Nearly 50 young performers bring ‘Frozen Jr.’ to the Cailloux stage this weekend

Snow will fall inside the Cailloux Theater this weekend, an ice dress will transform in front of the audience’s eyes, and nearly 50 area kids will spend three performances making the case that the heart of “Frozen” was never the magic — it was the sisters.

Playhouse 2000’s Youth Summer Musical Theater Camp closes four weeks of work with Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” at the Cailloux Theater, with shows Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. The 60-minute adaptation of the Broadway and film hit follows royal sisters Anna and Elsa after Elsa’s powers plunge the kingdom of Arendelle into an eternal winter, sending Anna on a journey to save both her sister and her home.

The production is the centerpiece of the camp, which drew its cast through open auditions in May. What began as a roster of 54 has settled at just under 50 young performers, who spent June learning every part of staging a modern musical under Director of Youth Programming Emily Olson, choreographer Cynthia Frias and music director Alexis Korbe, assisted by Meg Traverso. The camp is part of Playhouse 2000’s Youth Initiative, supported by The Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation and individual gifts.

Leading the cast as Elsa is Amber Stone, a recent Tivy High School graduate who has appeared in past Playhouse 2000 shows including “Shrek” and “Finding Nemo.” Playing the Disney ice queen meant stepping outside her usual sound.

“It really did challenge me, because I usually sing more folk and country,” Stone said. “This is really pushing me to grow with my vocal belt.”

She built that belt for “Let It Go” with help from Korbe — “Miss Alexis” to the cast.

Opposite her as Anna is Sasha, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Hal Peterson Middle School, in her first musical with Playhouse 2000. Her numbers include “For the First Time in Forever,” “Love Is an Open Door” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” Asked what makes the show feel magical, she pointed to the cast itself.

“Probably how the actors tell the story,” she said. “We’re very expressive, and also the costumes and music. Those are just really magical.”

Rounding out the familiar faces of Arendelle, Lincoln Graham plays Kristoff and Anthony Alvarado plays Olaf.

For the adults behind the camp, the payoff is bigger than one weekend.

“Live theater is really a powerful educational tool for young people, and the confidence that it gives them is remarkable,” Amy Goodyear said.

Unlike a traditional Disney princess story, the cast and crew say, “Frozen Jr.” lands on sisterhood, family and the work of learning to confidently accept yourself — a message they hope reaches the kids in the seats as much as the ones onstage. Keeping those seats within reach for local families was the point, Goodyear said.

“We wanted people to be able to bring all their kids for a really affordable price,” she said.

Stone’s closing pitch to Kerrville was simpler.

“This is a super fun and magical show,” she said. “Everybody’s worked really hard, and it would be a bummer if you didn’t come.”