Photo Flash: New FROZEN Stage Musical Premieres at Disney California Adventure Park

FROZEN LIVE AT THE HYPERION, a new theatrical adaptation based on Disney's animated blockbuster film, opened yesterday, May 27 at the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure Park in Southern California. Check out photos below and watch a preview of the new stage show here:

This new theatrical interpretation for the stage immerses audiences in the beloved world of Frozen and takes audiences on the heartwarming journey of Anna and Elsa, with all of the excitement of live theater. Under the direction of Tony Award® nominated Director Liesl Tommy, the show features elaborate costumes and sets, stunning special effects, and show-stopping production numbers. An exceptionally large production, the show features an opening cast and crew of more than 200, six full musical numbers and a 2,200 square foot video wall which combine for an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Disney Creative Entertainment, the arm of Walt Disney Imagineering responsible for live theatrical entertainment at Disney Parks, has produced this new stage interpretation of "Frozen - Live at the Hyperion" with all of the creativity and resources of its predecessor "Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" which ran for a remarkable 13 years at the 2,000 seat Hyperion Theater.

New technologies - especially with projections, fabrics and special effects -- will delight audiences in new and unexpected ways. Guests are immersed in the world of "Frozen" from the moment they enter the theater and are surrounded by a specially lit "Aurora" curtain. As the musical unfolds, the scenic design and large moving set pieces create a cinema-style energy enhanced by state-of-the-art projections that create dynamic environments for the performers. Custom sound design envelops the audience in music and audio effects. And, of course, there will be snow throughout the interior of the theater - on stage and over the audience.

"Frozen - Live at the Hyperion" is based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios "Frozen," which is the number one animated feature of all time. It is the winner of two Academy Awards (2014) for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

The new adaptation features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score, Kristen Anderson-Lopez ("In Transit," "Up Here") and Robert Lopez ("Avenue Q," "The Book of Mormon," "Up Here"), and is adapted from the screenplay by four-time Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin ("Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" at Hyperion Theater; Broadway: "Gotta Dance," "Aladdin," "The Wedding Singer," "Elf").

"Frozen - Live at the Hyperion" is directed by Tommy, who was recently nominated for a Tony Award® for her Broadway show "Eclipsed." The choreographer is Christopher Windom and this is his seventh collaboration with Tommy. The musical supervisor/arranger/adaptor is Jason Michael Webb, whose Broadway credits include "The Color Purple," "Motown: The Musical," "Violet," and "Memphis." Clint Ramos, the principal costume designer, was also nominated this year for a Tony Award® for his work on "Eclipsed."

The challenge of bringing the animated non-human characters of Sven and Olaf to the stage was assigned to master puppet designer Michael Curry, who co-designed with director Julie Taymor the ANIMAL creations of "The Lion King" on Broadway, the magic mirror in "Snow White: An Enchanted Musical" at Fantasyland Theatre, and many other Disney parades, shows and projects, as well as projects for Cirque du Soleil and the Metropolitan Opera. Curry's intricate designs created for Olaf and Sven allow the performers to connect with the characters and bring them to life on stage in new ways.

An entirely separate two-act Broadway production of "Frozen" is currently being prepared by Disney Theatrical Productions and is slated to join Disney Theatrical's New York productions of "Aladdin" and "The Lion King" for spring 2018 at a theater to be announced. It will have a pre-Broadway engagement starting in summer 2017 in Denver.

Photos courtesy of disneylandnews.com