Sisterhood, Choreography, and Fun: Frozen Jr. Director Sarah Conrad

As temperatures begin to drop (ever so slowly), leaves start to turn, and pumpkin spice everything pop up in stores, you probably have autumn on the brain, friends. This #TechTuesday, however, we at Encore have something a little chillier on our minds…thoroughly Frozen to be precise. Today we’re pumped to chat with the queen of princess shows herself, director and choreographer, Sarah Conrad! As an Encore alumna of both the stage and the director’s chair, Sarah has lots of wonderful experience to draw upon as she tackles the first show of our 2019/2020 Homecoming Season, Disney’s Frozen Jr.

Encore: In your own words, please share a summary of Frozen Jr.

Sarah: Frozen Jr. is the story of two sisters who discover the meaning of love when Elsa’s ice powers get out of control and Anna comes to her rescue. There are fun songs and dance numbers for all of the characters in the show who interact with each other in different “seasons” as they progress from summer to winter back to summer. From Olaf, a talking snowman, to Sven, a sidekick reindeer, to the Oaken family in their Sauna, to the Hidden Folk who guide Kristoff’s way, to the townspeople who are always along for the ride, the show is filled with plenty of characters who work together to tell the story as Anna finds her sister and everyone makes it back to Arendelle.

Legally Blonde: The Musical, 2013

Encore: What has been your favorite moment directing the show?

Sarah: My favorite moment directing the show so far has been watching the cast members faces light up when we build levels into a song or dance or scene. Hearing them say, “Wow this dance (etc) is so fun!” makes my director heart smile. 🙂

A Little Princess, 2017

Encore: What is your creative process when you choreograph a number?

Sarah: When I choreograph a dance number, my creative process involves many pieces. I start by listening to the song a few times, closing my eyes to think of movements that I feel with the music. Then I go chunk by chunk, dancing out different ideas until I come up with the right moves for each section of music. Having a large number of people in some of the dances can be tricky, but I always enjoy figuring out ways to have them dance with partners and in formations! And as I tell my cast members, always write choreography in pencil, in case I decide to change something! Choreographing a dance number for a big group can be a challenge when it is all in my head, so having real people to work with helps bring my ideas to life and shows me places where we can adjust moves to work best with the whole group!

Snow White, 2016

Encore: What should the audience look forward to most?

Sarah: The audience can look forward to lots of fun dances and exciting magical moments (created through the wonderful technical side of the show) in addition to characters they will feel a connection with. There are a number of catchy songs so you’ll be sure to have Frozen music running through your head days after you see the show!

The Wizard of Oz, 2011

Encore: If you had to describe your cast in three words or phrases, what would they be?

Sarah: Energetic, eager, and happy to be a part of the show!

Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your creative process and this wonderfully fun show, Sarah! Join Sarah’s energetic and talented cast as they take the stage for a musical and magical adventure, this October!