Dexter Kids Light Up Ann Arbor Stage

The Horizon Performing Arts Center, an Ypsilanti based theatre troupe, dedicated to providing an entertaining and educational experience for everyone, staged the Disney classic Frozen Jr., June 26 – 28 at the Arthur Miller Theatre on UM’s North Campus in Ann Arbor. Featuring a cast of twenty-six, thirteen actors were from Dexter.

Lucy LeRoy, who will be a freshman at Dexter High School in the fall, played Elsa, who becomes the queen of Arendelle. Elsa possesses magical powers which she struggles to control. Charlotte Teall-Beaver, from Ann Arbor, played sister Anna. Both actresses stepped into the lead roles with energy and confidence.

LeRoy belted out “Let It Go”, Frozen’s signature number, that received a thunderous applause from the nearly sold-out house. Midway through the song, LeRoy stood atop a platform, with arms held over her head, and as the words Let It Go were sung, her black dress magically transformed into a white gown, with sequins, as the audience roared.

Teall-Beaver shined as Anna, Elsa’s younger, funnier sister and sang two delightful songs – “For The First Time In Forever” with Elsa and “Love Is An Open Door” with Prince Hans, played by Jack Pontoni, also from Dexter. Teall-Beaver has appeared on-stage in several shows, but Anna was one of her first lead roles.

Maddox Rice as Olaf the Snowman and Charlotte Teall-Beaver as Anna. Photo by Lad Strayer.

Other cast members included Wilhelm Ritter (Ann Arbor) as Kristoff, Maddox Rice (Dexter) as Olaf the Snowman, Haley Burton (Dexter) as Sven the Reindeer. Sloane Jackson (Ann Arbor) portrayed Oaken and sang the hilarious song “Hygge”, including a fun ensemble dance number. Midori Toril (Ann Arbor) was Young Anna, Maggie Trevisan (Dexter) as Young Elsa, Olivia Hardcastle (Dexter) as Middle Elsa and Alana Jefferson (Ann Arbor) as Middle Anna.

(L-R) Charlotte Teall-Beaver as Anna, Maddoz Rice as Olaf, Haley Burton as Sven and Wilhelm Ritter as Kristoff. Photo by Lad Strayer.

Ensemble singing Kristoff’s Joik. Photo by Lad Strayer.

Sage Ritchie (Dexter) played King Agnarr and Zoey Silverman (Plymouth) was Queen Iduna. In the reprise of Let It Go, Silverman sang the lower harmony part of the song perfectly. It can be difficult to maintain your harmony pitch, because you are not singing the melody and no one around you is singing the same notes as you. She projected her voice, singing beautifully and confidently.

Zoey SIlverman (in red dress) and ensemble. Photo by Lad Strayer.

The show was directed and choreographed by Brynn Arnall, music direction by Michelle Smith. Following the show, Arnall said how pleased she was with the kids’ performance. “This was a smaller cast for us, but the kids worked very hard. With many of them, I have literally watched them grow up on the Horizon stage.”

Horizon Performing Arts Center will be presenting “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” August 6 – 9, at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, located at 911 N. University in Ann Arbor. For more information about tickets, go to horizonperformingarts.org. Tickets are on sale now.

Featured photo: Lucy LeRoy, with ensemble, singing “Let It Go”. Photo by Lad Strayer.