Frozen - Original Broadway Cast Recording

The "Frozen - Original Broadway Cast Recording" is now available to purchase digitally, in stores, and stream on Spotify by Walt Disney Records. Music and lyrics are by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The book is by Jennifer Lee. The show was produced by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Dave Metzger, and Chris Montan. It was nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Musical. More information, including clips and cast bios, can be found at https://frozenthemusical.com/.

The musical opened on Broadway on March 22, 2018. It's based on the 2013 Disney movie by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. The musical version has more than twice the music of the movie, yet the plot remains the same. Queen Elsa (Caissie Levy) accidentally encases the kingdom of Arendelle in snow and ice. She is saved by her sister, Princess Anna (Patti Murin), an ice cutter named Kristoff (Jelani Alladin), his reindeer Sven (Andrew Pirozzi), and a snowman who likes warm hugs, Olaf (Greg Hildreth). Just as they save Elsa from isolation, the friends are called to save Arendelle from a political coup.

A compilation of musical numbers, "For the First Time in Forever"/"Let It Go" were performed by the cast at the Tony Awards. Caissie Levy's performance on the recording is just as thrilling as it was at then. Levy's performance of the new track "Monster" is similarly haunting. Fans who memorized "Let It Go" when the movie came out will be enamored with this ode to self-deprecating soul searching.

Patti Murin was flat at the Tonys, but she sounds great on the "Frozen" recording. "True Love" is a plaintive litany from a lonely dreamer. Her smart personality shines in "Love Is an Open Door" (with John Riddle) and "What Do You Know About Love" (with the captivating Jellani Alladin)

Greg Hildreth sounds spookily like the original Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad - so much so, that his interpretation is stripped of uniqueness. It would be easy to blame Hildreth, but his performances on the recording are solid. "In Summer," Olaf's only solo, is well sung. Hildreth has great comedic timing. No, this smacks of marketing ploys and pigeonholing. It's as if Disney execs decided that any deviations from Gad's performance would lose them tickets. Hildreth was likely left with no choice but to adhere to Disney's demands.

"Hygge" sung by Oaken (Kevin Del Aquila) is the breakaway group number that will have kids and adults tapping their toes. Hygge is a Norwegian word that means cozy contentment with friends. Strangely, it's the only track employing local accents for comedic effect. The song is hygge. The accents are not.

In addition to the music from the stage version, the album includes the outtake "When Everything Falls Apart" as sung by Greg Hildreth, Jelani Alladin, and Patti Murin (Olaf, Kristoff, and Anna). A segmented Olaf expresses his happy go lucky outlook on life in a jazzy dance number.

"Frozen" is currently playing at the St. James Theatre, New York, NY through March 2019. It will start a North American tour later in 2019. Those interested in tickets should watch https://frozenthemusical.com/tickets/ for updates.

"Frozen: The Broadway Musical"
Music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
Book by Jennifer Lee
Walt Disney Records
$13.99
https://frozenthemusical.com/music