Anna, Elsa and friends part of 'Frozen' musical presented by ShenanArts

Patrick Hite, Staunton News LeaderThu, May 7, 2026 at 8:31 AM UTC

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STAUNTON — The Broadway musical "Frozen" will be performed at Staunton's ShenanArts May 7-10 and 14-17.

Based on the Oscar-winning Disney film, "Frozen,"the musical features songs from the animated movie, including the Academy-Award winning "Let It Go," plus a dozen new numbers written exclusively for the stage.

Arendelle has been plunged into an eternal winter by the hidden powers of their new Queen Elsa. As the storm rages, Princess Anna sets out to find her sister and reverse the spell. Joined by friends along the way, Anna and Elsa must reunite to save their kingdom through the power of true love.

Samantha Cadieux, who plays Anna, is in her fifth ShenanArts show. She's started acting in church theater, moved into community theater and ended up majoring in theater at James Madison University.

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Portraying a role that is so well known from a movie that is immensely popular can have its challenges.

"It can be difficult because it's an iconic character so there are iconic things that need to happen,," Cadieux said. "For me, Anna needs to be bubbly, she needs to be very happy and very completely opposite of Elsa."

At the same time, Cadieux wanted to make the role her own. So she watched the original movie, but otherwise she tried to do the script without a lot of other information about the movie.

"But it was difficult because everyone knows Anna and Elsa," she said.

Samantha Cadieux plays Anna and Bianica Baker is Elsa in ShenanArts' upcoming performance of "Frozen."

Bianica Baker will be playing Elsa in "Frozen." This is her first show at ShenanArts, but she has previously worked with both Cadieux and with the director, Jennifer Vaughan at Waynesboro Players.

Like Cadieux, Baker was familiar with "Frozen."

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"That can sometimes be very helpful," Baker said. "In terms of knowing what things sound like already. I didn't have to familiarize myself with it, but just focused on making it my own."

Baker described Elsa as a girl "full of anxiety."

"She just wants everyone around her to be safe," Baker said. "She feels she is the reason that everyone isn't safe and she's constantly grappling with that and, through that, she's finding herself unworthy of love, attention, affection and she just shuts those things out."

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Disney’s Frozen is presented through special arrangement with Musical Theater International (MTI). Performances are May 7-10 and 14-17. Thursday through Saturday shows start at 7 p.m., Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m.

“'Frozen'is unique in that it is not your typical princess story,” said Vaughan. “It centers around the special bond of two sisters, giving the audience lessons in courage, resilience, and strength, and the enduring power of love to conquer fear, themes that resonate with all age levels.””

Tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors and college students, and $14 for those 17 and under. Tickets are available online at shenanarts.org/disney-frozen/. Tickets are also available at the ShenanArts box office approximately 30 minutes prior to each performance.

“Working with this incredibly talented cast and amazing production team has been a director's dream," Vaughan said. "It's difficult when you are presenting a show where the audience comes in with expectations. However, each person involved in this production is extremely dedicated to making this show our own through the storytelling, while still maintaining the magic. You do not want to miss it."

ShenanArts is located at 300 Churchville Avenue, Staunton.

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Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: 'Frozen' coming to Staunton as ShenanArts presents the Broadway musical

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