Disneyland's New Frozen Musical to Open in May

March 4, 2016, 1:56 PM · Disneyland today announced the opening date for the new Frozen musical that will play in the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure.

The new production replaced the long-running Aladdin musical, the Theme Park Insider Award winner for world's Best Live Show that closed earlier this year after a 13-year run at the park.

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion will open May 27. The new production will feature the songs from Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and a script adapted by "Aladdin" scribe and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin. Puppeteer Michael Curry, who worked on The Lion King on Broadway, is developing the production's version of Olaf and the Trolls. The new musical will be directed by Liesl Tommy, who most recently directed Lupita Nyong’o in "Eclipsed" on Broadway.

This production will be the third Frozen musical at the Disneyland, following the Fantasy Faire show in Disneyland and the sing-along in California Adventure. As much as fans love Frozen, having two musicals based on the movie playing in the same land in the same park is probably a bit too much, so Disney announced today that "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration" will close April 17.

Replies (12)

March 4, 2016 at 3:00 PM · Although I'm not thrilled about the change, I have trust in Chad Beguelin.
March 4, 2016 at 3:56 PM · Tough to be the show that follows a classic. Critics will be especially harsh if the new show is not perfect.
March 4, 2016 at 3:56 PM · Any speculation on what's to come of the former Muppet theater?
March 4, 2016 at 3:58 PM · Aladdin did so well because it was a classic by the time it began it's musical run at the Hyperion. Frozen is too current. I wish they would have done something like Hunchback of Notre Dame or a Beauty & the Beast revival.
March 4, 2016 at 4:28 PM · While Frozen certainly isn't the property I would've selected for a replacement musical for Aladdin, it's a good sign that Lisesl Tommy is directing.

I'll be checking it out!

March 4, 2016 at 5:49 PM · I'm cautiously optimistic about this new show. While Frozen wouldn't have been my first choice for property, it is one that lends itself well to a musical production. If the show is a high quality production it will be a perfectly good replacement, but it needs to be on par with Aladdin and appeal to everyone to be successful. I don't know when I'll get around to seeing it (realistically, probably not until after summer), but I'll definitely give it a chance. It should certainly be better than the Frozen sing-along show (which I still haven't seen and probably won't see).

As for the Muppet theater, from what I've heard that will become the primary movie preview center for the resort until it gets re-purposed for Marvel Land. While things may always change, I've heard that MuppetVision is not returning to DCA due to low demand.

March 4, 2016 at 5:56 PM · Frozen was a classic when it ran. I realized it as soon as I saw it and the kids gasped and cried when Anna was freezed into a statue. Olaf was an instant classic. Even Kristoff has his own fan base when I noticed the cheers at DHS during their Frozen procession.

Frozen can easily be made comparable to Aladdin with Olaf as Genie with its own Las Vegas style musical revue with hat and cane, Hans as the evil bad guy, and an romantic sleigh ride.

Don't forget, the Broadway version is also debuting soon after and they didn't have to wait 10 years like what Aladdin eventually did.

March 4, 2016 at 6:10 PM · It's a solid production team. Like another commentor said, I trust Chad Beguelin. Olaf is too earnest and naive to make into a Genie-like character, but if Prince Hans wants to throw in some pop-reference one-liners, Genie-style, I'm down with that.
March 4, 2016 at 11:34 PM · This new show needs to be excellent, because there was no good reason for replacing Aladdin. Aladdin was great, beloved, and consistently popular. So of course, it had to go! :(
March 5, 2016 at 8:32 AM · Olaf might be naive, but this means he can't be mean and sarcastic. He can still make pop references jokes.
March 5, 2016 at 7:24 PM · The reason the Genie could make pop reference jokes was that he transcended time. No character in Frozen can do that, if they try, it's going to be very lame.

I heard someone comment in another post that every show has to end - to that I say, no it doesn't - look at Fantasmic. And Aladdin was the Fantasmic of DCA.

March 8, 2016 at 10:10 AM · They should have replaced Mickey and the Magical Map instead.

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