Honest Review of Frozen on Broadway - Is It Worth Seeing? [Part 1]

The global hit film Frozen arrived on Broadway as FROZEN.
Here is an English overview of the story, highlights, and our honest take on the stage production.

Frozen tickets and show guide

About Frozen
Reception party
Theatre guide
Detailed seating guide
Official merchandise
Honest review
Discount tickets

Frozen show overview

From beloved Disney film to Broadway musical

Frozen (2013) became a worldwide phenomenon as Disney’s first two-heroine story, following sisters Anna and Elsa through different forms of love and courage.

Songs like Do You Want to Build a Snowman and Let It Go are staples across generations, and the film sparked a global Frozen wave. Stage adaptation plans were already in motion before the movie even opened a natural fit for musical theater. With a sequel arriving the following year, the Frozen whirlwind showed no signs of slowing.

For more about the show, see the detail page below.

Frozen show details >>

A principal cast with serious chops

From left: Caissie Levy as Elsa, Patti Murin as Anna, John Riddle as Hans, Jelani Alladin as Kristoff

As the two leads, Elsa is played by Caissie Levy and Anna by Patti Murin both seasoned performers who have also starred in Wicked as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.

Their distinct vocal styles neatly underline the sisters contrasting personalities. Jelani Alladin makes his Broadway debut as Kristoff after strong work Off Broadway, and his charisma in both voice and acting is a standout.

We stopped by the reception party before curtain

An invite-only gathering

Photo booth setup at the reception party

We were lucky to be invited by Disney to an invite-only reception and headed over as a team.

It was hosted at Planet Hollywood, about a three-minute walk from the theater, with light bites, drinks, and looping promo reels for the musical.

The cast didn’t appear, but there were parting gifts: a blanket and a Planet Hollywood cup.

Planet Hollywood, right in the theater district

The venue is a movie-themed restaurant with colorful, all-American decor.

Props and costumes believed to be screen-used are displayed throughout, including outfits worn by Jack and Rose in Titanic. Late hours make it convenient before or after a show.

Frozen plays at the St. James Theatre

Frozen is presented at the St. James Theatre in the Times Square area.

St. James Theatre

The St. James sits on 44th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.
Founded in 1927 by producer Abraham Lincoln Erlanger, its richly ornamented exterior remains a Midtown landmark.

Address: 246 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

For basics, founder history, and architecture notes including a surprising link to the origins of the Tony Awards, see the theater detail page.

Learn more about the St. James Theatre >>

Our seats for Frozen

Our team attended over two days. Day one was from the mezzanine, day two from the orchestra, so we could compare both perspectives.

Day 1: notes from the front mezzanine

How to read MEZZR C 4:

Mezzanine Right = right side of the mezzanine
Row C (third row from the front), seat 4

Pros: You see the entire stage picture, including the sweeping freeze effects that climb from the wings to the ceiling. The St. James has a helpful rake, so sightlines over heads are good.

Cons: Non-human elements Olaf and Sven’s facial work, for example read a bit small due to the distance. Beyond row J in the mezzanine and up in the balcony, the show starts to feel far. it is a production worth seeing closer if you can.

Day 2: notes from the orchestra

How to read ORCHC R 110:

Orchestra Center = center orchestra
Row R (15th row from the front), seat 110

Pros: The custom motion screens and projection mapping read brilliantly from here. You also feel the snow and ice effects up close for extra impact.

Cons: Farther back in the orchestra, the mezzanine overhang begins to cut into your view. Be cautious from about row M and beyond.

Check Frozen merch during intermission

Merch stand just inside the main entrance on the right

The St. James lobby is compact and gets crowded before curtain and during the break, so arriving early helps if you plan to shop.

Expect Frozen T-shirts and hoodies, plush Olaf and Sven, and even replicas of Elsa’s coronation scepter and orb. Restrooms are one level below the lobby. it is a good idea to go during the interval.

Our take after the show

A film-to-stage crowd-pleaser

Outside, lines were lively and the narrow entrance meant a slower entry even with tickets in hand. We saw lots of families, couples, and friend groups of girls and plenty of young fans dressed as Anna or Elsa, complete with braided hair. Once inside the theater, the merch stand is on the right, the bar counter is on the left, and stairs at the back lead to the mezzanine and balcony, so the lobby felt very compact.

We sat in the last row of center orchestra. Behind us were the desks for video and lighting control, so no need to worry about blocking anyone’s view and we could focus fully on the stage.

As a big fan, hearing Do You Want to Build a Snowman live was a thrill. The Arendelle interiors, door motifs, and costumes felt faithful to the film. Caissie Levy’s cool, warm-hearted Elsa and Patti Murin’s playful Anna clicked beautifully, and their sisterly chemistry landed.

Because everyone knows the movie, expectations are sky-high. True to form, Disney stages moments with inventive solutions that often match or top the film. Time after time we found ourselves thinking, so that is how they staged this scene and being delighted by the choices.

Projection mapping at a new level

Projection mapping shows up everywhere these days, but Frozen’s implementation feels on another level. We first noticed tight performer-sync in Anastasia, yet here the illusions sparked genuine “how did they do that” reactions, reminiscent of Aladdin’s flying carpet reveal.

You will leave trading notes about this sequence and that reveal. How the production handles Olaf, the trolls, and Sven is part of the fun. No spoilers here but the solutions respect the film while creating a distinct stage identity. See it live and compare for yourself.

Our performance fell on March 8, International Women’s Day. After the finale, Patti Murin spoke on behalf of the company, celebrating the women onstage and backstage and inviting many of them onstage for a bow, which is a memorable, distinctly American moment of marking the day.

This report covers our March 2018 visit. Another team member attended again in June 2019 and wrote a second piece with a fresh angle, including more on the reception and stage highlights. Check it out below.