Broadway’s “Frozen” Loses Director & Choreographer
Left to Right: Alex Timbers and Peter Darling
The Walt Disney Company is still riding the excitement and success of their Oscar-winning animated film Frozen. The Broadway-reminiscent soundtrack sparked speculation of a potential stage production, like Aladdin, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. New songs are in production and a trial reading has already been done, featuring potential stars of the musical. At the time of the reading, Alex Timbers was tapped to be the director. Timbers has had a successful Broadway career, receiving Tony and Drama Desk nominations for Rocky and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
An unexpected change came on August 4th when Disney announced that Timbers had parted ways with the project. The departure of Timbers comes as a surprise. Having previously worked with Robert and Kristen Andersen-Lopez on their original musical Up Here, Timbers seemed to be a logical choice to direct this ambitious project. Disney’s relationship with Timbers has been long-standing. A stage production of The Muppets has been quietly workshopped with Timbers over the years and his recent success with Peter and the Star Catcher provided Disney with additional Tony Awards. No replacement has been made, but it can be expected soon as a 2017 Denver run has been announced, with a 2018 Broadway opening.
The Frozen stage show has also suffered another loss. Due to apparent scheduling conflicts, Peter Darling has stepped down as choreographer. Known for his Tony Award-winning choreography in Billy Elliott the Musical, Darling has also worked on Matilda and the upcoming Groundhog Day musical. Currently, the Tony Award-winning Newsies choreographer, Christopher Gattelli, is in talks to join creative team. With a casting notice released on August 3rd, the final creative team will start to take shape, all in time for the upcoming developmental workshop.
St. James Theatre
The rumour mill has been alive since these announcements, one of which has been confirmed by Disney Theatrical Cast Members. This rumour puts the Frozen production in the St. James Theatre on W. 44th Street in New York City, the current home of Something Rotten!, a fan and critic favourite. The three-tiered theatre is in negotiations with Disney to host Frozen in 2018. Introduced in the 2014-15 Broadway season, Something Rotten! has the potential to continue until 2018, when the theatre would undergo stage renovations to change Renaissance England to the snowy mountains of Arendelle.
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