So your school has a stage that hasn't had a production of any kind in what's believed to be around two decades. You have an idea to dust it off and bring one of the most well-known plays to town.

That's what Stephanie Haas and Alia Famorcan are preparing to do next month at Princess Alexandra School.

The pair are directing the school's performance of Frozen Junior, a show based off of the Broadway version of the hugely-popular Disney animated feature. There will be two shows on March 26 and 27 with showtime at 7 p.m. each night.

"I've spoken to a lot of people and I've heard that's it's been at least 20 years since the school has put on a stage performance like this," said Haas. "It's really exciting."

The impetus behind having a theatre-style performance, said Haas, was down to having more options for students.

"There are so many opportunities for students to play sports, but not a lot of arts options," she said. "I was always an arts kid growing up and I've had a dream of putting something like this together. I just needed the right partner to make it happen and that's where Alia comes in."

Putting on a show like this was a huge financial undertaking, added Haas, and it wasn't simply figuring out which play would work best.

Because it's a trademark, the rights to produce it had to first be bought from a broker that licences Broadway shows to schools and groups. Getting the licence included all of the scripts associated with the show, vocal tracks to help each performer learn the songs and even the background music.

"We had to pick from a list of shows that the broker offers and we decided upon Frozen because it's a show that a lot of kids would be familiar with," said Haas.

Auditions were held near the beginning of the school year in September 2024, said Haas, and from those auditions, around 35 students were cast into roles.

The main roles include Princess Elsa, who will be played by Addyson Smith with Dyna Earle playing Princess Anna, Elsa's sister, and Noelle Ruggles playing the role of Olaf, the talking snowman.

Earle, who's in Grade 6, said she wasn't auditioning for a certain role when she tried out.

"I was just happy to get a part," she said. "It feels great."

Like Earle, Ruggles, who's also in Grade 6, said she auditioned for everything.

"I like playing Olaf a lot," she said. "It's easy and the character fits my personality, which is outgoing, just like Olaf is. When I found I got the part, I started jumping like a little kid."

Haas said it's been a lot of work getting ready with daily practices and rehearsals and it was a learning curve at first for a lot of the students.

"It's a big commitment for them but we're able to run through the show from start to finish now," she said. "Our props have been showing up and the stage is looking like a set now. It's all coming together."

"Everyone's done really well from the start to now," added Earle. "You can see the changes in how everyone's learned their lines and the songs."

As opening night approaches, Ruggles said it would be weird if she wasn't nervous, but she's excited to get to perform.

"It's such a delight to work with everyone," she said.

The school has received plenty of help from the community to get things ready, but perhaps the biggest help has come from Poison Graphics, which donated its time to build the entire set from start to finish.

There will be a dress rehearsal on March 19 before the big show and Haas said the cast will put on a choral performance for residents of Woodland Manor before the show as well. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the school's office during regular business hours.