Greensburg Civic Theatre’s 'Frozen Jr.' warms the hearts of cast, audience

A cast of 48 local actors ranging in age from 5 to 17 is set to warm the hearts of theatergoers as they revisit the icy kingdom of Arendelle in Greensburg Civic Theatre’s Greasepaint Players’ production of “Disney’s Frozen Jr.”

The junior version of the megahit 2013 Disney film, “Frozen Jr.” features many of the same popular songs from the movie, including “Do You Want to Build A Snowman,” “For the First Time in Forever,” “Love Is An Open Door” and “Let It Go.”

Since the show is geared to a younger audience, some of the songs have been shortened, but Rebecca Ziegler-Koch, the musical’s director, assures “Frozen” fans that they won’t be disappointed.

“I would tell families to come see this show because it’s magical,” she says. “These kids are doing a great job telling the story and I just know everyone is going to love it. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and it will be a great time – plus you’ll be supporting local arts and education.”

Near and dear to kids’ hearts

Ziegler-Koch of Greensburg said she knew the Disney favorite would be a popular show for GCT’s winter time slot.

“There are other Christmas-type shows that also would have fit, but ‘Frozen’ is an iconic story to kids of the current generation,” she said. “It’s a movie that their generation grew up watching and acting out. It really is something that is near and dear to their hearts and that was important.

“You want a show that is going to sell tickets, but you also want a show that the actors are truly going to have an interest in and enjoy performing — and I think ‘Frozen’ fulfills all of that perfectly.”

The cast features Mary Hosler of West Leechburg as Young Anna, Adele Kelly of Greensburg (Young Elsa), Emma Balega of Latrobe (Middle Anna), Kaylie Korpiel of Mt. Pleasant (Middle Elsa), Ella Damico of Ligonier (Anna), Carloyn Jerz of Greensburg (Elsa), Max Grimm of Connellsville (Hans), Drezden Gesalman of Greensburg (Kristoff), Ben Ament of Latrobe (Olaf) and Braedon Eutsey of Mt. Pleasant (Sven). Margaret Ryan is production manager.

The director said the hardest part of putting the production together was in managing the logistics of rehearsals with such a large cast.

“I had to really break everything down so I didn’t have kids sitting for too long doing nothing,” she said. Also, “these kids are talented at many things, so many have conflicts for other activities. Kids are such fast learners; it really hasn’t been an issue.”

Most recently Ziegler-Koch was seen on stage in GCT’s production of “Jekyll and Hyde” and she directed “Annie Jr.” for The Theater Factory in Trafford in July.