"I thought being little, tiny Ely, we had little to no chance of winning." That was Michael Rouse's mindset when he first saw the email announcing Disney's intention of granting one high school in each state the rights to perform the Broadway musical Frozen. After an extensive application process, the small town with a frozen reputation was chosen.
Since that first announcement in the summer of 2022, Michael and Billie Rouse, along with a community of volunteers and supporters, have been preparing and rehearsing. All of that hard work culminates this weekend. "We've gotten the most wonderful donations from the most unexpected places," says Billie Rouse. From paint to props, the production has been the work of a village.
One of the highlights of Ely's production of Frozen is a robotic character built specifically for the show - Olaf, the magical snowman. "[It's] probably the only robotic Olaf in all fifty states," says Billie Rouse. "It's a hoot."
Showtimes are Friday, January 19th at 7pm, Saturday the 20th at 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday the 21st at 3pm. All shows will have ASL interpretation available. For tickets and more information, visit the Frozen in Ely website.
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