Disney's 'Frozen' is being adapted for Broadway, Iger confirms

Fans of Disney’s latest animated hit film “Frozen” were excited to get confirmation this week of what they had hoped (and suspected): The movie is being adapted to a stage musical.

Disney CEO and chairman Bob Iger said in a “Fortune” article that was published Monday that the company is in discussions to develop a Broadway show, though he warned there is no timetable. Iger told the magazine, “We’re not demanding speed. We’re demanding excellence.”

That careful approach to creativity certainly seems to have paid off with the movie, itself, because it won the 2014 Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature on Sunday. Development of “Frozen,” which is an interpretation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Ice Queen,” began as early as 1943 with Walt Disney himself. However, it seemed that no one could find a way to make The Ice Queen relatable to audiences. Over the years, the project was revisited by group after group of talented Disney filmmakers, but with no success to green-light the project.

Finally, in 2011, the project was turned over Director Chris Buck (“Tarzan,” “Home on the Range”) and he recast The Ice Queen as misunderstood princess Elsa, a sister to Anna and no longer an evil villain as in the original story. Producer John Lasseter insisted on further development of the other main characters to make them resonate with audiences, as well. This approach clearly worked, because viewers of all ages have connected with the characters. My own daughter admired Elsa more than her down-to-earth sister Anna, asking for an Elsa costume and doll for Christmas.

She certainly was not alone as families enjoyed the film enough to view it multiple times and invest in the merchandise. “Frozen” toys flew off the shelves before Christmas at stores such as Toys ‘R’ Us, the Disney Store, and even at Walt Disney World retail outlets.

In addition, the “Frozen” soundtrack has topped charts. It’s No. 1 on the Billboard 200, a feat that few animated soundtracks have achieved. Critics pointed out early on that the music of “Frozen” was created with a Broadway production in mind. The soundtrack features eight original songs from husband-and-wife songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, including the powerful “Let It Go” performed by Idina Menzel (who voices Elsa) and which also is covered by Demi Lovato.

Perhaps another sign that Disney executives had a stage production in mind from the get-go is that Robert Lopez, Menzel and Jonathan Groff (who voices Kristoff) all have extensive experience on Broadway. Lopez wrote the music for “The Book of Mormon,” while Menzel is known for her role in “Wicked” and Groff was in “Spring Awakening.”

Disney certainly has found success with taking some of its other beloved animated films to the live-action stage. After all, “The Lion King” is Broadway’s fourth-longest-running show and its highest-grossing one of all time as of December. “Beauty and the Beast” was Broadway’s eighth-longest-running production and grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide. And Disney took another Hans Christian Anderson story, “The Little Mermaid,” and turned it into a stage production that garnered several Tony Awards and a Grammy.

Fans of Disney’s latest animated hit know that if the film is a successful stage musical, it clearly won’t be the first time in forever. Still, it will be worth waiting for.

Related stories:

Spoiler-free review of “Frozen”:
/blogs/kristin-ford/2013/11/_heres_a_wonderful_new.html

Where to find “Frozen” characters at Walt Disney World:
/blogs/kristin-ford/2013/11/where_to_find_frozen_character.html

A Meet and Greet with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna – Video
http://youtu.be/Vn-HWSdtOaM

“Frozen” Storybook Deluxe app:
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