by the Lopezes, whose work has been part of successful Great White Way productions in the past. Given the couples’ history, it is a good bet they will write more new songs for the stage show. Disney has turned its past animated hits into smash Broadway musicals before – Frozen will in fact be the ninth Disney movie adaptation to make its way to the stage, with other productions including The Lion King and Aladdin, both of which have been running on Broadway for several years .
Will Frozen remain popular enough, five years out from the movie and with its core fanbase having grown up a bit, to become a hit on stage? It’s hard to imagine it won’t. Frozen was such a cultural phenomenon that its staying power should not be underestimated – especially if a sequel to the movie, announced last year, arrives on screens before the stage show.
The Frozen musical adaptation is due to arrive on Broadway in the spring of 2018.
Source: The Wrap
