A FROZEN full-circle experience at Millard West High School

Theater students at Millard West High School brought Disney’s FROZEN the musical to life in early November.

Director Brooke Phillips won the rights to the show in a nationwide contest called “The United States of Frozen.” One school from every state in America won the rights to the musical, the requirement being showing that “love is an open door” through inclusive casting. Both theater students with a wide range of disabilities in the Alternate Curriculum Program (ACP) and advanced theater students starred in lead roles in the Millard West production.

The experience of performing was itself “mind-blowing,” but these students had an extra special journey into the spotlight. When Omaha Performing Arts presented the touring Broadway production of FROZEN last April, cast members held a musical theater workshop with the Millard West students at the Holland Center. It was an opportunity to learn from professional performers as part of O-pa’s education program the Nebraska High School Theater Academy.

O-pa also provided a Nebraska High School Theater Academy adjudication for their show to give the students professional feedback. The director shared just how impactful this resource was: “I have to just say THANK YOU…The adjudicators did SUCH a nice job of building up the ACP actors and giving them little nudges about how they could continue to improve. It brought tears to my eyes to read about them noticing the acting choices and the little things these kids were doing well… What an amazing community of theatre artists we have here in Nebraska.”

It’s learning experiences like these that fuel our mission at O-pa to enrich the community through education and community engagement programs.

The Nebraska High School Theater Academy supports, celebrates and advocates for theater education. High school and middle schools across the state and surrounding areas can register for the program and get access to workshops and master classes, audition and performance opportunities, professional feedback and more. Learn more at o-pa.org/learn-engage/nebraska-theater-academy.