Arts & Culture
Local voices add Manitoba touch to Rainbow Stage's 'Frozen'
Two of the most iconic princesses of all time have brought the magical kingdom of Arendelle to Kildonan Park this month. Rainbow Stage’s production of Frozen has been dazzling audiences with its combination of fairytale magic and Winnipeg charm. “The response has been amazing,” says Tiera Lee Watts who plays Elsa in the production. “It’s been so fun to hear from everybody how much they’re enjoying the show and to know that the weeks of hard work that we put into rehearsing it and putting it all together are really resonating with people.” The honour of playing one of the most beloved characters of the 21st century was one that caught Julia Davis, who plays Anna, completely off guard. “Getting that email, I [felt] like I just have to read it over and make sure it’s really happening because it just doesn’t feel real in the moment,” she recalls. With that honour comes a massive responsibility that both Davis and Watts have to shoulder. Songs like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” and “Let It Go” have become almost ubiquitous in pop culture since the animated movie first came out in 2013, and audiences filled with small children dressed in their Anna and Elsa dresses are waiting to hear every note sung perfectly. “It definitely is something that I feel you need to do justice and that you need to honour in its popularity,” Watts acknowledges, “but it’s also very fun to get to do something that iconic and then feel like you also get to put your own stamp on it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rainbow Stage (@rainbowstage) That unique stamp is something that Rainbow Stage’s artistic director Carson Nattrass notes is at the heart of every production the company produces. “Arendelle and Winnipeg have a lot in common,” he explains. “We do summer and winter really well, and so does Arendelle. And so we found something to lock into with like, ‘What are we celebrating at the top of the show?’ There isn’t a single person on stage that doesn’t understand a deep freeze that also hits Arendelle.” The relatability of this show on a Manitoba level is one more reason that audiences have flocked to Rainbow Stage in droves – so much so that the company has had to add extra performances after matinees have completely sold out. Davis says that each interaction that she has had with the audience is one that she’ll cherish even after the show closes. “I keep every single card that a girl brings,” she smiles. “Even if it just says, ‘Love you, Anna!’ on a piece of paper, it’s at my station and I will keep it forever.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rainbow Stage (@rainbowstage) As she concludes her performances as Elsa, Watts notes that being a part of this production will be something that will profoundly impact her as she moves on to her next projects. “It’s just really cool to be able to be a part of something this big and know that forever, this is the Manitoba premiere of Frozen. Anytime, you know, another company might do it in a few years or something like that, it’s always going to be this cast, these people, this time, this summer at Rainbow and we get to really put our stamp on the show as the first ones to do it in Manitoba.” Frozen runs at Rainbow Stage until August 27. Tickets and more information can be found at the company’s website.