Upcoming Frozen cast change includes first-ever woman to play Olaf the Snowman

Joe Carroll, Ryann Redmond & Noah J. Ricketts are set to star as Hans, Olaf & Kristoff, respectively, in Disney's Frozen on Broadway from February 19, 2019.

Do You Want to Build a Snow(wo)man? Disney Theatrical has announced upcoming cast changes for the Broadway premiere production of Frozen and is set to make history with a gender-swap casting for the role of the beloved snowman Olaf. From February 19, 2019, Ryann Redmond will become the first woman to ever play Olaf. Joining her will be new addition to the cast Joe Carroll, assuming the role of Hans, whilst company member Noah J. Ricketts will take over the role of Kristoff. Original company members Jelani Alladin, Greg Hildreth, and John Riddle are all scheduled to play their final performances as Kristoff, Olaf, and Hans, respectively, on February 17. 

Ms. Redmond's previous Broadway credits include Escape to Margaritaville, If/Then, and Bring It On. Mr. Carroll has previously been seen in the Broadway productions of Bandstand, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, and Once. And Mr. Ricketts previously appeared in both the Broadway and National Tour productions of Beautiful The Carole King Musical. 

Leading ladies Caissie Levy and Patti Murin have both extended their contracts and will remain with the Broadway production as Elsa and Anna, respectively.

The principal cast of Frozen currently includes Caissie Levy (as Elsa), Patti Murin (as Anna), Jelani Alladin (as Kristoff), Greg Hildreth (as Olaf), John Riddle (as Hans), Robert Creighton (as Duke of Weselton), Kevin Del Aguila (as Oaken), Timothy Hughes (as Pabbie), Andrew Pirozzi / Adam Jepsen (alternating as Sven), Zoe Glick and Leila Rose Gross (alternating as Young Anna), Mimi Ryder and Jenna Weir (alternating as Young Elsa), with Alyssa Fox (as Elsa standby) and Aisha Jackson (as Anna standby).

Disney's Frozen began previews at the St. James Theatre on February 22, 2018, and officially opened on March 22.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated classic, Frozen features a book by the film's writer and co-director Jennifer Lee, along with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who also penned the film's soundtrack.

Synopsis: "Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen, the musical tells the story of fearless princess Anna who sets off on an epic journey alongside a rugged iceman, his loyal pet reindeer, and a naïve snowman to find her estranged sister Elsa, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped the kingdom in eternal winter."

Under the direction of Tony Award winner Michael Grandage, the creative team features choreography by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford, scenic and costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Oram, lighting design by five-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, sound design by four-time Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski, music supervision and vocal & incidental arrangements by two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus, orchestrations by Dave Metzger, music consultation by Chris Montan, music direction by Brian Usifer, video design by Tony Award winner Finn Ross, puppet design by Michael Curry, hair design by David Brian Brown, make-up design by Anne Ford-Coates and special effects design by Jeremy Chernick.

The 2013 animated film picked up two Academy Awards at the 2014 ceremony: "Best Animated Feature Film" and "Best Original Song" (for "Let It Go").

The musical also features such popular songs as "For the First Time in Forever," "Love Is an Open Door," and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?," amongst others.

^{(Photos courtesy of Disney Theatrical)}