Fans will likely leave the auditorium humming a familiar tune as the students will give their rendition of popular songs such as “Love is an Open Door” and “Fixer Up” and many more.

The musical will also have a Broadway feel with some of the tunes from the Broadway show.

“Spectators will be able to come and see exactly what they love about the movie,” said director Joan Ascherl, who will be directing her 27th show in the district and 38th overall. “They will hear all the popular songs and a few from the Broadway show. There will also be some big dance numbers. We have been able to incorporate talents from Iowa Central for the dance numbers.

They will enjoy the costumes and the sets and leave in an upbeat mood with their entire family.”

The FDMS students will perform their rendition on the 10 year anniversary of “Frozen” for three performances.

The shows will be on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Curtain time is 7 p.m. at the middle school, 800 N. 32nd St.

To purchase tickets attendees can go to showtixforu.com, search for Fort Dodge Middle School and then which day they want.

This year’s musical will have one of the biggest casts in a while with 85 kids in the cast and chorus and 95 students overall.

The choice of “Frozen Junior” had many aspects factored into it.

“When I choose a show, first I look at the number of kids involved and the voice ranges that lend to one show or another,” Ascherl said. “Also their ages, heights and genders to see some roles that are easier to adapt to others.

“This show is evenly managed as far as age goes. There are different ages in the show as far as Elsa and Anna go. So the sixth graders fit perfectly for the young parts and the seventh graders for the biggest parts. Time progresses with Elsa and Anna as they grow up, so we have those parts.”

When the students found out what the show was, Ascherl said they were extremely excited.

“They were really excited,” Ascherl said. “Especially when they found out it was the 10th anniversary of ‘Frozen’ — that was even cooler.”

Ascherl said more than 130 students tried out for the play and with three huge chorus numbers, a lot of students will share their talented voices.

“The chorus is extremely important and a central focus of the musical,” Ascherl siad. “We have split it into three different groups (Hidden Snow chorus, Hidden Folk chorus and Towns People chorus). We had so many students audition, but we had to limit it to 75 to 85 to have three chorus, so we didn’t have too many kids on stage.”

Picking the lead roles was a tough decision, but with different ages of the characters, Ascherl was able to cast a number of students.

Cast for the role of Elsa is Harper Lampe (young), Natalie Lopes (middle) and Audra Sells (older).

Playing the role of Anna will be Kinley Auten (young), Gretta Pratt (middle) and Harper Sandahl (older).

Ayden Lee will play Kristoff; Corban McHone is Hans; Damien Yeoman is Olaf and Kasyn St. John will be Sven.

“The kids have worked really hard in pulling this musical together,” Ascherl said. “There are some huge technical parts as well as dress changes for Elsa. Anna gets hit by the power of Elsa and there are a lot of special effects. They have been staying after school to prepare and taking voice lessons.

“They are really burning a candle at both ends. Because of so many kids involved, we have to make sure everyone is on the same page with everything and how they set the stage.”

With all that goes into the production of a musical, Ascherl has had a huge supporting cast to help put everything together.

“We have the fortune of having April Naeve and Ella Sells (Fort Dodge graduates) of Iowa Central help with choreography,” Ascherl siad. “Parents like Andrea Harrison, Katie Schelle and Sallie Gaillard have been helping with costumes. Mike Ascherl and Jon Sandahl have been putting time in on creating the sets.

“I also want to thank the Fort Dodge Senior High Choir Booster Club for helping to get things organized and being supportive of the middle school financially and organizationally.”

‘Frozen Junior’

Thursday, March 14

Friday, March 15

Saturday, March 16

Showtimes are 7 p.m.

Tickets: ShowTix4U.com; search for Fort Dodge Middle School and select the day you wish to attend.

CAST (Lead Roles)

Young Elsa — Harper Lampe (sixth grade)

Middle Elsa — Natalie Lopes (sixth grade)

Older Elsa — Audra Sells (eighth grade)

Young Anna — Kinley Auten (seventh grade)

Middle Anna — Gretta Pratt (sixth grade)

Older Anna — Harper Sandahl (eighth grade)

Kristoff — Ayden Lee (eighth grade)

Hans — Corban McHone (eighth grade)

Olaf — Damien Yeoman (eighth grade)

Sven — Kasyn St. John (eighth grade)

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No