by Jody Tuso-Key – Managing Editor

In 2013, Disney Studios released a fairy tale film that took the world by storm. Frozen, a musical fantasy set in the Netherlands, was a CG animated sensation. Then, in 2018, a stage adaptation of the iconic motion picture took to the Broadway stage and then launched a national tour in 2019. The National Tour closed September 1st, and Disney is granting licenses to select regional theaters across the nation. One of those worthy theaters is the highly acclaimed City Springs Theatre Company which is producing a regional premiere of Frozen just in time for the holidays and will be running from December 13th to the 29th. Tickets are already selling out and additional performances have been added, so get your tickets and bring your Disney kids and kids at heart to this family favorite! 

I had the pleasure of having a conversation with City Springs Theatre Company’s Executive Director Natalie DeLancey and the director of their production of Frozen, Robert W. Schneider. Natalie was recently named the 2024 Georgia Theater Hall of Fame recipient, and this honor could not be bestowed upon a more deserving person. Her contributions to theater not only include the great work she has done with City Springs Theatre Company, but also previously with the ArtsBridge Foundation and the Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards (affectionately called “The Shulers” after another state treasure, Shuler Hensley). Robert Schneider is a New York based award winning director, producer, author, educator, and podcast host. He has an impressive body of work, and we are so excited to see his vision for this beloved musical. Without further ado, let the conversation begin!

Jody: First off, tell me all about this exciting production.

Natalie: We were very fortunate to be given the opportunity to be the regional premiere of Disney’s Frozen, which means we are the first local company in the Southeast to present and we could not be more excited. The show is off to a tremendous start with Rob at the helm. We’ve put together an entirely local cast that is really talented, and tickets are flying. We have just announced 2 more added performances. I could not be more excited to be bringing this Disney show to life over the holidays! I think it’s a wonderful way to get the families together to celebrate a really magical story. 

Rob: We are in week one of rehearsals right now, This has got to be one of the most talented casts I’ve ever worked with. This group is just absolutely phenomenal and I think there’s such a great representation of everything that Atlanta and City Springs Theatre Company has to offer. It’s a pretty special collection of individuals both on stage and off stage and I think it’s probably going to be one of the most magical shows this city has ever seen.

Jody: That’s exciting and especially coming from you, Rob, to relay it’s one of the best casts you’ve ever worked with, especially with your extensive resume, is amazing. I love that it’s all local talent. Have you done anything at City Springs Theatre Company before, Rob?

Rob: No, actually, this is my first time and I’m so honored that I was asked to do it. I mean, the theater is just absolutely incredible and like I said, you know, I’ve been very lucky. I’ve gone to work all over the country and this is probably one of the best companies I’ve ever worked in.

Jody: Welcome to Atlanta! Natalie, I’m always impressed with everything ya’ll do and City Springs Theatre Company is one of my favorite Atlanta Theaters, so I can’t wait to see the show. Are you all going to have school matinees?

Natalie: Unfortunately, no. Our production opens the weekend before the last week of school and schools are unable to take a trip that last week. We have added more matinees than normal, and one of the added productions will actually be the first day school is out in metro Atlanta on Friday, December 20th. We also have a Christmas Eve matinee. We are hoping that families will take advantage of that special performance. And, we are really looking forward to seeing young children dressed up as Elsa, Anna and hopefully we get a few Olafs, as well! 

Jody: It’s fun to see kids, and even adults, dressing up to attend the shows. 

Natalie: When we did Beauty and the Beast we had at least 20 Belles in every audience. I think this time we’ll surpass that. It’s fun! Rob is exceptionally talented as is the rest of our team. He brought with him Caitlin Belcik, our choreographer. She is just sharp as a tack, brilliant, really. Our music director is returning, Jesse Warkentin, who music directed last year’s holiday production of White Christmas. This is an exceptional team and we are building Frozen from scratch– the scenic elements and the prop elements. Because we are a regional premiere, there are not pre-made sets to choose from, so we’re really excited to have an original concept designed by Jacob Olson, who’s a brilliant scenic designer. He designed the sets for our past productions of The Music Man and Fiddler on the Roof. It’s a very unique, kind of, wouldn’t you say Rob, old school theater magic?

Rob: Yes, I think it’s going to WOW families for sure.

Jody: One of my good friends asked me, “I just have to know if they’re going to do the dress change? It was so amazing on Broadway and I hope they do something like that.”

Rob: You’ll have to come see it. I don’t want to give it away!

Jody: I can’t wait!! I did tell Natalie that the Beauty and the Beast transformation was astounding, so I imagine the costume change will be at least equally phenomenal. 

Natalie: Yeah, I think the magic in Frozen might surpass Beauty and the Beast. I don’t want to, you know, put the cart before the horse, but I think this is going to get a huge round of applause.

Rob: It’s pretty impressive!

Natalie: You know that City Springs Theatre Company’s production value is a top priority for us. We can’t do a Disney show, let alone Frozen, without having top-notch production value. I feel confident the audience will be wowed. 

Jody: What City Springs Theatre Company does rivals anything I’ve seen on Broadway, so I’m sure it’s going to be wonderful. Natalie, I understand congratulations are in order.

Natalie: Yes, thank you. I thought a hall of fame award would come maybe a little later in my career, so I’m very grateful that I was recognized and appreciate the Georgia Theater Conference recognizing me, that was quite the honor and very unexpected. 

Jody: I’ve been impressed with all of your contributions. Shuler Hensley sings your praises and feels very honored that you’ve included him in both City Springs Theatre Company and with Artsbridge and the High School Musical Theater Awards. 

Natalie: Shuler and I have been working together for a decade now. We met when I was hired to run The Shuler Awards prior to City Springs Theatre Company. We work well together so I think we’ll keep this streak going! 

Jody: Georgia theater is fortunate to have you and City Springs Theatre Company. There are so many good theater companies in Atlanta, and the musical theater ya’ll provide is top notch. 

Natalie: A couple notes on the cast; our Elsa, Sarah Stipe, this is her first time performing with City Springs Theatre Company and we’re all in for an incredible treat. Obviously, you know, we know Idina has made “Let it Go” quite the popular song and we have that iconic voice in our heads. Sarah is extremely impressive and her vocal talent is up there with the best of the best. 

Rob: Sarah is a star, an absolute 110% star. 

Natalie: Michael Stiggers Jr. is rejoining us as Kristoff. He was in White Christmas last year, so this is his second time on the City Springs Theater Company stage. Of course, you know Nick Walker Jones as Hans. He’s pushing it for most consecutive shows of any actor with City Springs Theatre Company. He’s brilliant as well. We have 4 young ladies playing Young Anna and Young Elsa. The roles of the young characters are younger than our Pre-Professional Company students so they are from all over. These girls, well, Rob you can speak to their talent.  

Rob: They are dedicated. I call them the 4 Meryls, as in Meryl Streep. Each of them are so smart, just genius. They are really great little actors. 

Natalie: So we’re just really lucky. As you said, Atlanta talent is phenomenal and to be able to utilize them on such a specific show like Frozen is really cool (no pun intended). The audience will be blown away. 

Rob: Just reiterate, everything that Natalie was saying. This is going to probably be one of the most magical shows audiences have ever seen. I really hope as many people as possible get a chance to come and see the magic on full display because it is something that’s going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I mean that.

Natalie: We have 4 sold out matinees already, and 3 that are very quickly behind them. So tickets are going fast. We certainly are encouraging everyone to go ahead and grab their tickets now. I know Christmas seems a little far away, but Thanksgiving is next week, so it’s right around the corner and we just really want to serve the whole family around the holidays with a feel good musical.

Jody: Many people are replacing tangible gifts with experiences for their kids as those memories are priceless. A live performance is something a child will always remember, especially Frozen.

Natalie: Rob, you said so eloquently at our first rehearsal about these characters and their individuality and how that’s so celebrated. I think Frozen is just a really special story for this next generation to come in and experience. Some of them, many of them, will see their first live musical.

Rob: I think for anyone who wants to buy tickets for these wonderful young kids. There’s no better gift than the gift of the arts. It’s going to be a gift that keeps on giving for the rest of their life. 

Thanks to Natalie and Rob for taking time out of your busy schedules to talk to us about Frozen. We hope to see you there!! Thanks for you readership and peace, love, and light be with you during this holiday season!