EHS theater departments delights with ‘Frozen’

ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP – In a theater, etiquette demands applause be withheld until a scene has reached its conclusion, and rarely is that taboo broken.
Sasha Bowers, with the help of the crew, managed to elicit a wild ovation in the midst of an iconic song during the Edgewood High School theater department’s production of Disney’s “Frozen.”
As Bowers, performing as Elsa, reached the crescendo of “Let It Go” and her coronation dress broke away to reveal the light blue dress with sparkles that has become synonymous with the character, the entire audience erupted with applause during a performance on Saturday, March 7.
“It’s exhilarating,” Bowers said. “It’s so intense for me that I’ve forgotten to pull the pin from my braid and let my braid out every single time, except for this time right now on Saturday. It’s just a really awesome moment and without the crowd’s applause, I had no idea how amazing it was going to be until I went did it on stage.”
That moment was orchestrated and executed by Director Mary Ann Kline, Costume Designer Sophia Fleming, Bowers and the crew to draw the exact emotional reaction it received.
“I was fortunate enough to work with Sophia Fleming, who is a new graduate from fashion design from Kent,” Kline said. “I’ve known her since she was born. She designed that transformation gown, and the magic goes to her credit. The ability to remove that gown is an art, and then the crew and the actors all working together. It was a magical moment. Everybody is crying. They’re openly weeping when they see it.”
As the song ended, the curtain closed, sending Bowers into the intermission with a feeling of elation.
“I go off and I get all these hugs, and it’s really sweet,” Bowers said. “The people behind me that pull off the dress will always come out, and they’ll remind me if I got the braid or not, and they’ll tell me how I did and it’s just so positive and reassuring for me. I love it.”
The Edgewood theater department performed “Frozen” four times between Friday, March 6, and Sunday, March 8, in front of sellout crowds.
“Those kids have worked so hard, they deserve every bit of applause that they got,” Kline said. “I am incredibly proud of them and how hard the entire team has worked. It has been a labor of love, long hours from everybody involved and I’m very proud of the product.”
“You feed off of the energy that the audience gives you, so you always know when the curtain opens, there’s always going to be a little more there, but then (the crowd) has not let us down at all,” Kline continued. “We had great audiences last night and this afternoon, a couple standing ovations and two more shows. I’m very grateful. I’m grateful for all of the people who helped us produce the show, the people who donated things. I’m so happy.”
After each of the performances, Bowers, Natalie Houser-Stover who plays Anna, and Emma Toth, who portrays Olaf, walked out of the auditorium to be greeting by throngs of children eagerly awaiting a chance to meet their favorite characters and get a picture or an autograph.
“That means so much to me,” Bowers said. “I try my best to be good with kids. After opening night, I went the wrong way (coming out of the auditorium), and there was like eight Elsas waiting for me, and it was so sweet. I just love hearing how excited they are to see me, and I’m so happy to see them, too.”
Houser-Stover enjoyed meeting the young fans, as well.
“The absolute best part about this whole process is seeing all of the little kids at the end,” Houser-Stover said. “I figured there was going to be quite a crowd, but seeing how many there actually are, and how excited they are to see us makes the energy so worth it, just seeing the smiles. I wasn’t prepared for the reaction when I come out after the show. Yesterday, I tried to turn my mic in, and I couldn’t even get to the stand. It was definitely unexpected, but again, it makes it so worthwhile.”
The reaction from the young audience members was meaningful to Kline.
“It’s very special when we can bring a show like this and touch the hearts of little one, expose them to live theater and how much fun it can be and how to appreciate it,” Kline said. “That’s everything.”
The “Frozen” cast included Bowers as Elsa; Houser-Stover as Anna; Henry Lebzelter as Kristoff; Isaac Weaver as Hans; Annie Robar as Young Anna; Maggie Allenbaugh as Young Elsa; Toth as Olaf; Maverick Layman and Ava Addair as Sven; Electra Carter as Bulda; Ayden Tuttle as Pabbie; LeLand Starcher as Oaken; Jon Schlick as the Duke of Weselton; Amara Rockwell as Queen Iduna; Marco Amicone as King Agnarr; Ethan Tuttle as Bishop; Amanda Wentz and Aubrey Sealey as handmaidens; and Austin Quenzer as the guard.
“It’s been the best show that I think I’ve had, ever,” Bowers said. “I love this cast. It’s always hard to stay quiet in the wings, because it’s so much fun talking to them, and then we all have these shared moments that really mean a lot to me, and I’m going to remember them for a long time.”
Houser-Stover came to enjoy the audience’s reaction to her character, as well as standing in the spotlight with her cast mates once the show reached its conclusion.
“That’s a tough one,” Houser-Stover said. “I would say the finale and just bows and being able to hear the applause of all the hard work that we put in, but also, I love being Anna because of the funny character moments and hearing the laughter from the crowd from my funny lines. It just makes me feel accomplished.”