Disney Developing Animated Musical "Frozen" for the Stage

Disney is in the early stages of developing its hit, Golden Globe Award-winning animated musical "Frozen" for the legitimate stage.





Disney CEO and chairman Bob Iger hinted at a potential stage premiere for "Frozen" in a recent interview with Fortune Magazine. "We're not demanding speed. We're demanding excellence," Iger said of the musical's development.

Disney later confirmed to Playbill.com that the project was in the early stages of development for the legitimate stage. Broadway plans have not been announced at this time.

The musical won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature on Jan. 12.

"Frozen" features eight original songs from husband-and-wife songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez ("Winnie the Pooh") and Tony Award winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon).

Directed by Chris Buck ("Tarzan," "Surf's Up") and Jennifer Lee (screenwriter "Wreck-It Ralph") from a screenplay by Lee, the voice cast of the film features Kristen Bell ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall," The Crucible), Tony Award winner Idina Menzel (Wicked, If/Then), Groff (Spring Awakening), Tony Award nominees Josh Gad (The Book of Mormon) and Santino Fontana (Cinderella), Alan Tudyk (Prelude to a Kiss) and Ciarán Hinds (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). "The music elevates and propels this storytelling," said Del Vecho in an earlier statement about "Frozen." "The songwriters Kristen and Bobby participated in the creation of the story. We met with them for two hours each day via video conference while we were building our plot — not necessarily about the songs, but about the characters: who they are, how they think, what they want. Each song enhances and expands the story in a way that fully engages the audience in this world."

Here's how the film, produced by Peter Del Vecho, is described: "Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Bell) sets off on an epic journey—teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven—to find her sister Elsa (voice of Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf (voice of Gad), Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom."

The Playbill.com exclusive first look at "Frozen," featuring the voices of Bell, Groff, Gad and Menzel, is below and includes "First Time in Forever," an original song penned by Lopez and Anderson-Lopez.

For more information, visit Disney.com/Frozen.

Watch the first look below: