VOL . 3, NO. 9
M AY 2 4 , 2 0 2 4
THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club — 39706 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
BIFU’S FROZEN JR. GAVE US THE CHILLS By Katherine He, Pooja Kanthala, and Ailsa Wu
a meeting with the trolls after a young elsa accidentally harms anna
As we draw the curtains on the 23-24 academic year, most of us are already thinking about our summer vacation plans; but inside the drama classroom at BASIS Independent Fremont, students have been tirelessly preparing since January to unveil their chillingly spectacular rendition of a Broadway Junior musical, Frozen Jr. The play is an adaptation of the 2018 Frozen musical for young performers, but still includes many of the familiar songs and characters we know from the original film as well as some newer, original add-ons. The drama class’s production of Frozen Jr. was a highly anticipated event, and on the night of the performance, the seats in the MPR were completely packed with audience members – students and parents alike – buzzing with excitement as they eagerly awaited the start of the show. The production did in no way disappoint. The sets and costumes were beautifully designed,
and the digital backdrops created an immersive atmosphere throughout the story. The cast, made up of middle and high schoolers, performed each scene and number exceptionally well, embodying their characters onstage. The songs, featuring some favorites such as “Let It Go”, “Love is an Open Door”, and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, as well as new ones such as “A Little Bit of You” and the very energetic and catchy “Hygge”, showcased many talented voices amongst our student body. The audience laughed, cried, cheered, and clapped as the themes of love, family, and acceptance were portrayed through breathtaking and emotional performances, such as Samhita M.’s (11) performance of “Let It Go” as Elsa, and humorous performances, like KaiRi H.’s (7) solo number, “In Summer”, as Olaf and “Fixer Upper” performed by the fluorescent green-haired troll ensemble. At the end of the show, the entire cast and crew came onstage for
the final curtain call, with everyone taking their bows amidst thunderous applause from the audience. After the play ended, we, attentive members of the audience, were awestruck by the passionate performance, leading us to inquire about how the entire production came together. Through talking to some of the actors, as well as the drama teacher, Mr. Acevedo, we were able to learn about the process of creating the show, as well as appreciate all the work that had gone into the production. Due to Mr. Acevedo’s prior experience leading the student actors, he knew since before this 2023-24 school year that their closing play of the year had to be something suitable for both the actors and the audience, meaning romance would not be a major theme in it. At long last, Frozen Jr. was chosen, and everyone began putting in their efforts for the rehearsals and planning, which began this January. Actors Sharanya C. (9) and Ronald W. (8), who played Anna and Hans respectively, both cited that the beginning of rehearsal was rough for the group, especially because it was such a large group of young students from different grade levels. However, through daily meetings and rehearsals, the show started to come together. Actors began learning their parts through
blocking (positioning and movements), learning lines, and memory cues. “ There’s a lot of repetition that goes on. A lot,” Mr. Acevedo, the director himself, said with a knowing laugh. Meanwhile, the tech crew busied themselves with creating the fantastic props and sets that we saw during the show. In the week before the performance, known as tech week, the students dedicated even more hard work to the production, attending supplementary rehearsals every day after school, where they tied all elements of the performance together and made sure everyone would be prepared for opening night, where everyone’s efforts finally shone through. The actors we spoke to, though stating that the production was difficult at first, considered the final performance to have been worth all of the effort. The entire process taught the students to build confidence, and demonstrated that hard work really does pay off in the end. “I love seeing what the kids can do,” said Mr. Acevedo. “It’s [their] show, not mine. I’m just really proud of our students for being able to come out of their shells and perform. I’m also grateful for a student body that’s supported the drama kids and our productions.”
kristoff and sven introduce themselves with fun and witty dialogue
all the cast members on the stage after the play
elsa powerfully sings ‘let it go’
Photos by Katherine He