rejection and obstacles, demonstrates the persistent effort required to heal deep-seated divisions.
Compassion can fuel courageous acts. When differences seem most pronounced, reconciliation and the willingness to reframe our understanding of a person or situation can break down even the iciest barriers.
cultural ties, including cast member James Odegaard, whose grandmother was a celebrated rosemaling artist with work displayed in Norway.
For the ice world, the stark beauty and crystalline formations of real ice caves and the quite colorful, prismatic nature of ice inspired Elsa’ s palace. We drew from Hans Christian Andersen’ s fairy tale,“ The Snow Queen,” an early inspiration for the animated Frozen. Its darker undertones and powerful symbolism informed our interpretation. We also loved the idea of Elsa wearing shimmering white, a departure from the animated Elsa.
BUILDING A FROZEN WORLD
To create our unique version of such a globally known title, we immersed in Norwegian culture, the Sami people, and Norse and Icelandic mythology, exploring traditions with themes of destiny, magic, and our ties to the natural world. We also drew heavily from Norwegian folk art, allowing its intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and unique storytelling to influence our designs and costumes. Our own state’ s Vesterheim Norwegian- American Museum in Decorah and its collections serve as source imagery for many elements of the design.
As someone with Norwegian ancestry, I cherish the cultural traditions my mother passed down— like decorating with Norwegian ornaments and making lefse bread. I even wore a traditional bunad to school for second-grade ancestry day! And I’ m certainly not the only Scandinavian in our company. As Midwesterners, many of us share those
Scenic renderings for Frozen by TCR Scenic and Lighting Director S. Benjamin Farrar
So many people have worked so hard and given their best, aiming past the mark to bring this story and its spectacle to life before you. As we invite you into Elsa and Anna’ s world of weather extremes, magic, and sisterly bonds, we hope each element— the story, music, the top-tier local talent, the effects, and so on— inspire wonder, reflection, and hope in your hearts this holiday season.
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