Stage version of Frozen musical changes its director
Michael Grandage replaces Alex Timbers as director
Some changes are coming in the kingdom of Arendelle: Tony Award- winning director Michael Grandage has been officially unveiled to helm the upcoming stage musical Frozen.
Alex Timbers, a two- time Tony Award nominee who directed Peter and the Starcatcher, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The PeeWee Herman Show and Rocky on Broadway, had been initially tapped to direct Frozen but left this summer.
Grandage won the Tony Award for his direction of Red, John Logan’s acclaimed drama about painter Mark Rothko. His recent Broadway work include The Cripple of Inishmaan, Hughie and Evita.
Disney Theatrical Productions said it will mount the show at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in August 2017. It is expected to land on Broadway in 2018 alongside its hits Aladdin and The Lion King. Casting will be announced later.
The husband- and- wife songwriting team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson- Lopez, who wrote music for the blockbuster 2014 film, is returning to work on the stage show, and Jennifer Lee, codirector and screenwriter of the film, is writing the story.
In other Frozen news, Christopher Oram will design the sets and costumes.
He replaces Bob Crowley, a Disney veteran who designed Aida, Tarzan and Mary Poppins for the stage.