While the magical Disney’s “Frozen: The Broadway Musical” is debuting at The Gateway March 7, a special neurodiverse performance is planned for Thursday, March 27 at 2 p.m.
“We’ve been getting so many calls for this,” said Gateway’s development specialist Susan Daconto. “We’ve already sold 160 tickets and have big groups coming.”
But also, everyone is invited to attend.
“The big change is the audience,” Daconto said. “They will be aware they are sitting with neurodiverse individuals. With this show, we’ll dim the lights a bit and soften the sound.”
Executive artistic director Paul Allan said neurodiverse attendees had already been audience members of Gateway performances in smaller groups. “We want those individuals to feel comfortable with their reactions,” he said.
A special discounted price has been offered for the March 27 date. (Call Daconto direct at 631-286-8851 or the box office at 631-286-1133, Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
As for “Frozen,” be prepared to be charmed. “It’s a full-scale Broadway show,” said Allan. Charissa Hogeland played Elsa on Broadway in 2019. Emily Grace Tucker plays Elsa’s sister, Anna. “She was Ariel in our production of ‘The Little Mermaid,’ in 2022. And she played Cynthia Weil in ‘Beautiful’ last year, as well as our middle Cher,” said Allan. Christian Brailsford plays Kristoff, the kind, handsome hottie; he performed in Gateway’s “In the Heights.” Mark Ryan Anderson plays the villainous, handsome hottie. (Remember him in “Rock of Ages” last year as Jaxx?)
In this show, Daconto emphasized, “the heroes are the girls.”
As it is a fantasy, Elsa is a princess with ice powers. Her sister, Anna, works with her to save their kingdom from eternal winter, so there are plenty of eye-popping effects and otherworldly touches.
“The set is beautiful. There are a lot of video projections and two full-size puppets, Olaf and Sven, providing comic relief,” said Allan. “There’s a really cool dress trick where Elsa changes from her coronation dress to Ice Queen. She’s up on a platform and the dress gets quickly yanked.” (Clothes underneath.) There are 27 in the cast.
“The Addams Family Musical” is still playing through Feb. 16. (Please see it if you haven’t.) Tickets for “Frozen” are on sale now.