'Frozen Jr.' ready to hit stage with Sing Hosanna! cast
A 50-member Sing Hosanna! cast is gearing up for an enchanting modern classic from Disney.
“Frozen Jr.” is based on the 2018 Broadway musical and will have a midweek, two-day run June 26 and 27 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.
Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle are brought to life on stage.
The show features all the memorable songs from the animated Disney film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus an additional five songs written for the Broadway production.
In the Sing Hosanna! production, Sarah Benkart, 18, of Butler is taking on the role of the adult Elsa.
“She is crowned queen and finds herself isolating herself from the kingdom because of her magic powers,” said Benkart.
“The hardest part is definitely challenging my inner anger. At one point in the show, I have to yell in rage. It can be very challenging to get into that state of mind,” she noted.
Benkart auditioned for the show because Elsa and Anna are her dream roles, she said.
“To be able to play one of them is incredible,” she said.
Her last role was as a wife in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” produced by Sing Hosanna! this past spring. “This show is full of great acting and intricate dance numbers, including a tap number. The ensemble is very fun and lively and really add to the performance,” she said.
Elsa's sister Anna is being played by Kendra Shidemantle of Mercer Township.
“The character of Anna is very cheerful and playful. She portrays life and people in an optimistic way. Sometimes that optimism leads to her being gullible,” said Shidemantle, who is experiencing her first Sing Hosanna! production.
“Her love for her friends and family is unconditional,” she added.
Shidemantle has been preparing by listening to the “Frozen” soundtrack, she said, and watching all the portrayals of Anna that she can find.Shidemantle's last role was in March as Jane Banks in her school's spring musical, Slippery Rock High School's “Mary Poppins.”The role of Olaf, the lovable snowman, is being portrayed by Than Archer of Penn Township.The 14-year-old said he is enjoying the jolly role. “Ironically this snowman loves the heat,” said Than.“The voice is the hardest thing to portray because his voice is different from normal voices and accents,” he said.Than has been with “Sing Hosanna!” for years and done countless shows.He said he's delighted with this production and thinks the audiences will love it.“There are many younger children in it, so it will be an extra cute show. All the older and more experienced people are very good at acting and will put on a good show, especially the music and voices of Anna and Elsa,” Than said.The character Kristoff is being played by Isaac Hixon, 12, of Forward Township.“Kristoff is a very down to earth person,” said Isaac. “Because he is very down to earth, in some of the fun scenes I can't be smiling because he thinks that talking snowmen are strange instead of fun,” said Isaac of the struggle to stay in character.Isaac believes the family-friendly show will be fun for the whole audience and some of the actors too. “It is fun working with Jeb who is portraying Sven my reindeer,” Isaac said.Isaac last appeared on stage as Mike Teavee in “Wonka Jr.” with Sing Hosanna! last summer.The director for this production is Ralph Christy Jr.The cast includes youths ages 7 to 18.
WHO: Sing Hosanna!WHAT: Disney’s “Frozen Jr.”WHEN: 7:30 p.m. June 26 and 27WHERE: Succop Theater at Butler County Community CollegeTICKETS: $15 and not reserved, available at May’s Music Shoppe or at the doorINFO: 724-287-8362EXTRA: Audience members whogo to the show dressed as their favorite “Frozen” character can win prizes.
