The theatrical spectacular “Frozen - Live at the Hyperion,” adapted from Disney’s animated blockbuster film, is now open at Disney California Adventure Park in Southern California, and is a definite must-see for anyone visiting the Disneyland Resort. The new hour-long theatrical interpretation for the stage (entirely separate from the Broadway production that is currently being prepared by Disney Theatrical Productions for a spring 2018 debut in New York) immerses audiences in the beloved world of Frozen and takes audiences on the heartwarming journey of Anna and Elsa with elaborate costumes and sets, show-stopping production numbers, and awe-inspiring special effects.

All of the film’s major moments and songs are there, redesigned and reimagined to fit the Hyperion Theater’s beautiful stage, and the show always makes sure to keep the relationship between the sisters at its center. While the Disneyland Resort is typically all about the happiness and magic, and that’s definitely present in this show, there are many heartfelt emotional moments that may even bring a tear or two, as you laugh and cheer and enjoy every minute, no matter how many times you’ve seen the movie, or have heard or sung along yourself to “Let It Go.”

Collider was invited to experience the media preview on the evening prior to its official public opening, and then sit in on a panel with Executive Creative Director Dana Harrel, Tony award nominated director Liesl Tommy, choreographer Christopher Windom and musical supervisor/arranger/adaptor Jason Michael Webb, who all shared their own personal experiences with the show. From that chat and from the facts about the production itself, we’ve compiled a list of 16 things that you should know about “Frozen - Live at the Hyperion.”

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  The show’s Executive Creative Director Dana Harrel worked with Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez at the La Jolla Playhouse. When they approached her about putting together a team for the Frozen stage adaptation, she was worried about how to do the movie justice. Because of the love that her own two daughters had for Frozen, she knew they would need to stay true to the movie while creating an adaptation that’s timeless.

• The essence of the story of Frozen is the relationship between the sisters. As a result, they needed a director who could grab that emotion and bring it out to the 2,000 seats in the theater. So, Harrel brought Liesl Tommy, who is nominated for a Tony award for Best Director for Eclipsed (starring Lupita Nyong’o) on board to direct.

• To prepare for taking on this live stage adaptation, Tommy immersed herself in almost all of the Disney films, and then circled back to Frozen. One of the things that Disney does so well is to explore the sadness of childhood through abandonment, the loss of a parent, and a sense of loneliness, and she never wanted to lose sight of that emotional intensity. So, whether they’re in the middle of comedy or grand romantic gestures, at the center, there always had to be that heart and that yearning to connect.

The Hyperion Theater opened in 2001, fully equipped to host major theatrical presentations. The venue’s previous show, Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular, ran for 13 years, and the team involved hopes that this show will run for at least as long.

• The show’s large production features a cast and crew of more than 200, six full musical numbers, and a 2,200 square foot video wall. New technologies, with projections, fabrics and special effects, enrich the experience in new and unexpected ways. The scenic design and large moving set pieces are enhanced by state-of-the-art projections to work in time with the music and audio effects. A precision mapping technology turns 8,000 square feet of scenic surfaces into living backgrounds, transporting the audience into the worlds of Arendelle, pine forests and sparkling ice castles.

• The stage itself has had an enormous turntable installed to allow easy movement of set pieces, from scene to scene. It provides an ease for the set transitions and allows for Elsa’s breathtaking staircase of ice to swing out over the first several rows of the audience.

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  Of course, it wouldn’t be Frozen without snow throughout the interior of the theater, both on stage and over the audience. The stage also has 36 realistic-looking shards of ice that are independently controlled, and a chandelier made up of 60 individual ice shards and more than 500 points of light, for moments when Elsa’s emotions generate a sudden explosion of her powers.

• For Jason Michael Webb, the attention that Disney pays to the music in their films was important to him, as the show’s musical supervisor/arranger/adaptor. He has loved the soundtracks from all of the Disney films he’s seen, and even used to collect soundtracks, many of which were from Disney.

• One of the musical challenges for the stage adaptation is that the many solo songs in the film had to be turned into ensemble performances with dance arrangements, so that the company could express physically what was going on emotionally and sonically.

• They did a reading of the musical in March 2015, but did not yet have a finale set for the show. The film ends beautifully, but doesn’t end on a rousing song, so they had to figure out what they were going to do. As a result, Tommy decided to go back to “Love Is An Open Door” to end the show, even though it’s Hans’ song, because she felt that the lyrics fit beautifully, especially when twisted to mean that you’re opening the door for your sister. It then became the metaphor for the whole show, and it is such a redemptive moment.

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  Choreographer Christopher Windom found freedom in figuring out the movement and choreography for the show because there was no precedent for it in the film. It was all about what the story needed and deserved, from his personal point of view. His instincts always travel to the human interest element of the story, and he likes to think about people and what they’re feeling. He also wanted to create an emotional connection to Anna and Elsa in various pockets of the community of Arendelle, whether it’s the ice harvesters, the servants or the townspeople.

• Tommy likens casting this show to casting not only a Broadway show, but also all of the national and international touring companies. With the number of times the show is performed, they had to cast 107 people to play the 24 roles that are in the show. The caliber of actor is so high that she could bring them to Broadway or anywhere without compromising. In order to find that level of talent, it was a long, drawn out process and they searched many cities for cast members who could sing, dance and act. Any performance that any audience attends will have the same level of commitment and artistry. They started rehearsal with only two Elsa actors because they had to be able to act and sing “Let It Go,” and kept searching throughout that process.

• The structure that they’re working on came from set designer Robert Brill, who Tommy watched the movie with to focus on the design elements. They looked for central images and metaphors that could become physical, so that they could build a structure around it, and they were drawn to the idea of doors. Opening and closing doors, as a metaphor for the mind and heart, runs throughout the entire show. The handful of huge doors that are used on stage is a spare stage setting, that’s also really rich and evocative.

For the costumes, designer Clint Ramos used a combination of whimsy, humor and groundedness while always referring to the film to make it all organic to the live experience. More than 1,000 costumes have been created for the show, along with over 770 pairs of shoes.

• The challenge of bringing the non-human characters of Sven and Olaf to the stage was handled by master puppet designer Michael Curry. By allowing the performers responsible to connect with the characters and bring them to life on stage, it provides for an exciting interactive experience.

• There are so many small details throughout the show, that are both emotional and theatrical, that you’ll notice something new, every time you see the show.

“Frozen - Live at the Hyperion” can be seen at Disney California Adventure Park. Check out more images of the show below.