Director's Note
The idea of directing a Disney musical is extremely daunting for any director. Typically, it requires big lights, expensive costumes, large sets, and a very, very talented group of students. Directing a Disney musical during the time of COVID-19 is even more daunting. What happens with masks? How do you portray a cartoon setting without a stage and only with realism? What happens to the magic? This filmed production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. took a group of incredibly talented students; eager students willing to give it everything they’ve got to create this production and make the magic all on their own.
The funny thing about all of this is that the students were not the ones out of their comfort zone. Take a production team, well-versed in musical theater starting with Producer Cher Treacy, Choreographer Jordan Singer, the sound engineering and special effects by Henry Titcomb and Matthew Soule and mesh it with the artistry of Paul Rively and technical genius of Zach Doré and you have a master musical ON STAGE. Now, place a camera in their hands in the middle of a local park in the midst of a pandemic and things drastically change. This production, however, simply enhanced their abilities and allowed their determination and tenacity to outshine their “movie” talents. It was our production team that became the students here and our students that were the teachers.
The filming of this musical took place under strict COVID-19 regulations and restrictions. Whenever possible, masks were removed to show the students’ faces. Audio was pre-recorded but kept organic and as true to a live musical production as possible. Students and staff were kept safe while filming indoor and outdoor scenes and post-production editing was done to ensure and support the safety guidelines set forth by the Blind Brook School District.
This production happened with many helping hands and the support of parents, administration, and teachers alike but at the real heart of this movie musical is the students. Their patience, hard work, and determination to get back to the theater, in any capacity, shines through. They just get it. And that is why it is our pleasure to present to you the first-of-its-kind (especially for US) a movie musical of Disney’s Frozen Jr.!
Julie Colangelo-Doré
Director/Musical Director
