Bringing Frozen to Winnipeg: hundreds of youth audition to be the next Anna and Elsa
Approximately 300 youth auditioned to be characters in Rainbow Stage's upcoming production of Frozen in August
More than 300 kids auditioned for the role of young Anna and Elsa in Rainbow Stage's upcoming production of Frozen — triple the amount of submissions the theatre company expected to receive since casting calls were put out before the holidays.
Groups of children and youth between the ages of eight and 15 years old got into character over the weekend while auditioning with the song Do You Want to Build a Snowman? as their parents froze outside the door to listen.
The artistic director could be heard from inside the audition room at the Crescent Arts Centre on Saturday congratulating a group of nine girls for supporting each other through the process and being brave enough to showcase their talents.
"They did great," Carson Nattrass said to the parents, as the girls rushed to tell them how their audition went.
"I was pretty nervous at first when I realized how many people were going to be in there with me, but overall it went really well and I had a lot of fun," said 14-year-old Sophie Helgason.
Most of the group auditioned for the role of Anna, a character who sets off on a journey to bring her older sister Elsa back to the kingdom of Arendelle after Elsa's icy powers trap the village in a state of eternal winter.
"I like her … I think she's kind," said Xyla Roberts, who came to the audition cloaked in an Anna-inspired costume. The eight-year-old's mother said it was her first time trying out for a musical production.
"I like that she loves her sister very much and she wants to play with her … and make the sister happy," said youth Isabelle Chong.
"She's very energetic and lively," Chong told CBC after her audition.
Another youth trying for a lead role said Anna is a very strong, brave and intelligent character whose vibrant personality is a lot like her own — a perspective echoed by many youth at the theatre.
"In the movie, the message that Anna kind of gives out is that even if you don't have magical powers and you're just a normal person, you can do anything you want and you're still strong," Killian Chay said.
"Everyone who auditioned today did a really amazing job and if anyone else wants to try auditioning — a tip is — just do your best and if you don't get a role, that's fine. You're just brave since you tried," she said.
Like others, Chay has been preparing to audition for days.
But Maya Samboano, who's nine years old, said she's been practicing for the role since she was three.
"When I first saw Frozen at six months old, I really liked it. I watched it a lot I'm pretty sure, and when I was three, I started singing Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" she said.
Rainbow Stage often gets upwards of 500 audition submissions for one of their August shows, but the upcoming production of Frozen has received about 1,000 applications for all the roles, Nattrass said.
"It speaks to the fact that this show has never played in Winnipeg before and the power of the show itself," he said.
Children and youth moving on to the next round of auditions will be called back next weekend. Then three individuals will be chosen to play the part of young Anna, young Elsa and an understudy, said the artistic director.
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"It's really amazing and the talent is extraordinary. So far, we're just having a wonderful time hearing all these kids sing," Nattrass said.
"It's going to be one of the hardest decisions to make."
This will be the 71st season for Rainbow stage. Frozen runs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 24, with 21 performances.
LISTEN | Frozen's artistic director at Rainbow Stage discusses upcoming musical:
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With files from Felisha Adam