One 'Frozen' Show Closes as Another Prepares to Open

April 16, 2016, 12:01 PM · The Disneyland Resort is about to enter a six-week "Frozen"-free period for its attractions, as For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration closes tomorrow in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure, in advance of the May 27 opening of Frozen – Live at the Hyperion.

Anna and Elsa will continue to meet guests in the Animation Building in Hollywood Land, but fans who want to see the royal sisters on stage will have to wait until Memorial Day weekend, after tomorrow's closure of the sing-along show in the old Muppets theater. Another Frozen-themed show, at the Fantasy Faire theater in Disneyland, closed earlier this year, as Mr. Smyth and Mr. Jones went back to performing Beauty and the Beast and Tangled.

This week, Disney released another preview video of the new Frozen stage show, which replaces the long-running and wildly popular Aladdin production in DCA's Hyperion Theater. This video focuses on the physical changes being made inside the Hyperion, which include the addition of a massive ice chandelier as well as multiple video screens, including an LED board, which will factor into the new production.

An earlier preview video showed rehearsals for the new show, which will be directed by Liesl Tommy, who most recently directed "Eclipsed" on Broadway, starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o.

Replies (21)

April 16, 2016 at 1:45 PM · Soooo.... Is Muppetvision 3D coming back or no?
April 16, 2016 at 3:04 PM · Does this mean Muppets is returning?
April 16, 2016 at 3:23 PM · @Christopher Sturniolo
One can only hope.
April 16, 2016 at 4:04 PM · This show is definitely showing promise. While I do not think it will be as good as Aladdin, it does look like it will be a very good show.

As for MuppetVision, I'm not expecting it to return. I may be wrong, but from what I've heard it sounds like that theater will be used for movie previews going forward (at least for now).

April 16, 2016 at 4:17 PM · Sorry, it looks nice, but it is impossible to have the repeatability that the Aladdin show had. Olaf may try to make some topical jokes, but the Genie transcends time, that's why he worked so well. Also I think Aladdin's songs are better than Frozen, even Whole New World is a better song than Let It Go. They would have been better off updating the effects and sets of Aladdin. I predict that Frozen will not have the continued crowds and staying power of Aladdin.
April 16, 2016 at 4:56 PM · @AJ: given that the Marvel characters have moved to that section of California Adventure, it would make sense to have a Captain America movie preview in that theater, right next to the characters. Time will tell...
April 16, 2016 at 7:57 PM · A different sing along will be nice. I suggest a greatest Disney hits Hollywood style.
April 17, 2016 at 12:39 AM · I'll never tire of saying it: we got robbed. Frozen will be crap compared to Aladdin.
It's also a bad sign that this production will use multiple video screens. Aladdin was a true stage show, no screens needed.
April 17, 2016 at 3:06 AM · Why am I still able to do fast-pass selcection for the frozen singalong as late as may 16th?
April 17, 2016 at 5:56 AM · Well, Sylvian, I think you need to just "let it go.";)
April 17, 2016 at 12:43 PM · That's nonsense. Some of the biggest shows on Broadway use screen and/or projections, including Tony Award nominees and winners in the category for Best Scenic Design in a Musical.

Here's a thought: Why not wait and actually see the show before passing judgment?

April 17, 2016 at 3:34 PM · I couldn't care less about Broadway. What I know is that Aladdin was easily the best stage show in theme park history, and they arbitrarily cancelled it just to support their latest pet franchise.

No way Frozen will be anywhere near as good as Aladdin. And if they replace something great with something so-so, then we've been short changed.

April 17, 2016 at 7:36 PM · Their latest pet franchise??? I think you meant to say the worldwide highest grossing animated movie of all time. And judging the stage show without even seeing it is just ridiculous.
April 18, 2016 at 8:45 AM · They also cancelled it because it's now on Broadway (debuted in early 2014), and has begun touring across the country. It had a 13 year run at Disneyland, which is epic in the theme park stage show world.

Frozen was a logical choice to replace it, but I highly doubt Aladdin was cancelled to make way for Frozen, rather Aladdin's run was at it's conclusion, and Frozen came along as a prime choice to take over the Hyperion.

Many Broadway shows use screens (Hamilton uses them extensively, and revivals are integrating them more and more - Phantom, Les Miserables, Chicago, etc...), making the staging of Aladdin a bit antiquated by modern standards. There doesn't appear to be any short changing going on with this show except for the instant appeal of this show to the younger demographic, which will make seats for the new show difficult to come by.

April 18, 2016 at 10:08 AM · If you're making advance Fastpass reservations, you're looking at Disney World, not Disneyland (where Fastpass+ is not available.) The WDW version of the sing-along remains open.
April 18, 2016 at 1:24 PM · I'm not judging it before it opens. I'm saying that it is very likely to pale compared to the greatness of Aladdin. And that's a very safe bet.

Anytime they replace a great, popular attraction with something that is inferior to it, we've been short changed. Simple as that.

Yes, it became a franchise because it's a huge hit. But lots of us are sick and tired of having Frozen crammed down our throats, all over the parks. Have you even read the message boards during the past couple years?

April 18, 2016 at 1:56 PM · Muppets will not return. That was confirmed by the Disney Blog. Hope this means a complete retheme for that entire area of the park. It's truly needed.
April 18, 2016 at 10:32 PM · "I'm saying that it is very likely to pale compared to the greatness of Aladdin. And that's a very safe bet."

I firmly disagree. This Frozen musical is being created by people with multiple Tony and Lucille Lortel Award nominations.

Of course, you "couldn't care less about Broadway," so that's not likely to change your mind. But, do you realize that Chad Beguelin is writing the book for this new musical? Perhaps you don't know who he is, but you should. Mr. Beguelin also wrote the book for "Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular".

April 19, 2016 at 10:31 AM · I guess some of you guys can't wait for Frozentasmic! to replace Fantasmic! Oh, it's sure to be just as good! After all, Fantasmic! has been around for 20 years, who wants to see that old show anymore?
April 19, 2016 at 3:55 PM · If that were to happen, I certainly wouldn't be calling it "crap" before I saw the new show. That's particularly true if some of the people that created "Fantasmic" were the ones creating the new show. That's the point I'm trying to make.
April 19, 2016 at 6:08 PM · Sure, let's replace all the classic attractions with Frozen mutations. Bring on Frozentasmic! And Scared Frozen Mansion. And Pirates of Norway. And...

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