Greenville Theatre’s ‘Frozen’ brings snow, spectacle to summer stage

Escaping the South Carolina summer heat may be as easy as stepping inside Greenville Theatre this June.

The theater’s production of Disney’s “Frozen,” running June 5-28, promises snow effects, elaborate costumes, projections and plenty of theatrical magic — all created by local artists and performers, director Max Quinlan said.

“It’ll be a really lovely thing to have some snow effect in the heat of summer,” Quinlan said with a laugh. “We’ll have a snow-filled summer at Greenville Theatre.”

The stage musical, based on the beloved 2013 animated film, spotlights songs that have become Disney classics, including “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, “For the First Time in Forever” and the Oscar-winning “Let It Go.”

The story centers on the relationship between sisters who are princesses, Elsa and Anna. Elsa has uncontrollable magical powers to freeze objects and people, forcing her into exile even as she inherits the throne.

Greenville Theatre’s local cast of more than two dozen, meanwhile, guarantees bountiful vocal heft for the musical’s showstopping ensemble numbers.

Quinlan describes the season-closing musical as one of Greenville Theatre’s most technically ambitious productions.

“This show really allows our staff to shine,” Quinlan said. “The set construction, all of our costumes are designed and built in-house. The wow factor of the outfits and the magical world is all done by local artists of the Upstate.”

Stage spectacle

Audiences familiar with Broadway or touring versions of “Frozen” can expect some of the spectacle that made the musical famous. Greenville Theatre uses projections, lighting effects and puppetry to bring beloved characters to life.

Olaf, the cheerful snowman, will appear through a blend of live performance and puppetry, played by familiar Greenville Theatre performer Neel Patrick Edwards. Sven, Kristoff’s loyal reindeer companion, also will be featured in a design Quinlan said has required weeks of preparation.

“The person doing that has been practicing with the mechanics of it for over a month now,” Quinlan said. “It’s going to be really wonderful to see that come to life.”

The production stars Erica Doran as Elsa and Kelsey Crews as Anna, whom Quinlan called “powerhouse” performers capable of handling the show’s demanding vocal roles.

Beyond the visual spectacle, Quinlan said the story’s emotional message remains at the center of the production.

“To me, the show is all about love,” he said. “Even though Elsa has all these powers and magic within her, the true magic comes from accepting love and giving love to others.”

For Quinlan, “Frozen” carries special personal meaning. His 4-year-old daughter, Sofie — “the biggest ‘Frozen’ fan there is,” he joked — inspired his connection to the show. He’s dedicating the production to her, though he hopes she resists the temptation to rush on stage during “Let It Go.”

The musical also marks Quinlan’s final production as Greenville Theatre’s producing artistic director before transitioning to an artistic consultant role.

“It feels very personal to me,” Quinlan said. “I’ve loved my time here, and I’m excited that my final show is all about love.”