By Andra Moss

What more ideal setting could there be for a production of Frozen Jr., this year’s musical by the students of Botelle Elementary School, than the Icebox of Connecticut? 

“Frozen Jr. is an abbreviated version of the 2018 Broadway show by Disney,” explains Becky Keyes, a co-director, with Megan Schneider, of the production. Schneider, a teacher at the Gilbert School, was assistant director of Botelle’s 2023 production of “Aladdin.” She notes that while “last year there were a lot of sixth graders, this year there are fewer in the upper grades so we opened it up to younger students. This is the first year there are first and second graders.”  

The youngsters actually came quite prepared, says Keyes. “Most of the kids already know the movie and its music, so that was a big plus.” Frozen Jr. brings the beloved characters (the original film grossed over $1 billion) of Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle to life, telling a story of the powerful bond of sisterhood.

The musical, which involves “a lot of singing and dancing with dialog in between,” according to Schneider, includes several hit songs from the film such as “Let it Go” and “For the First Time in Forever.”  The directors have been rehearsing their cast of 15 students twice a week since early January in preparation for opening night on March 22.

Second grader Adilyn Keyes describes her character, Anna, as “very happy. She loves spending time with her sister, Elsa. But when they got separated, she was lonely.” First grader Brayden Schneider is an enthusiastic Sven, a reindeer of few words who is a loyal best friend to Kristoff, an ice harvester with a big heart, played by Brayden’s ten-year-old brother, Nate.

Becky Keyes, who spends her off-stage hours as a veterinarian nurse, brings her love of theater to the local production. “It’s definitely fun,” she says. “The kids have been meeting every single thing we set out to do.”

As Megan Schneider observes, “It definitely takes a village” to cover all that is needed to bring the show fully to life. But moms and more have stepped up to make the magic happen, she says. Michelle Padua, mother of cast member Fiona Padua, is the group’s choreographer. Another mother, Amy Bennett, and a grandmother, Theresa Kochiss-Padua, are heading up costuming. Botelle PTO president Chelsea Bottum, is designing the set together with her mother-in-law, Julia Green, and Stacey Procopio-Dillard. Indefatigable tech volunteer John DeShazo is in charge of sound and lights.

It will all come together for two performances, on Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m.  and Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m., in the school gymnasium. The production was made possible, say Schneider and Keyes, by grants from the Norfolk Children’s Foundation and the Battell Arts Foundation. Program ads are also available to send well-wishes to cast members.  

Tickets are not required for the community open show, say the directors. “We’re just hoping everyone will come out and enjoy themselves.”