'It's full of theatre magic': Grand Theatre opens Frozen with four young stars

The Grand Theatre is inviting Londoners to step inside the kingdom of Arendelle this holiday season, as Disney's Frozen: The Broadway Musical, opens on the Spriet Stage this Friday.

The production has already proven so popular that its run has been extended to Jan. 4 due to overwhelming ticket demand.

"We're so thrilled," said Rachel Peake, the Grand's artistic director and director of Frozen. "It's one of the biggest shows we've ever done … full of beauty and music and puppets and comedy. It's really full of theatre magic."

While audiences may come for the iconic songs and spectacular staging, many will also be watching four young performers from London and surrounding communities. Young Anna and young Elsa are double-cast in the musical, allowing performers to alternate nights and keep the demanding schedule manageable.

Those roles are played by Harmony Holder, 9, of Toronto; Oakan Oyafuso, 10, of Stratford; Alba Evora Weiler, 12, of St. Marys; and London's own Kylie Prouty, 9. Each of them said stepping into such a well-known story feels both surreal and exciting.

“I've always loved Frozen," Holder said. "So I just thought it would be such an amazing experience to audition for."

Oakan said she connects deeply with Anna's personality. "Anna is very expressive, and I'm also very expressive," she said. "She's just in a way crazy, too."

Both young Annas and young Elsas talked about how the story's message has stayed with them since they were small. They pointed to the theme of love between sisters, not just romantic love, as what makes Frozen feel different from other fairy tales.

"It expresses that true love isn't just in a boy and a girl," Oyafuso said. "It can be in sisters, too."

Weiler agreed. "It's about best friends and their journey, and how much they'll always care for each other,” she said.

For Prouty, who comes from a family of theatre lovers, this is her most significant role yet.

"I get to hang out with these amazing people," she said. "The rehearsals are just so fun."

Peake said the young actors have been "tremendous" and believes their performances will help young audiences see themselves onstage.

"I'm interested in having a whole new generation of people fall in love with theatre," she said. "I hope people get transported into the magic and song … and come out feeling the strength of these young women and the love they have for each other, really making a difference in the world."