"The musical 'Frozen' has added numerous wondrous and new artistic elements. Audiences will encounter a far deeper and larger world, one that exceeds imagination."
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the Broadway songwriting couple, expressed confidence in a written interview with Seoul Economic Daily that the musical "Frozen" would deliver new emotional impact surpassing the film. The couple has created music for various musical productions, and for "Frozen," they handled the music for both film installments as well as the musical. The musical "Frozen" will make its Korean premiere as a licensed production starting the 13th of next month.
The Lopez couple explained that the decision to produce the musical was made before the film was released, and that they went through intense brainstorming sessions to create a new drama suited to the stage genre. Among these, the biggest challenge was how to use the film's signature song "Let It Go." Kristen said, "From the beginning, I thought the signature song 'Let It Go' had to be the number that closes the first act." For this reason, "Let It Go," which appeared in the early-to-middle part of the film, was moved to the final scene of Act 1 in the musical. Along with this, new songs not featured in the film were added, further enriching the work's narrative and the characters' emotional arcs.
The part they poured the most effort into is the opening. By expanding the existing opening music, they wove multiple events and characters into a single grand flow from the moment the show begins. Robert said, "The moment the orchestra unfolds various musical colors and opens the door to the performance, audiences will confront a massive narrative and audiovisual energy all at once," adding with confidence, "It will be a spine-tingling experience."
The signature standout scene the two singled out is the moment when Elsa leaves the castle and freezes the world with her own power. Robert Lopez said, "The scene where Elsa covers the stage in ice is breathtakingly overwhelming," adding, "The music also reaches its climax at that moment."
The way various non-human characters are realized on stage is another point of interest. The snowman Olaf and the reindeer Sven, as well as the magical race of trolls, are expressed vividly and cheerfully through a combination of actors, stage technology, and puppetry.
The musical emphasizes the role of community more than the film. Rather than serving as mere backdrop, the townspeople step forward as key figures who drive the drama, giving the two sisters' narrative greater dimension. Kristen stressed, "The townspeople are not just a background but storytellers and players who lead the story," adding, "They play an important role not only in helping the two sisters restore their relationship, but also in completing the process of healing the entire wounded community."
