The Superior Arts Youth Theater cast of “Frozen Jr” performs. (Courtesy photo)

By LILITH KONTOS

Special to the Journal

MARQUETTE — Well, winter has officially hit Marquette – and we may have Elsa to blame for that! This weekend, Superior Arts Youth Theater presents “Frozen, Jr.” with performances running through Sunday. Based on the 2018 Broadway musical, this stunning show features all of your favorite moments and songs from the animated Disney film, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. With music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and a book by Jennifer Lee, audiences are sure to be stunned and captivated.

The plot, which sticks fairly close to that of the film, follows two sisters who are princesses in the kingdom of Arendelle. The elder of the two, Elsa, was born with magical powers that allow her to create ice and snow, but she doesn’t know how to control them and decides to conceal them, shutting out her younger sister, Anna. Years later, when Elsa inherits the throne, she accidentally reveals her powers and flees the castle, leaving all of Arendelle frozen in an eternal winter. Now, the sisters must work together to thaw their kingdom and heal their relationship.

Before the show even began, I was entranced by the whimsical quality of the production. I was immediately immersed in the story and excited for a magical evening. And boy, these performers did not disappoint.

I can’t possibly list all of them here – there are nearly 80 of them – but Director Jill Vermeulen should be proud of her extremely talented cast. There are some truly touching moments in the show, and they are handled with incredible grace and poise for such young artists. Then again, SAYT never fails to disappoint in that faculty. These actors and actresses consistently display a level of professionalism that is inspiring to see.

Carley Palomaki gives a wonderful performance as Anna – she is bright, funny and endearing from the moment she steps onstage. Siena Goodney, who plays Elsa, is equally amazing to watch. Her strong voice lends power to the role and she portrays Elsa’s complex emotions nicely. Kristoff (Sevi Voigt) and Sven (Christian Leonard) are a hilarious (and heartwarming) pair, sweet and genuine while also providing comic relief. Similarly, Reya Ghiardi, who plays the role of Olaf, expertly delivers iconic one-liners with perfect comedic timing (and all while operating a puppet!) Rounding out the principal cast is Canyon Medina as Prince Hans, and my gosh, does he nail it. He is charming, magnetic and appropriately overconfident – a joy to watch.

Other performers to look out for include Nasheena Johnson (Young Anna) and Avonlea Kuhlman (Young Elsa), who set up the relationship between the two sisters beautifully; Jack Bishop (Duke of Weselton), whose mustache and dance moves will have you doubled up with laughter; Winston Leonard (Oaken), who brings such fun energy to the “Hygge” dance; and Nate Wood (Pabbie) and Aria Espinoza (Bulda), the compassionate leaders of the hidden folk who lend an inspiring kindness to the production.

Of course, no show could go on without its ensemble, and Vermeulen has cleverly incorporated them. From the townspeople to the snow dancers to the hidden folk, they expertly fill out the production, and man, the voices in this cast. Music Director Sara Parks has done an outstanding job. The choreography, too, is exceptional – from the gorgeous ballet movements of the snow dancers, to the ballroom-esque duet between Anna and Hans, to the vibrant and fun Hygge dance, Emily Burbey and Gracie Fries have done excellent work.

As far as design elements go, Kim Hegmegee’s lighting is dazzling – from a colorful aurora borealis display, to beams of shifting sunlight, to the cold, icy blue of Elsa’s palace, she makes the magic of the story feel real. This is only enhanced by Susan Candey’s charming, intricate set, which gives the impression of being straight out of a fairytale; it’s like stepping into the animated film. The props, designed by Hilary Billman, are appropriately minimal and add to that “Disney movie” feeling. Costumes by Suzanne Shahbazi are exquisite; her attention to detail is impeccable, and I found myself marveling over each piece. Her design is only accentuated by whimsical hair and makeup (designed by Nikki Allen and Brie Rantala, respectively). Sound design by Dan Zini is clean and precise. Truly, this team is incredible, and together they’ve brought the mystical world of Arendelle to life on the stage.

With “Frozen 2” just released, there’s no better time to relive the journey of the original film, and “Frozen, Jr.” is the perfect way to do that. SAYT’s production breathes new life into the popular story, and audiences will be able to see how much joy and love went into this production. Ultimately, that’s what “Frozen” is all about – love.

Performances continue at the Forest Roberts Theatre Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., with a 1 p.m. Theatre for All performance on Saturday and a 1 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday. Tickets are available at NMU ticketing outlets and online at tickets.nmu.edu.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Lilith Kontos is a local performer and stage manager.