Local drama students to perform 'Frozen Jr.'

The Acting Out Playhouse, in conjunction with SummerStar Theatre, will present “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” with performances on Saturday, July 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 21, at 3 p.m., at the William and Helen Richards Theatre on the Middletown campus of SUNY Orange.
Based on the 2018 Broadway musical, “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production.
A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, "Frozen Jr." expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, "Frozen Jr." is sure to thaw even the coldest heart.
This summer the group of 30 Orange County area performers, ages 9 to 13, include Rowan Astorino, Kelsi Berghahn, Sienna Battifarano, Abbey Blatt, Madeline Coley, Sophie Cresser, Stephen D’Ambrosio, Nathan Durgin, Owen Durgin, Jack Eubank, Taylor Galarneau, Grace Gorczynski, Ciara Kelly, Michael Kelly, Hailey Leonard, Paige Manno, Rocco Manno, Caitlyn Moran, Kaden Nagel, William Nasser, Artemios Pallis, Jenna Rowen Delson, Olivia Scotto, Dennery Simon, Cooper Smith, Daniel Solano, Ally Turner, Sara Venter, Julia Vinarub and Abigail Yurchuk.
A passion for theater
The award-winning Acting Out Playhouse strives to nurture young, local talent and offers the opportunity for those budding entertainers to perform both mainstream and classic shows on the stage. With creative staging under the direction of Terry Odell and musical direction by William Odell, each member of this youth ensemble get their time in the spotlight.
With more than 30 years of experience as a director, dance instructor, performer and vocalist, Odell has combined her special and elementary education experiences with the performing arts to form The Acting Out Playhouse. She created the Playhouse 14 years ago with “Godspell” being her premiere production.
“The Acting Out Playhouse has been thriving in Warwick for the past 12 years because my heart is full of passion for what my staff and I feel is important," Odell said. "The performing arts and the way we train our students at The Acting Out Playhouse helps to develop incredible skills beyond performing on stage. We have trained young Broadway, film, and off Broadway artists, and I am so proud of them. I'm just as proud of the students who were afraid to speak up in class, who have speech and developmental delays, not only verbally, but physically and emotionally, and are opening up and feeling more secure about themselves. The Acting Out Playhouse has become an important part of our community and a theater home to many Orange County kids these past 13 years.”