The Characters of Frozen Come to Life on Stage at W.F. West High School

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Director Brian Adams was energetic and enthusiastic on set Tuesday as he kept the students on track during rehearsals for W.F. West High School’s production of “Frozen Jr.” 

Adams, who is also a counselor at the school, has been directing plays at W.F. West for 24 years.

The school’s production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. is scheduled to open at 7:30 p.m. Friday and will feature songs that can only be heard in the musical version. The play will also be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 at the W.F. West Theatre. Tickets are $8. 

Adams told The Chronicle that his favorite part about directing plays is working with the students. 

“I have a saying, it’s TTP — trust the process. We need to go step by step by step. Seeing it all come to fruition and watching (the students) growing and loving it and waiting to come back,” he said. 

Sophomore Mariesa Mumford is playing Anna.

 “It’s been a character that’s been super fun to try and embrace and think like her. It’s actually kind of helped me be more positive in general just because Anna is so happy,” said Mumford. “I love that feeling of accomplishment after you’ve done something and especially seeing the joy on the kids faces it just makes me so happy.”

The cast has been rehearsing everyday after school since the third week of September. 

“I was obsessed with Frozen when I was little,” said junior Layne Gering, who is playing the role of Elsa. “It’s amazing because when you get wrapped in — you’re in. It’s really fun to be someone else for an hour and a half,” she said.

Seph Klonowski, a junior at W.F. West is playing the part of Olaf the snowman. 



“I love getting to be bubbly as Olaf and seeing the magic of the show come together,” Klonowski said. 

Jeanne Sheridan is the costume and set designer and her daughter Kat Sheridan is playing one of the lead trolls. The sets of snowy landscapes and ice shards were painted by Kate Faro. 

“Before I moved back up (to Washington) I was doing costume design full time in southern California for a small theater company for kid’s theater or dance academies,” said Sheridan who’s daughter has been involved in theater since kindergarten. 

The version of the play W.F. West High School will be performing includes songs that are not in the movie and can only be heard in the musical version of the play. 

“I’m really excited. It’s one of my favorite shows. I have such great directors in terms of set and costumes,” said Adams. 

Adams wasn’t sure if they would get the rights to perform Frozen since the professional Disney cast is still on tour. 

“I applied and they gave me (the rights to Frozen) as long as no actor was older than 18. They’re not letting anyone do the play above the high school level right now,” said Adams. 

The cast did a school tour and performed for elementary school stuents on the Monday before Thanksgiving, previewing about 20 minutes worth of material. Adams said the kids were so excited and were singing along to “Let It Go.”