Behind the Magic of Arendelle: Inside the creativity, dedication, and support that brought Bishop Kelley’s production of Frozen: The Broadway Musical to life.

by Perla Saldivar '26

The house lights dim, but there is no rising curtain. The stage already stands open, inviting the audience into a snowy expanse as the first haunting notes echo through the theater. The rhythmic chant of “Na Na Na Hei Ya Na” fills the air while Maypole dancers weave colorful ribbons in fluid motion across the stage.

In that moment, the audience is transported into the world of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. But behind the seamless transitions and stage magic lies another story: one of artistic growth, tireless dedication, countless hours poured into the production by the Bishop Kelley Performing Arts department, and a community whose support helps turn ambitious visions into reality.

Bringing Arendelle to Life

This winter, Bishop Kelley High School became one of the first secondary schools in Oklahoma to produce Frozen: The Broadway Musical. Across five performances in February, audiences experienced a production that combined Broadway-scale ambition with the heart of BK Performing Arts.

“We knew it would be a good fit for our school. The themes of love, family, and friendship were aligned, and we knew we had the right talent,” said Fine Arts Faculty Member and Choir/Musical Director Mrs. Amy Junger. “We applied on a whim. We’ve always wanted to do the show, but didn’t think the rights were available yet. We found out not long after applying that we secured the rights and were so excited.” 

From the initial show announcement in October 2025 to the first auditions in November and the final bow in February, the production demanded months of preparation from more than 60 cast and crew members, directors, choreographers, technical teams, and staff members working behind the scenes.

The complexity of the show required far more than vocal talent. Students dedicated themselves to every detail of the production, both on stage and off.

Cast members took ownership of their characters in creative ways, including hand-decorating costumes for the Hidden Folk ensemble. Hours were spent applying moss, textures, and natural elements to create the rustic, forest-inspired aesthetic seen on stage.

When the ensemble stepped into the spotlight, they were not simply wearing costumes. They were wearing their own creative contributions.

Although BK productions are guided by faculty directors, many of the technical and backstage elements are student-led. Students managed hundreds of lighting cues, wireless microphones, sound operation, stage movements, costume changes, props, projections, and spotlight operation throughout the production, giving them hands-on experience in every aspect of live theater. From actors and dancers to student technicians, musicians, costumers, wig managers, and stage crews, nearly every aspect of the production became a collaborative effort by the students.

Productions of this scale also rely on support from faculty and staff across campus. Margaret Jones, Philanthropy Services Coordinator, and Veronica Salas, Bilingual Student Advocate, managed online ticket sales and audience support throughout the production process, while “The Susans:” Chalmers and Limekiller - members of the BK Business Office - assisted with vendor payments and production logistics behind the scenes. 

The production featured significantly more costumes and scene changes than a typical high school musical. Several cast members had as many as seven costume changes throughout the show, while the chorus performed expansive five-part harmonies during large ensemble numbers.

For their performance, BK’s chorus was nominated as one of six schools for the Discovery Awards’ 2026 “Best Ensemble/Chorus” recognition. Macy Gerkin ’26 and Aidan Wilson ’26 also received nominations for Best Actress and Best Actor for their portrayals of Elsa and Kristoff.

Behind the Curtain

While audiences saw the magic unfold on stage, they did not always see the hard work and pressure required to make each moment successful.

Perhaps the most celebrated backstage victory came during Elsa’s iconic performance of Let It Go. The quick-change transformation of Elsa’s gown from a deep royal teal with intricate embellishments into a light blue shimmering sequin dress became one of the production’s greatest technical challenges. After weeks of stressful rehearsals and near misses, the costume change finally succeeded during a full run of the show.

Behind the curtain, Macy Gerkin ’26, who portrayed Elsa, costume designers Brigid Carroll ’26, and Sophia Griffiths ’27, wig manager Andy Williams ’26, along with dance and chorus member Violet Cardoni ’26, erupted into silent celebration.

The students were not just performing together. They were rooting for one another’s success.

“People think of ‘Let It Go’ as a solo moment, but backstage it took an entire team working in sync to make the transformation happen,” Gerkin said. “The audience only sees the magic for a few seconds, but behind the curtain, it represented weeks of rehearsals, missed attempts, problem-solving, and people cheering each other on until we finally got it right.”

“There were definitely stressful moments, but no one gave up, and we refused to let each other fail,” Griffiths reflects. “People kept stepping up, solving problems, and doing whatever needed to be done for the production.”

In musical theater, scene changes and costume transitions sometimes require what directors call a “diversion” on stage-a brief performance moment that keeps the audience engaged while sets, props, or costumes are being changed behind the scenes. At Bishop Kelley, those transitional moments have become traditions of their own. During The Little Mermaid, they were known as the “Seas of Change.” For Frozen, the lyrical transition dancers became the “Winds of Change.”

Senior dancers Maddy Gerkin ’26 and I spent weeks advocating for the chance to perform the tradition one final time. During a quiet study session at rehearsal, our persistence finally paid off when Ms. Junger’s voice suddenly came over the intercom:

“Winds of Change to the stage before I change my mind!”

We immediately ran to the stage, screaming with excitement, ready to perform our roles together one last time.

More than a rehearsal call, this moment captured the true spirit of BK Performing Arts: tradition, friendship, and the deep bonds formed through the performing arts.

Supporting the Magic

Productions on the scale of Frozen: The Broadway Musical do not happen overnight, nor do they happen through talent alone. Behind every costume fitting, vocal rehearsal, blocking rehearsal, scene transition, and technical cue is a support system that allows students to dream bigger and perform at a higher level.

At Bishop Kelley, the continued growth of musical theater is made possible through the Bill and Ruth Franz Endowment for Musical Theater. The endowment helps sustain productions of this magnitude by supporting elements audiences may never fully see-including costumes, props, technical needs, music, licensing fees, set pieces, printed materials, and other behind-the-scenes components essential to bringing productions like Frozen to life.

While families contribute through tuition and participation fees, productions like this often require resources beyond what tuition alone can cover. Support from donors and the Bill and Ruth Franz Endowment helps bridge those gaps so students can continue experiencing full-scale, high-quality productions without placing the full burden on families. The goal is not simply to produce exceptional theater, but to ensure students have access to meaningful artistic opportunities regardless of financial circumstance.

One example came earlier this year during BK’s Trivia Night fundraiser. After winning what became the largest 50/50 raffle payout in the event’s history, Brian Daniel, the parent of a BK Performing Arts student, chose to donate the winnings back to the school after sharing that his daughter, Quinn Daniel ’28, a dancer and chorus member, had personally purchased part of her costume for the production.

“When students work hard enough to earn a place in a production like this, I don’t think finances should stand in the way of fully participating in the experience,” he said.

His gesture became a reminder that while audiences see the finished performance, many small sacrifices and acts of generosity happen quietly behind the scenes to make productions possible.

Similarly, when retired teacher Mr. Brian Arenson fills in for members of our faculty, he’s donated his entire substitute teaching paycheck back to the theater department. Having worked alongside Junger and Hoagland in the STC, he understood both the challenges of producing large-scale musicals and the impact these productions have on students.

Parents also played an important role throughout the production, volunteering their time to provide meals, run errands, assist with logistics, and support students during long rehearsal nights. Among them was parent volunteer Caren Gerkin, who faithfully picked up flowers each day, coordinated Cane’s meals for the cast and crew, assisted with concessions, worked the box office, and helped with countless behind-the-scenes errands that kept the production running smoothly.

Keepsakes and Community

That generosity also helps support one of BK Performing Arts’ most recognizable traditions: its professionally produced playbills. Complete with themed student headshots and production photography graciously provided by Timm and Tierney Dower, cast recognitions, and family advertisements, the playbills reflect the professionalism and creativity of the productions themselves.

While family advertisements and sponsorships help offset a portion of production expenses, they do not fully cover the costs associated with creating keepsake-quality programs for students and audiences.

“We try to keep the cost of the student recognition ads as affordable as possible so they are accessible to as many families as possible,” Junger said.

BK also provides every cast and crew member with a professionally designed and printed show poster commemorating the musical.

“By closing night, the posters are often covered with handwritten signatures and messages from fellow cast members, becoming keepsakes students carry with them long after graduation,” Hoagland said.

For some alumni, a signed musical poster from their time at BK may still hang on a bedroom wall, serving as a lasting reminder of friendships, performances, and the community built through BK Performing Arts.

That support extends far beyond the printed page. It helps sustain opportunities for students to participate in ambitious productions, explore creativity, develop confidence, and become part of traditions that continue long after the final curtain falls.

For many students, theater becomes more than an extracurricular activity. It becomes a second home, a creative outlet, and a lifelong community. BK alumni have returned years later to participate in productions as performers, musicians, and technical contributors, including alumni who joined The Music Man as members of the Barbershop Quartet. Others have previously assisted with lighting and sound design. Future Comets have also stepped into the spotlight when productions required younger cast members, allowing the BK theater tradition to span generations both on and off the stage.

The BK theater community continues to grow through the shared experiences and relationships built on stage - performing together under the lights, working together behind the curtain, returning years later to help the next generation of performers succeed, and shaping the future of Bishop Kelley Performing Arts through generous support.

As one generation of performers takes its final bow, another steps into the spotlight, continuing a tradition of storytelling, artistry, and community that has become the centerpiece of Bishop Kelley Performing Arts.