Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents Disney’s Frozen. From the producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, Frozen, the Tony-nominated Best Musical, will play an exclusive 2-week premiere engagement at The Au-Rene Theater beginning Wednesday, March 9, with performances playing through Sunday, March 20. Opening night is set for Thursday, March 10 at 8pm.
Heralded by The New Yorker as “thrilling” and “genuinely moving,” Frozen has joined Disney Theatrical Productions’ megahit The Lion King on tour across North America, and the critics agree, “It’s simply magical!” (LA Daily News).
“Disney’s struck gold! Sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes, and plenty of special effects to wow the audience!” raves the New York Post. “With the magic, the dancing, and all those iconic tunes, Frozen was born to be a stage musical!” writes the Evening Standard. The Los Angeles Times declares “the North American tour is irresistible in its creativity and verve” and The Hollywood Reporter proclaims that Frozen is “thawing hearts from coast to coast!”
It was a pleasure to sit down with a member of our community, Kyle Lamar Mitchell (King Agnarr, Ensemble), for this exclusive Hotspots interview.
Were you always a performer even as a child, or when did it begin?
Yes, I have always been a bit of a character, and I have always loved making people happy and putting on a show. When I was 5 my parents got me a playschool mic and speaker and they encouraged me to sing something. I continued to sing and put on shows after that. My father is a good singer, and my mother loves the arts, so it was natural for me. In 5th grade I was encouraged to audition for a school play, and I got the part. It was love at first sight.
What was your first paid gig?
I guess that would be at the Art Power National Touring Theatre Company where I played Lemuel in a show called “Four Score and Seven Years Ago.”
When did you know entertaining would be your career?
I am not very good at many other things that people do. When I got to college I majored in literature, but I go to perform with my musical group, Shades of Yale, which showed me how beautiful music can be and how I could have a career in music.
Other than this role, what was your favorite role to play?
There are two. A childhood dream of mine was to be in the Lion King. When I was 10 years old, I was taken to see it by my mother and there is a moment in act 2 where Mufasa appears to Simba in a cluster of clouds. This scene shook me to my core and at that moment I turned to my mom and told her one day I will play Simba on Broadway and when I achieved that dream, it was magical.
The second role was for a piece of work in NYC I debuted in. The show was called “Fing Hipsters” and the role Tomatoes. This role was so opposite from my personality, so it was a nice challenge as a performer.
What is your fantasy role?
I would love to play Paul in a revival of “Six Degrees of Separation.” I never saw the play, but I saw the movie with Will Smith and it’s my favorite role of his.
Describe yourself in three words?
Luminous, loving, and loyal.
What do you do for fun?
My mother will kill me for this, but over the pandemic I got into collecting Vinyl records. I even travel with a record player with me on tour, that I have been lugging through airports.
Are you single or married?
I am very much single.
What is the perfect guy for you?
I am looking for someone who can make me laugh and, they need to be able to laugh at themselves and not take themselves too seriously. They need to love themselves as Momma Ru says, “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you going to love anyone else.” I also love food and cooking, so hopefully they are a foodie.
In addition, family is key. I have two nephew nuggets that are very important to me, and I have a phenomenal mother.
One last thing, whatever he does for work he needs to be passionate about it.
In this interview, you have mentioned your mother a few times. Clearly you have a very close relationship. Tell me more?
Yeah, I do. Her name is Sandy, and she is pretty great! We are touring in Orlando now, and she is coming to visit. She came to see me in The Lion King 33 times, and she has already seen Frozen over 10 times. She is incredibly supportive, and family is the most important thing in her world, and that’s where I get the love of family from. She was a single mother and held 3 to 4 jobs at one time. She taught us everything is possible if we put our minds to it and above everything else, she loves us to infinity and beyond. Her motto is to always do more than was done for you.
What should our readers expect from “Frozen”?
I would say that a lot of people when they think of Frozen, including myself, think it’s a kids show. While it’s definitely a brilliant evening for children, it is so much more than that, it’s an experience for everyone and is like no other. Given the state of the world we are in, many people feel isolated, just like Elsa does, but we are overjoyed to open up the gates to experience love and light with people all over the country. Our director has created the show for people who have never seen the film, so they won’t feel lost. There are many songs from the move, but also many original songs. There is stunning stage craft, and the show is very funny and very witty. There are also over 300 handmade costumes. The performance by this cast is wonderful and I can assure all your readers they will love it!
For more information on the fabulous Kyle, go to Instagram.com/@kyle_Ley_lah
Tickets are available at the Broward Center AutoNation Box Office, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33312, browardcenter.org or by calling 954.462.0222. Orders for groups of ten(10) or more may be placed by calling 954.660.6307. Ticket prices start at $30.50.
For information, visit FrozenTheMusical.com/Tour, Facebook and Instagram.
