Breaking: Ciara Renee, McKenzie Kurtz & Ryan McCartan Will Join Cast of FROZEN on Broadway

As it approaches its second anniversary on Broadway, Frozen has just announced a trio of new stars joining the company. McKenzie Kurtz will make her Broadway debut starring as Anna, and Ciara Renée (Pippin, Big Fish, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) will star as Elsa, replacing original Broadway stars Patti Murin and Caissie Levy. Ryan McCartan (Wicked; Heathers: The Musical; Disney Channel's "Liv & Maddie") will join the cast as Hans, replacing current cast member Joe Carroll. The new stars will begin performances Tuesday, February 18, with Levy, Murin, and Carroll playing their final performance Sunday, February 16.

Current principal cast members Chad Burris (Olaf), Noah J. Ricketts (Kristoff), Robert Creighton (Weselton), Kevin Del Aguila (Oaken), Adam Jepsen (Sven at certain performances), Andrew Pirozzi (Sven at certain performances), and Alyssa Fox (Elsa Standby), along with Anna Rae Haller (Young Elsa at certain performances), Suri Marrero (Young Elsa at certain performances), Fiona Morgan Quinn (Young Anna at certain performances), and Charlie Tassone (Young Anna at certain performances) will continue in their roles. Original ensemble member Lauren Nicole Chapman will take over the Anna Standby role beginning Tuesday, February 18.

In a cast of over 40, Frozen also features Alicia Albright, Kate Bailey, Tracee Beazer, Keely Beirne, Wendi Bergamini, Claire Camp, Spencer Clark, Michael Fatica, Cajai Fellows Johnson, Kali Grinder, Ashley Elizabeth Hale, Charissa Hogeland, Donald Jones, Jr., Nina Lafarga, Austin Lesch, Robin Masella, Adam Perry, Jeff Pew, Tyrone L. Robinson, Julius Anthony Rubio, Anthony Sagaria, Ann Sanders, Brian Steven Shaw, Jacob Smith, Jake David Smith, Bronwyn Tarboton, Harris M. Turner, and Charlie Williams.

McKENZIE KURTZ (Anna) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut in Frozen! Previous credits include Footloose (The Muny) and Female Troubles (Williamstown). Proud alumna of the University of Michigan School of Music Theatre and Dance. @mckenziekurtz

CIARA RENÉE (Elsa) can be seen onscreen in Facebook Watch's series "Strangers," Netflix's "Master of None," CBS's "Big Bang Theory," and on the CW's "Legends of Tomorrow," "Arrow," and "Flash." She just wrapped up playing Mariana in MCC Theater's production of The Wrong Man. Ciara originated the role of The Witch in Big Fish and appeared as the Leading Player in Pippin on Broadway. She also originated the role of Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Paper Mill Playhouse. She was also seen as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at The Muny and Peggy/Maria in the final lab of Hamilton. Ciara splits her time between New York and Los Angeles and also directs/produces. She co-directed (with Michael Dallatorre) a short documentary Ian Leui: Beating The Odds (Children's Fund of California). Also the writer, EP, and co-director of the short film Reddy Records.

RYAN McCARTAN (Hans) recently wrapped a new musical with the Roundabout Theater Company, Scotland, PA, where he played the lead role of Mac. In 2018, Ryan made his Broadway debut as Fiyero in Wicked. Ryan also premiered off-Broadway in the lead role of JD in Heathers: The Musical at New World Stages. Ryan made his solo debut at Feinstein's 54 Below in NYC this winter to rave reviews. Ryan was thrilled to be a part of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as the lead role of Brad Majors, directed by Kenny Ortega, released on Fox Television. Young audiences know Ryan as Diggie, the love interest to Maddie, on Disney Channel's "Liv & Maddie." Additional television credits include "Freakish," "Royal Pains," "Midnight TX", "Monday Mornings", "Last Man Standing," and "The Middle." Ryan's music is available on iTunes and most music outlets.

Frozen, the Tony®-nominated Best Musical, has joined Disney Theatrical hits The Lion King and Aladdin on Broadway. Heralded by The New Yorker as "thrilling" and "genuinely moving," Frozen has emerged as the biggest hit musical of the last two Broadway seasons, breaking four house records at the legendary St. James Theatre, where it is currently celebrating its second smash year.

"Disney's struck gold! Sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes and plenty of special effects to wow the audience!" raves the New York Post. "With the magic, the dancing, and all those iconic tunes, Frozen was born to be a stage musical!" exclaims the Evening Standard, and The Telegraph declares, "Frozen will burn up Broadway for years to come!"

Frozen, a full-length stage work told in two acts, is the first and only incarnation of the tale that expands upon and deepens its indelible plot and themes through new songs and story material from the film's creators; in fact, this new stage production features more than twice as much music as the film. Like the Disney Theatrical Broadway musicals that have come before it, it is a full evening of theatre running over two hours.

Based on the 2013 film written by a trio of Oscar® winners, Frozen features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Up Here, Winnie the Pooh, In Transit) and EGOT-winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, Up Here) and a book by Jennifer Lee (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph), the film's screenwriter and director (with Chris Buck). Frozen won 2014 Oscars for Best Song ("Let It Go") and Best Animated Feature. The film's sequel, Frozen 2, written by the same award-winning team, was released in November 2019 and recently surpassed its predecessor to become the #1 animated film of all time.

Frozen's director is Michael Grandage, a Tony Award winner and director of three Olivier Award-winning Outstanding Musicals, and Rob Ashford, Tony Award winner and multiple Tony and Olivier Award nominee, is choreographer.

The design team for Frozen includes scenic and costume design by two-time Tony and Olivier Award winner Christopher Oram, lighting design by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, sound design by seven-time Tony nominee Peter Hylenski, video design by Tony winner Finn Ross, puppet design by Michael Curry, hair design by David Brian Brown, makeup design by Anne Ford-Coates, and special effects design by Jeremy Chernick.

Two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus is music supervisor and creates vocal, incidental and dance arrangements. He is joined on the music team by Tony nominee Dave Metzger (orchestrations), Chris Montan (executive music producer), David Chase (additional dance arrangements) and Brian Usifer (music director).

Frozen is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher.