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Chill Out with the New Stars of FROZEN- Ciara Renee, McKenzie Kurtz & Ryan McCartan!
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Oct 28, 2022
Later this month, Disney will celebrate the second birthday of one of its latest hits, Frozen, which just welcomed three new stars: McKenzie Kurtz, Ciara Renée and Ryan McCartan, who star as Anna, Elsa, and Hans respectively. The new cast hasn't been the only major change at the St. James Theatre, however...
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Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge
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Disney's hit musical Frozen continues to dazzle audiences at the St. James Theatre
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and they're getting ready to celebrate their second anniversary on March 22nd
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And they've just welcomed a new Anna, Elsa, and Hans. And I caught up with them here at the legendary Sardis
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Please welcome Sierra Renee, Mackenzie Kurtz, and Ryan McCartan. So here we are at Sardis
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I have all three of you from Frozen. Yes. The family. The family
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So you all went into the show. What did you say? I said minus him. I tried to marry him
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Almost. Almost part of the family. So you all went into the show together
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Yes. The same performance? Yes. So let's talk about that first performance
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What do you each remember about that first time on? And did it make it easier going into the show as a trio
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I don't remember anything. I blacked out well homegirl yes it was my
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Broadway debut yes welcome thank you it was wild it was crazy
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I also really kind of blacked out and then but everybody did tell me
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you were the first person to tell me make sure you find a moment for yourself
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and just take it in really appreciate it and I did and I got really emotional
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and it was and then it was amazing yeah it was beautiful I think after
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Let It Go I was like I could let it go. I think I
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I hooped for myself after I went, whoo. Yes, you did. Did it
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All right. I got it. I got through it. I got through it. And that was that
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Yeah. What about you, Ryan? I don't know, man. I, it was incredible
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So what I will say is, you know, the only other show that I've been put into, I was alone
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And that was isolating. Having like rehearsing together, going in together. Yeah
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It was really helpful and felt really good. And it sort of echoed down the cast, too, because there was, I think, a bit more of an awareness
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Because there were three of us, well, four of us. Ellen was going in as well. There were four of us going in instead of just one
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And so everyone kind of, I felt really supported. Yeah. I think this is a different situation, I feel like, than I've had previously replacing
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Especially because we were also making the changes to the show. the ones that they'd implemented on the tour
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So we got to re-tech with all of the cast, you know
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and meet everybody. So helpful. Which is really, really nice to have that bond
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before we just have like a put in and get thrown in, you know. Well, and to get our reps in, you know
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Like we got a lot of reps in. We did. Which was very unique. Yeah
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Well, like you said, it was interesting because you're actually doing a brand new version with all the changes. What are the changes
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Well. Spoilers. Spoilers. Let me tell you. No, I mean, I think some things were trimmed
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Yeah. But I think, I guess the biggest change is that there's a new song for Anna and Elsa in Act 2
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It replaces For the First Time in Forever, Reprise. Yeah. And it's just kind of, I think the reason they put it in, what we've kind of spoken about
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is that they wanted to strengthen the audience's understanding of the bond between the two sisters
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and also how they're saying the same thing to each other but at odds, you know
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and how that can be possible in any relationship. And you really get to see their frustration with each other and the
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circumstances and the love for each other and how hard it is to
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to have been separated in the way that they were. That's gotta be so exciting. Like I said
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going in as a, the four of you going in, but also going in with all these new changes. So the whole company was sort of on the same page as you were
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Yes. They were superstars with those changes too. Yeah. Yeah. Cause they
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you know, they're rehearsing during the day with us and then also doing the show
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continuing to do a different show. Yeah. Eight times a week at the same time. So we're so grateful
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and appreciative that we got to work with them in that way. Okay. These are such coveted roles
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I'm sure everybody in the world wanted to be in your, you know, sitting in these seats
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What was your callback like? Were you two teamed up together? So I actually was cast first
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I had read with some other Anas and then they had another round and then I got to come in
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actually knowing that I was already cast to read with Mackenzie and several other women
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Yeah. So it was lovely. Yeah. And I didn't know she was cast
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Then she shows up and I was like. Stop it. It was. No, seriously
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Yes. And so that was so cool. So yeah. She came in for my final callback and we read together
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Yeah. You must have known when the two of you were like teamed up, you're like, yeah, we make
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a really good team. Oh, absolutely. I was hoping. Well, I just remember the one thing, you know, because auditions can be foggy and stuff after time
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But I the one thing that I remember is her first line out of the gate
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Everyone giggled like it was just like this. Everyone was just so in with you already
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And I was like, oh, oh, I had one of those. But I can't I was like I was reading with her and I couldn't, you know, I had to have the stoic face like they have. Yes. Yes
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Which is, it was a cool experience, but it was like, oh, okay, I hope I'm like setting you up good, you know
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No you did I guess it worked out hard What was your final callback like Well yeah the bizarre We never read together Like I They just kind of cast me
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I don't really know what, like, the lineage was of when I was cast or how it all happened
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We never got to read together. And I'm just going to full-on brag on this for a second
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Our chemistry... Like, it's lit. Like, she's really, really good. And, like, we like each other a lot
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Yeah, we got so lucky. yeah and it's so fun it's so fun and we're silly we're silly yeah but like
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the there's something about the way that hans and that our hans and anna get off at the beginning
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like like she's she's like so smiley and there's so much amazing natural bubbly energy there that
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i just like immediately copied of sort of like okay this will kind of be my hans and this will be like how he gets on her level and there's something that makes his evil turn so satisfying
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then because it's literally as if the audience forgets because like we're just like so in love
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at the top which again is just it's crazy that we were able to form that considering we've never met
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like that's kind of risky a little bit like what if we had no chemistry at all how would that work
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I don't know. Yeah. I don't know. Nobody does it better than Disney. No one does shows better than Disney
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What's it like being a part of a Disney family? I mean, you're in Frozen. You're right next door
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We're here at Sardi's. The St. James is right next door. That's cool
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I've been a dream of this stuff. I mean, you know. Yeah. I mean, this is my second time being a part of the Disney world because I also did Esmeralda
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Sure. And that was a beautiful experience as well. Like we've said, you know, it's very supportive
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We feel very supported. and taken care of. And it's also big and beautiful and magical
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And the way that we get to affect audiences every night is just stellar
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You know, I've done, you know, a couple of stage doors now
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And this is already definitely the brightest, happiest, you know, just the energy that you get from people
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is so astounding and so fun. It's a great pick-me-up after you're, like, tired
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You just did this whole show, but you go out there and everyone is just ripping and roaring and so excited
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I mean, that's a beautiful thing, and it's very Disney. It's so nice to have just a supportive community
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I mean, our friends from Lion King and Aladdin came to our put-in and cheered us on, and our friends at Disney Theatrical
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So everyone is so lovely, so welcoming. I've just felt nothing but love the whole time
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It's been fantastic. It's cool for me because I've worked for Disney Channel
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I worked with Radio Disney. little known fact I worked at Disneyland for a second. Did you
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Uh huh. And I was also the Sebastian the Crab puppet. I did a lot of it
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I'm sure it's on YouTube. Find it. Disney. Now to work with Disney on Broadway
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I mean there's just kind of an elevation about the work that Disney does
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across the board I've realized. I mean it's just sort of they
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never get it wrong. I mean, I don't know. It's wild. And they treat you right
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You know, and they care about the human behind the performance. Every time
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You know, and that's pretty dope. Because I had to tell Tom Schumacher last week
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He loves you all. He loves you all, just so you know that
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The first time you saw yourself done up in full, like, you know, Elsa, Anna, Hans
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Like that first time you were in front of the mirror, what went through your mind? I mean, these are iconic
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You know, you're like, I'm playing these roles. It was so surreal
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I mean, it was, when was it? I'm trying to think. It was January. Like when we had all of the elements together
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Oh, yeah. Yeah. Was it the photo shoot? Well, I think the photo shoot. Yeah, that was
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Yeah, that was. Truly. What is time? But yeah, it was so cool. It was just, yeah
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I mean, it was really cool to have this, like, big blonde wig on
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which is a way I've never really seen myself. I've had blonde wigs, but not like this
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And then obviously to have, like, the most bedazzled dress that I've ever worn
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And, you know, I think it was really powerful and, like, just a beautiful moment
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And all I could think of was, like, I can't wait to show my mom. Same. I was so excited
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Yeah. Just the costumes and the ball gown, how grand everything is
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It was incredible to try that on and see myself in the red hair for the first time
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I was like, there she is. Wow. Yeah. I mean, I feel like it's hard in this life to go an entire life without at least once dreaming about being a Disney princess or a Disney prince
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And to actually see yourself as one is wild. Yeah. But then you get to meet the fans that come to this show
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They're actually theater goers that come to your show. I mean, many are coming for the very first time
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and you're changing their lives. I mean they seeing you play Elsa That must mean the world to you right Yeah absolutely I mean I feel like being able to connect with audiences is really the thing that I love most about what I do
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Doing live theater as opposed to TV or film or something like that. But yeah, it is especially powerful knowing that I am representing for young women of color
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and people of color everywhere, and in a really positive way. You know, she's an empowered queen
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That's an incredible thing for these young people to see. And, you know, hopefully makes them feel like anything is possible
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and that it's okay for them to step into their power and accept who they are
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Beautiful. For you. I mean, it's amazing to be able to tell the story that's focused on two women
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who it's very empowering for women all over. and some of these women and young girls who come and they say
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this is my first Broadway show, it means the world to hear that
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and to know that we were a part of their first experience
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I mean, it's not lost on us at all. I appreciate it so much, and it's incredible
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Disney has a history of doing a really good job of being able to take their movies
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and put them on stage and having them be different, because I think they have to be to be commercially and artistically viable
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But when you do that, because the theater is such an extreme medium
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the darker corners of the story get a little bit darker. The brighter sides of the story get a little bit brighter
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And the kids that are watching are really impressionable. But there's no fear about showing them shame
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there's no fear about showing them a villain that isn't a dragon
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it's a man it's a human being who does a bad thing
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and then on the flip side the magic inside of you is not bad
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it's beautiful the love of your family is enough to climb a mountain for
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these lessons that are really important for impressionable young kids and grown adults alike to hear and experience, to be responsible
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with and for that is a high honor, I think. Yeah, absolutely
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Well, the show's getting ready to celebrate its second anniversary on Broadway. People fly in from every country, every language
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I walk by the St. James Theatre, I see families that don't speak English, but every nationality
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nationality in every demographic and they're so thrilled to be coming to Frozen I mean that must
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make you so excited too truly yes yeah I I'm like honored and so moved when people are like I came
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all the way from Australia just for this or I came from Japan or I came from wherever you know
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and and you're like oh okay thank you wow thank you so much yeah it's amazing yeah to be a part
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of something with a built-in global fan base. I mean, it's kind of indescribable
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Is there a go-to dressing room that you hang out in? Who arrives
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to the theater first? Who gets there first? It's probably me. Did you get there first
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I don't know. I'm kind of sequestered from you all because they're on the first
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and second floor. I'm all the way on the fifth floor. So I go all the way up there and I don't really
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know what happens underneath. I don't. I'm up there because then Hans doesn't enter for a half hour
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Don't look like I don't come see you, though. You do? I'm not acting like you don't come see me
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And also, but I think the reindeer dressing room is where it pops off
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It really is. That's the room. That's the room. That is really the room
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That's where we all meet in the middle. A nice compromise. Exactly. A little fourth floor moment
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Yes, it's not really a compromise. We have to go so far to you. But you all run there
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Yes. You know, you have these incredible careers, all of you. You're starting your Broadway career
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I mean, what was that defining moment for each of you when you said, I have to be an actor, I have to be in this business
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Was it a defining moment for each of you? I mean, I always wanted to be a singer
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I thought that's what I was doing. That was like my trajectory. I was like working with a producer in high school
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I was like, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to write songs and be a singer. And then I did the high school musical
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And I was like, oh, never mind. I'm going to go to school for this, I guess
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Bye. So I think, yeah, doing, what was the show, actually? We did Producers
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That was my, like, first high school musical. But then the one that, like, really solidified it for me was Smokey Joe's
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I loved that show. I loved watching it. The version that they filmed, it was amazing
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And I just loved being someone other than myself and being able to step into someone else's shoes
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and tell a really cool story and sing really awesome songs. And, you know, I just kind of jumped in after that
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and did as many shows as I possibly could. Yeah. I was, I think, seven years old on a cruise with my family
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and I entered into a talent show on the cruise ship And a little girl sang The Rainbow Connection and won the talent show And I went up to her after and i said what do you do do you sing are you an actor what is it she goes oh no i do musical
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theater and i said mom i need to do this yeah and then since then eight years old i start just
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started doing shows in my community and then went did it in high school and went to college for it
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and just fell in love with it yeah did you ever the rainbow that girl does she know that she's the
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reason i i i don't know where she is hopefully she'll watch as a broadway world and she'll
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rainbow connection girl make the connection girl make the connection no guys it's so good for you that defining moment man i don't know i mean i i mine my life is sort
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of evidence of the idea that you know that which you resist persists because i i was like nah too
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risky you know my dad was an educator I was like I'll go be an English teacher you know and I kept
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resisting it and the more I resisted it the more obvious it was that I had to be a part of it and
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I I came to New York and participated in the Jimmy Awards and won the whole thing and I was just sort
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of like I they gave you they give you the trophy and they say make a speech and you're like what
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like they never tell you you're gonna make a speech they never tell like it's all happening real time and I just went in front of the microphone
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and I was like this represents a promise that I have to do this
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and I genuinely I don't know I don't know what my life would be
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if that didn't happen but because it did you know I will do this or die
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trying like period that's beautiful what's the last thing each of you do before you step on stage
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at the St. James in Frozen 20 push ups do you really? I'm getting my muscles warm
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to lift that 30 pound dress over My shoulder, girl. Yes. We see each other right before we walk on
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Yeah. And so we'll just, I think we chat, and I normally will just, like, say a little prayer and then walk on
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Yeah. Yeah, I mean, we talk to each other a little bit
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and then I'm normally vocalizing any minute that I'm not on stage
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Yes, I'm doing. That is what I'm doing. Girl, I heard it from, I was on stage and you were off stage
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and I heard you. I hear you guys too, so. No, that was the day. I'm just saying, like, I know your vocal
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That's me. I'm always. Oh, you have different vocalises, right? I'm humping or sussing or, you know, lip trilling, whatever
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Yes. Keeping it warm. What's your vocal warm-up beforehand? A lip trill
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You love me a lip trill. I love a lip trill. What about you? I'm usually just belting pop tunes in the stairwell to warm up
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Literally, that's it. Oh, that's you? Yep. You're welcome. You know, finally, Frozen is about so many wonderful things as a musical
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It's also about dreams and living your dreams. If you could sum up the best part of the experience of being in Frozen
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what's it for each of you? I know it's new. Yeah. Yeah
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I mean, yeah, there is sort of a part of me that wonders if I don't know what the best part is yet. But that's a cop-out answer, so I'll think about it a little bit
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How about you? The best part right now, being a part of this
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this wonderful show of Frozen. it might be corny but just the people
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right now that's what I go into work every day and I'm excited
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to see you guys and everyone we work with growing those relationships
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and it's all so new for me and it's I don't think honestly
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it will wear off I am so excited just to be a part of this company
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and this show I don't know that was a broad answer yeah
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I mean, I think the best part, like I said before, is just always being able to connect with the audience, you know, and to meet people afterwards who do say, like, this is my first show, or I came from far away, or this thing moved me, or it's so amazing to see a strong woman, you know, all of those things
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It's really great. And even to connect with people on social media about it, like, all of that feels really, really wonderful
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Yeah. Ryan, for you. I think you know because I'm in my dressing room
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when they make the announcement at the beginning of the show and you know it's open your candy
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and turn off your cell phones but then they say and we would like to extend a special welcome
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to anyone who's here at their first Broadway show and may this be you know
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the journey of lifetime Broadway I don't know what they say but it's really nice
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and that reminder I think really sticks with me for this show, just sort of
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the understanding, yes, of the audience but of the young audience, that
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if we do our job right, these people might be patrons of theater and of Broadway
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for the rest of their lives because of what we did. That feeling
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of being at the top of your game, at the top of your craft, and potentially
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changing all those lives, it's kind of an echo of what you said
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That's a really powerful thing to experience every day. Well, the three of you are the best in what you do
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Thank you for sitting with me today. Thank you. You two, welcome back to Broadway. And you, welcome to Broadway at Frozen
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Thank you so much. Thanks so much. Thank you
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