FROZEN

Illusions Consultant

Music & Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

Book by Jennifer Lee

Directed by Alan Muraoka

Olney Theatre Center- 2025 (Regional Premiere)

Disney asked a select few regional theaters to take a shot at their own productions of this animated classic, and it’s no surprise that Olney Theatre Center got the call! Just as we’ve done with other Disney favorites like Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast, our production will deliver everything families love about the adventures of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf, along with a unique production you won’t experience anywhere else. Sesame Street’s Alan Muroaka (proprietor of Hooper’s Store and director of Olney Theatre’s South Pacific and The King and I) directs our biggest musical ever. This promises to be a show so epic you won’t want to “Let It Go.”

Ryan was the Illusions Consultant for the DC Regional Premiere of Disney’s Frozen. He brought his creative collaboration to dream up new and original magic moments for this iconic show. Director Alan Muroaka advised we steer clear of previous production designs and championed a fresh take on the illusions. Ryan created a toy chest which made a puppet Olaf the Snowman appear, two times larger than the size of the box! He tutored the child actors on how to make a blizzard of snow appear from their fingertips. Of course he advised on the iconic Elsa quick change transformation working closely with the costume and scenic designers. He is most proud of two new effects- in “Let It Go” Elsa removed her protective gloves and tossed them up into the air; in mid-air the gloves disappeared and transformed into a puff of snowflakes glittering to the floor. During the Hidden People’s solo, Ryan designed a beautiful moment of a magical orb of light being extracted from Young Elsa, the ball of light visibly floating from the actors body and rising to the fingertips.

“Don't miss this wonderful, magical, lustrous musical - it's a rare, delightful treat.”- BroadwayWorld

“If you blink you’ll miss Elsa’s split-second transformation into her Ice Queen persona—first in a multi-layered, multi-textured blue dress and later in a dazzling jumpsuit and silver thigh-high boots, all of which visually capture her regal power.”- MD Theatre Guide