A new version of ‘Freaky Friday’ materializes
Heidi Blickenstaff has worked on the Broadway productions of “The Little Mermaid,” “Addams Family” and “Something Rotten!” But she got a few tips from an interesting source for how to handle a big improvised dance number during the production of the TV version of the stage production “Freaky Friday.”
“My teenage stepsons were on set that day, and when we were between takes, I kept telling them I needed dance moves,” Blickenstaff says. “In the breaks, I was learning the whip, the nae nae and all these crazy dances my kids were teaching me to do.
“Thank God this old body still has some dancing skills and I could learn those dances on the fly.”
The steps can be seen as she reprises the role she created in the stage production for the TV movie “Freaky Friday,” airing 8 p.m. tonight on the Disney Channel.
She co-stars with Cozi Zuehlsdorff in the music-driven body-swap comedy about a mother and daughter who spend a day in each other’s shoes (and bodies). The script, written by Bridget Carpenter, is based on her Disney stage adaptation of the novel by Mary Rodgers.
Blickenstaff plays Katherine Blake, a busy mother and a perfectionist who juggles trying to run her own catering company, preparing for a wedding and trying to understand Ellie, her teenage daughter (Zuehlsdorff). The pair get a better understanding of each other through a magical hourglass.
Over the years, Blickenstaff has taken on roles that have been originated by others and been the first to play a character on stage, such as in “Freaky Friday.” She has found great satisfaction in both routes.
“The great thing about jumping into a role where you are replacing someone is that the train is already moving. You have to get up to speed and then it is thrilling to try to jump on that moving train,” Blickenstaff says. “You try to make your skill set work for something that is already tried and true.
“I think originating a role is a little bit of the holy grail. I think, now in my career, my favorite thing is to create something new. For better or worse, there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into giving birth to a character. And, in this case, it was two characters. I’ve never had that experience before.”
And the Central California native has had a lot of stage and screen experience, starting with being part of the national touring company of “The Who’s Tommy” in 1996.
Work on the stage production of “Freaky Friday” started two years ago and resulted in a debut at Washington, D.C.’s Signature Theatre. Adam Bonnett, executive vice president of original programming for Disney Channel, says taking the story from stage to TV was a creative collaboration. “Freaky Friday” features an updated book by TV veteran Bridget Carpenter, along with songs by composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey.
“It was amazing to get to work with the Disney Theatrical Productions again after doing ‘Mermaid’ 10 years ago, plus then to have the Disney Channel pick it to do it as a film. The fact I got to do the TV movie is really a miracle,” Blickenstaff says.
“This has really been a wonderful ride.”