WHITE BIRCH BLOG - Reviews by Kiersten Bjork
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The Magic of Disney's Frozen Shines at ACT of CT

By Kiersten Bjork (February 7, 2026)

     Disney’s Frozen
, currently playing at ACT of CT through March 15, brings the iconic magic of Disney to Ridgefield. With music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and a book by Jennifer Lee, the musical brings everything you love about the Disney film to the stage, with the addition of a few delightful songs. The story follows royal sisters Elsa and Anna on a journey of self-love, acceptance, and sisterhood. When Elsa’s frozen powers plunge the kingdom into an eternal winter, Anna must journey to find her sister and bring back summer. Featuring a charming cast of characters and catchy tunes such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” “Love is an Open Door,” and the hit song “Let It Go,” ACT of CT delivers Frozen with all the joy, magic, and snow you could wish for.


     Originally directed on Broadway by Michael Grandage, Robert W. Schneider takes the helm at ACT of CT, with music director Jenna Mee Dosch, choreographer Caitlin Belcik, and music supervisor Bryan Perri. Direction and choreography for this production are top notch. The dances especially are a standout, driving the momentum of the story forward with engaging and impressive choreography in the larger group numbers. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this production from start to finish. The cast is strong, the design is stunning, and it’s a story that’s easy to enjoy.

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Kyrie Courter and the cast of Frozen at ACT of CT, 2026 (ACT of CT)
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Kyrie Courter and Leigh Ellen Jones in Frozen at ACT of CT, 2026 (ACT of CT)
     Leading the charge as Elsa and Anna are Kyrie Courter and Leigh Ellen Jones, who are both wonderful in their roles. Courter commands the room easily, her vocals precise and powerful. Jones is an absolute delight, her energy and giddiness lighting up the stage. Each of their songs is beautifully done, but it was “I Can’t Lose You” that really struck me, the two actresses building off of each others’ performances and delivering a truly meaningful rendition of the duet. Courter’s “Let It Go” and “Monster” are very well done, and Jones’ “For the First Time in Forever” is a burst of joy right out of the gate. Their younger counterparts, Frankie Lou Lauderdale as Young Anna and Ellie Lila as Young Elsa are both fantastic, and are particularly impressive for such young performers. Lauderdale’s a spitting image of Jones in terms of character, each leading with the exuberant energy and light of the character.

     Opposite Jones are Brody Redman as Prince Hans of the Southern Isles and Jalon Matthews as Kristoff. Redman has a fantastic voice, effortlessly hitting some impressive notes, though his overall portrayal of the character was a bit chaotic for me. The goofiness early on in the show was fun, but felt like he was rushing through lines and movements at times that made it almost hard to follow. The twist later in the show was all the more sharp, though, as a result. I did, however, absolutely love the choices made on “Love is an Open Door.” Matthews is a fun, yet grounded Kristoff. The blocking and acting choices from and for Matthews and Jones during “What Do You Know About Love?” made it one of my favorite numbers of the show–the two performers feed off each others’ choices and humor, delivering a hilarious yet touching performance.


     Katelyn Lauria is endearing as Olaf, her comedic timing working wonders throughout the show. “In Summer” is well done, and I enjoyed her puppet work. Niko Charney is a charming Sven, handling the large puppet skillfully and supporting the reindeer’s movements with amusing facial expressions. Mark Sumner is incredibly entertaining as the adorable shopkeeper Oaken, leading the number “Hygge” with humor and joy. Sumner also doubles as the Bishop. Patrick Brady gives a great performance as the slippery Duke of Weselton, sometimes stalking about the stage, and sometimes prancing–Brady leads a very fun dance break.

     
The greatest strength of Frozen, perhaps, is the talented ensemble that carries the dancing and powerful ensemble vocals throughout the show, featuring Max Boone, Patrick Brady, Ruby Calamia (dance captain), Ashia Collins, Katelin Coursey, Brett Hennessey, MK McDonald, Kassi McMillan, Noah Roderiques, Noah Ruebeck, and Collins Rush. McMillan and Rush give strong performances as Queen Iduna and King Agnarr, with Hennesey and Collins stepping into the spotlight as Pabbie and Bulda. Emily Hughes, Sawyer Pollock, and Hayley Sutton serve as swings for the production.
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Kyrie Courter and the cast of Frozen at ACT of CT, 2026 (ACT of CT)
     Scenic design by Matthew Imhoff is stunning. The kingdom of Arendelle is brought to life with beautiful colors and textures, echoed in the costumes by designer Travis M. Grant, with support from costume coordinator Mariah Anzaldo Hale. Lighting designer Jack Mehler provides much of the effects for the snow and ice with support from assistant lighting designer Conor Thiele, the lighting crawling up the set as Elsa’s powers spread. Sound design by Shannon Slaton supports the effects nicely, and balance is solid throughout the show. The snow and ice effects are well done across the board, though there were a few that felt a tad delayed at the performance I attended. Wig designer Angie Wright makes magic with the many transforming wigs utilized in the show. A special shoutout to puppet designer and trainer Chris Palmiere, and to the props team–Amber Voeller serves as props coordinator.
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Disney’s Frozen plays at ACT of CT through March 15, 2026
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The cold never bothered her anyway!
     Come in from the cold and warm your hearts with the spirit of Disney’s Frozen. Featuring a talented company, catchy songs, and the story you know and love, this is one you won’t want to miss.


     Disney’s Frozen plays February 5-March 15, 2026, at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets at actofct.org/frozen-season-tickets or by calling the Box Office at (475) 215-5497.

     Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
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