LP_062719

18 | June 27, 2019 | the lockport legend life & arts
lockportlegend.com
‘Frozen Jr.’ delivers an enchanting performance from Lockport-Homer Youth Theater
Leads happy to
mentor younger
children in
production
Mary Compton
Freelance Reporter
Snow recently glowed
white on the stage of
Lockport Township High
School’s East Campus auditorium.
About 100 actors and
dancers took part in “Frozen
Jr.” put on by Lockport-Homer
Youth Theater.
The show is based
off the hit 2013 animated
film, adapting the land of
Arendelle to the stage with
Elsa, Anna and the rest
of the story’s characters,
which features themes of
love, acceptance and sisterhood.
“I have an incredible
team” said Angela Adolf,
who is executive director
of Lockport-Homer Youth
Theater. “We began seven
years ago in the Downers
Grove Hinsdale area.
I live in Lockport, so five
seasons ago, we tried it in
Lockport with ‘Seussical,’
and here we are today. We
do two to four shows a
year.”
“Frozen Jr.” opened on
Thursday, June 20, and ran
through Saturday, June 22.
As a fifth-grade teacher
at Hadley Middle School
in Homer Glen, Adolf
brought a team together
that works with children in
everyday life.
“We are one of the first
theater companies in Illinois
to put on ‘Frozen Jr.’”
Adolf said.
The show included professional
backdrops and
sets, along with special
effects with snow, beautiful
dances, which included
dancers from Wings Dance
Studio from Lockport, and
Graham Carlson played the snowman Olaf in the
“Frozen Jr.” production.
a talented cast that brought
the audience to a land of
make believe.
Nathan Pugh was honored
to play the role of
Hans.
”I’m going to remember
this forever,” Pugh said.
“The cast is so talented.”
Next year, Pugh will age
out for Lockport-Homer
Youth Theater.
“That will be bittersweet
because I grew up in this
company,” he said. “This
is where my love of theatre
began.”
Pugh is involved with
Providence Catholic High
School productions, as
well.
For the actresses who
played Anna and Elsa, audience
members remarked
on the talent and voices for
each.
Jersie Joniak, of Homer
Glen has performed professionally
in commercials
for Build-A-Bear, Speedway
and Rolaids. She was
also onstage at the Marriott
Theatre performing in
“Shrek” and “Suessical.”
Her role as Anna in this
Elsa, played by Abigail Sanford, of Lockport, sings “Let It Go” during a “Frozen Jr.”
performance with Lockport-Homer Youth Theater on Saturday, June 22, at LTHS’s
East Campus. Photos by Mary Compton/22nd Century Media
production did not disappoint.
“This has been so much
fun” Joniak said. “It’s the
biggest role I’ve had in
this company.”
Joniak’s first show,
“Schoolhouse Rock” was
staged when she was 8.
“I remember when I was
so young and looking up to
the leads and being intimidated
by them,” she shared.
“Now that I’m a lead, I’ve
made friends with the little
kids and have tried to be
an example for them. Every
time I go onstage, it’s
breathtaking.”
Joniak will begin her
high school life at LTHS.
She explained how shy
she was when she began
theatre.
“Acting broke me out of
my shell, and I’ve become
a new person,” Joniak
said. “In the sing along for
this show, popping out and
saying my first line was
incredible. Being Anna,
no matter what, is a dream
come true.”
Abigail Sanford played
the role of Elsa and commanded
the stage throughout
the production of “Frozen
Jr.”
“The fact that I get to
sing ‘Let It Go’ is an honor,”
she said. “It’s such a
difficult song, and not very
many people can sing it. I
still struggled with it, so I
just persevered and think
today it went really well.
I’ve always been singing
my entire life. I started lessons
when I was 7.”
Sanford began her
theatre experience with
Lockport-Homer Youth
Theater in third grade,
and she is now going into
eighth grade at Homer Jr.
High.
“I began in ‘Seussical,’
where my role was a little
Who,” Sanford said. “I remember
looking up to the
leads, as well; they were
absolutely amazing.
“I would wish that I
could be just like them.
Today, I’m so happy that
I can be. I became friends
Part of the cast from the Lockport-Homer Youth Theater
dances a number as they sing “Hygge” during “Frozen
Jr.”
with the little actors because
I knew what it was
like when I was younger,
so I always want to encourage
them. Some of
these little kids will be us
someday.”
Both Sanford and Joniak
want to go on and study
theatre in college. The
girls also dream of being
on Broadway one day.
“The singing, dancing
and acting is what I live
for,” Sanford said. “I want
to go to a college and major
in theatre, which is my
dream. I have been dreaming
of Broadway ever since
I did my first musical. This
experience as Elsa brings
me that much closer.”
For information about
Lockport-Homer Youth
Theater, visit homeryouth
theater.com.