If you want a perfect way to beat the summer heat, Disney+ is giving subscribers a chance to cool down with a live-action Frozen!
Disney+ has been finding new ways to entice subscribers, which includes some original productions. One thing that surprisingly hasn’t been used as much by Disney is showcasing their bevy of musicals based on their animated shows.
Disney made its way to the Great White Way in 1994, with Beauty and the Beast becoming a hit. Three years later, The Lion King broke records, won a bevy of Tony Awards and is one of the longest-running musicals in history.
Disney has since done stage musicals of Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Tarzan and others to limited success. It was thus no shock they would make one for Frozen after that animated movie became a monster hit, and it worked well.
The musical opened on Broadway in 2018 and was a good success with audiences. It had 825 performances when it closed on March 11, 2020, along with the rest of Broadway when the COVID-19 pandemic shut all productions down. Sadly, by the time things began restarting in 2021, Disney decided the $35 million production wasn’t worth bringing back.
But that’s not the end of the show as the musical has continued to run in London, Australia, throughout Europe and regular touring companies across the United States. But if you can’t get a theater ticket, Disney+ has your back!
What makes the Frozen musical different
Premiering on Disney+ in late June 2025, the Frozen musical is a filmed version of the West End production starring Samantha Barks as Elsa, with Laura Dawkes as Anna. The show sets a different tone with an opening that eschews the movie’s “Frozen Heart” about ice cutters in Arendelle.
Instead, we get the first of what are a dozen new songs by Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the Oscar-winning writers/composers of the movie. That includes a bit more of Elsa and Anna’s parents and a short song on the trolls before we get to “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”
The musical thus moves much like the film, with excellent in-theater effects selling the famous moments. Olaf, in particular, is fun as it’s a live actor dressed like a snowman controlling an Olaf puppet, which works well for some good comedy.
Yes, we have famous songs like “Love is an Open Door,” “Fixer Upper,” and “In Summer.” The big one, of course, is “Let It Go,” which works as the first act finale with the beautiful moment where Elsa’s outfit tears away for her iconic white dress, which always gets a cheer from the audience.
The newer songs are unique additions to things. “Dangerous to Dream” has Elsa exploring her fears as she prepares for her coronation, foreshadowing her powers going wild. Anna gets a good duet with Kristoff, “What Do You Know About Love,” showing their growing bond with the bonus of it taking place while they cross an ice bridge. Hans gets his own appropriately deceptive solo number.
We get a comedic tune in “Hygge” with shopkeeper Oaken and Kristoff has a lovely lullaby to Anna. There’s also “Monster” with Elsa facing the damage of her actions and “I Can’t Lose You” is a powerful duet between the sisters. A few more songs emphasize the growing chill before the warm ending.
The show really works for Broadway, as it was already a fine musical. The additional songs and scenes deepen the characters and flesh things out more, such as Hans wanting more to his life. The stage effects are magical, and the entire cast gets fine showcases for the characters.
While this could be seen as a “test run” for a possible live-action Frozen adaptation, the stage show works on its own wonderfully. The songs connect with the actresses, making Elsa and Anna come to life and providing a fun experience.
So if the heat outside is getting too much, a trip to the world of Frozen and the additional magic the musical provides is just the thing to entertain any Disney fan!
Frozen: The Musical streaming on Disney+.