When the curtain rises on “Frozen Jr.” at Scotts Valley Middle School, audiences will recognize the familiar snow-dusted world of Arendelle—but what they may not immediately see is the months of rehearsals and effort by kids and parents alike that brought it to life.
This winter, more than 60 students are taking part in the school’s latest musical production of Disney’s “Frozen Jr.,” a youth-friendly adaptation of the Broadway hit and animated film. For the students involved, the show is about much more than catchy songs and beloved characters—it’s about teamwork, growth and finding your people.
“I think the most fun part of being in this production is being with all my friends and doing what I like, which is acting on stage,” said Rory Van Lannen, a seventh grader who plays the lovable snowman Olaf in one of the three casts that will perform over the Feb. 6-7 weekend.
The cast includes students from sixth through eighth grades, some with years of theater experience and others stepping on stage for the very first time.
“I’ve been in about six shows before this,” said Eva Orlando, who plays Elsa. “I’ve done ‘Aladdin Jr.,’ ‘Newsies Jr.,’ ‘The Lion King Jr.,’ ‘Shrek Jr.,’ ‘The Wizard of Oz Jr.’ and even ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ outside of school.”
Others are newer to the spotlight. Sixth-grader Liam Cellitti, who is part of the ensemble, said “Frozen Jr.” has been an exciting challenge.
“I think this is a compelling production because the songs are really beautiful,” Liam said. “The instrumentals are great, and a lot of the actors here are really talented.”
Eighth-grader Lana Salidi, who plays Anna, said the show’s popularity makes it especially meaningful.
“‘Frozen’ is really well known,” she said. “The songs are catchy, and all of the students worked really hard to be in this show. It’s going to be a great production.”
For many of the student actors, rehearsals have been as educational as they are fun. Memorizing lines, learning choreography and navigating scene transitions has taught patience and perseverance.
“The hardest part has been moving through scenes,” Liam said. “If we mess up, we have to restart until we get it right. Running the whole show can be challenging, but it helps us improve.”
Eighth-grader Malcolm D’Ewart, who plays Hans, said vocal rehearsals have been a major part of the process.
“Our vocal directors really helped us hit the notes and get the timing right,” Malcolm said. “Ms. Konavilla helped a lot before she went on maternity leave, and Ms. Thompson has been guiding us too.”
Students also gain a deeper understanding of storytelling. Seventh-grader Matthias, who plays both a townsperson and a troll, said Elsa’s journey stands out most to him.
“She’s distant because she’s trying to protect Anna,” he said. “Even though it’s not all shown in the junior version, you can tell she wants to be close but is afraid of hurting her.”
The production’s costumes are another highlight, especially during Elsa’s iconic transformation.
“There’s a part in ‘Let It Go’ where the costume changes,” Matthias said. “They rip it away, and it’s really cool. There’s a wide variety of costumes, and they work really well.”
Behind the scenes, students are supported by parents, volunteers and a dedicated technical crew who build props and sets—often after school and on weekends.
“It’s a lot of time and effort for something that only runs a few times,” said director Alexie Neall. “But it’s worth it.”
Neall, who has taught drama at Scotts Valley Middle School for about 10 years, said the school produces three shows a year, one each trimester.
“The students vote on which show they want to do,” she said. “We do research into what will fit the cast best, and ‘Frozen’ was a great choice. We actually did it about four years ago, so we already had some costumes and props, which helped.”
This year’s production features multiple casts, including three Elsas and three Annas, giving more students the opportunity to shine.
“They were all so talented,” Neall said. “I wanted to give each of them a moment.”
Rehearsals began just before Thanksgiving break and have continued through school days, after-school sessions, weekends and even recorded practice videos students can review at home.
“The kids really want to be here,” Neall said. “Now they’re the ones asking, ‘When are we rehearsing?’”
The show’s run includes school-day previews for younger students, including transitional kindergarten classes and invitations to local retirement communities.
“It’s really special to see the littles come watch,” Neall said. “They get so excited.”
At its heart, “Frozen Jr.” carries a message about love, family and acceptance—something students say resonates deeply.
“The moral of the story is not taking people for granted,” Rory said. “Especially the people close to you.”
Neall agrees.
“It’s about knowing who your people are,” she said. “The bond between the sisters is so important. True love, in this story, is really about accepting each other unconditionally.”
As opening night approaches, excitement is building across campus. Students are balancing schoolwork with rehearsals, perfecting harmonies and cheering each other on.
“They sing their hearts out,” Neall said. “I’m really excited for people to come see it.”
When the final bow is taken, “Frozen Jr.” will leave behind more than applause—it will leave students with confidence, friendships and yet another production to add to their résumé.
Interested in seeing what the future of theater looks like? See these talented youth bring some fun to Scotts Valley Middle School on Friday, Feb. 6, at 7pm and Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2 and 7pm. For tickets and more information, visit cur8.com/25828/project/135954.
