Wantagh Elementary Actors Bring Frozen To The Stage

WANTAGH, NY. — Disney animation’s “Frozen” once asked audiences, “Do you want to build a snowman? It doesn’t have to be a snowman.” For Wantagh Elementary students, December was the time to build much more than a snowman, putting on their own production of “Frozen KIDS” in an ensemble made up of almost 90 students.

The stage adaptation of the Disney hit starring Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell and Josh Gad was performed on Dec. 16 and 17, with daytime performances in front of the cast’s fellow classmates and evening performances with their families in attendance. The cast included 52 fourth-and-fifth-graders, with 37 more in the stage crew. Reya Basnet played Elsa, opposite Ireland Hill-Holtz, who played Anna. Joining the duo were Brandon Martori, Viviana Mattingly, Francesca Morale, Mila Minicus, Elle Mekeel, Hollie Casale, Matthew Feder, Jack Meinck, Anthony Segal, David Kolios, Evelyn Tierney, Francesca Azcona and Addison Aquila, as well as an ensemble cast of cityfolk, castle staff and more.

Leading the production from the director’s chair was Kyle Sweezy, with Kaitlyn Cavallo serving as music director and Gillian LeRoy serving as choreographer. Rachel Iannuzzi was the stage manager, while Christopher Cockren worked as the production’s technical director.

“It’s a spectacle every year and it brings a lot of joy to the building,” Sweezy said of the production. “Everyone worked really hard to prepare, and I’m very proud of the cast, crew and
advisers.”

The December performances were the culmination of months of rehearsal, which began with auditions during the first week of the school year. Rehearsals took place both during the school day and after school.

Iannuzzi, Wantagh’s assistant principal who launched the musical program during the 2022-2023 school year, said it took, “a big team effort to make this a success.”