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.
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