May 24, 25, 30, 31, June 6, 7, 13, 14, 2026
The Players postponed announcing their 2026 season because Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical was being considered for release to community theaters. The decision proved successful, and Kitsap Forest Theater became one of the first community theaters in the Pacific Northwest to present the production.
Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical was adapted for the stage from the company’s successful 2013 animated film. The production began performances in New York in the winter of 2018. Jennifer Lee wrote the book, while Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez composed the music and lyrics.
The stage adaptation included the familiar songs “Let It Go” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” along with new material that allowed for greater dramatic depth than the animated film.
The story follows Elsa, the newly crowned queen of Arendelle, who flees into the mountains after her uncontrollable magical powers plunge the kingdom into an eternal winter. Her younger sister, Anna, sets out to find her, accompanied by Kristoff, a reindeer herdsman; Sven, his reindeer; and Olaf, a snowman. Their journey reveals that the sisters’ love for one another can end the winter and restore Arendelle.
The production staff was led by Craig Schieber, with Guy Caridi serving as choreographer and Mark and Nancy Press as music directors. Ila Faubion Dreessen served as vocal music director while also performing the role of Elsa, the “Ice Queen.”
The production presented numerous technical challenges, including falling snow, rapid costume changes, a substantial snowman puppet, and other special effects. Amy Fancher received the Sound on Stage Theatre Award for Achievement in Costume Design of a Musical.
The audience included a substantial number of children under six, who at some performances accounted for as much as 20 percent of attendance. After each performance, Ila Dreessen, who played Elsa, and Marin Alexis, who played Anna, often spent as long as 45 minutes posing for photographs with young members of the audience dressed as Elsa and Anna. There were also another set with a young Anna and an older Elsa. Usually these parts are played with a short age gap between the two. But the director decided that a younger Anna (Mayla Elmore) would best be set against a teenaged Elsa (Harper Rogers).
Ila Faubion Dreessen portrayed the adult Elsa with all the angst which went with the part, while Marin Alexis portrayed the somewhat naive and gullible Anna. Ila was KFT veteran, doing her first show in 2006. This was Marin's first show with KFT.
David Ward played the surprise villain of the show, Hans. Hans received 'boos' from the audience when he revealed his true evil nature.
Jared White played Kristoff the surprise male romantic lead, showing what 'true love' is.
Kristoff was assisted by his reindeer, Sven, who was played by Rufus Crane. Rufus had no lines and had to spend every scene bent over.
Katie Dreessen was the puppeteer behind the snowman, Olaf. She not only had to act and sing, but she had to manage the rather large puppet.
Katie's brother, A.J. Dreessen, got the opportunity to start the second act with a hilarious song about the joys of sauna.
A large set was created with a rebuilding of the 'mound' stage which was reused throughout the season, by morphing from castles in Arendelle to the streets of 19th century London for both Oliver! and Miss Holmes. The same set was used for two castle settings - Arendelle and Elsa's Frozen Castle. Using the same set the question was how to differentiate between the two. The solution was to have some of the castle walls become a bright blue when they represented the Ice Castle.
REVIEW OF FROZEN: Sound on Stage review of Frozen!
Director: Craig Schieber; Choreographer: Guy Caridi; Music Director: Mark Press; Asst. Music Director: Nancy Press; Vocal Music Director: Ila Faubion Dreessen; Accompanist: Jay Rauchenstein; Stage Manager: Kristen Deskin and Danette Lam; Costumes: Amy Fancher; Props: Angela & Reid Templin; Sets: George Pledger & Jim Johnson; Technical Director: Kevin Matthews; Sound Board: David Whitemarsh, Kevin Matthews; Production Manager: Gala Lindvall; Associate Production Manager: Jenny Dreessen
Links
- Frozen Program
- Cast Bios
- Gallery
2025 A Midsummer Night's Dream