When COVID stifles in-person theater, B.B. Middle Schoolers won’t ‘Let it Go’
March 18, 2021 at 4:42 a.m.
Blind Brook Middle School Musical Program Director Julie Colangelo-Doré records with her cellphone on a tripod as Kristoff, Anna, Olaf the snowman and Sven the reindeer (played by Sean Spohrer, Grace Brunetti, Madilyn Klein and Aviella Kibel) head off for an adventure during a “Frozen, Jr.” rehearsal on Feb. 6. Instead of a traditional Spring play, students produced a film using Crawford Park and Mansion as their set.
Kristoff (played by Sean Spohrer) carries a frozen Anna (played by Grace Brunetti) to Hans (played by Pablo Zeitune) believing she needs an act of true love from him to survive, unknowing of the wicked trickery that will soon ensue.
Filming in February makes the landscape appropriately snowy for a “Frozen, Jr.” show. While on the hunt to find Elsa and Anna after they’ve run away, Hans and the Duke of Weselton get caught in a magical blizzard, portrayed by the theater ensemble in blue outfits.
The Duke of Weselton (played by Amaiya Singh) breaks character for a giggle while getting swarmed by a human snowstorm.
Getting along like real sisters, Grace Brunetti (left) and Abby Meron, who play Anna and Elsa in the show, have a laugh off camera while waiting to shoot their next scene.
Restrained by enchanted chains that prevent her from using her powers, Elsa (played by Abby Meron) smiles for the camera before pretending to get escorted away.
As Sven the reindeer (played by Aviella Kibel) walks into the snowy distance, Director Julie Colangelo-Doré moves the camera down and angles it upward to capture a dramatic shot.
Masked up and circled around for a cast meeting, students in the Blind Brook Middle School Musical Program replaced the indoor stage for Crawford Mansion and Park as a shooting location to produce “Frozen, Jr.” in a COVID-friendly environment.
