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Frozen KIDS Brings Arendelle to Berea: Spotlight Acting School’s Youngest Performers Take the Stage ❄️

Written by

Chad Hembree

The first time a child walks onto a stage under lights, something changes. You can see it in the shoulders. They stand a little taller, and they find their voice. That moment is what Spotlight Acting School has been building toward since 2004, and it is what families across Madison County will get to see this October when Disney’s Frozen KIDS opens at The Spotlight Playhouse.

This is a youth production, with performers ages 4 to 11. These are Berea kids, many of them stepping in front of an audience for the very first time, and they will sing, dance, and tell a story about sisters, about love, and about finding your own way. They will do it right here on Richmond Road.

What to Know Before You Go

Disney’s Frozen KIDS runs October 16 through 25 at The Spotlight Playhouse, 214 Richmond Road, Berea, KY 40403. The production features two casts across two weekends. The Blue Cast performs October 16 through 18, and the Purple Cast performs October 23 through 25. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

The runtime is about 30 minutes, which is by design. Frozen KIDS is adapted specifically for young performers and young audiences, so it moves quickly and holds attention without asking too much of either the kids on stage or the families in the seats. The show is rated for all ages.

Tickets run $9.00 to $19.00, and Friday performances are Pay What You Can, meaning name-your-own-price, with unsold tickets released two hours before showtime. If you have been waiting for a low-pressure way to introduce your family to live theater, that is your window.

The show is directed by Daesha Miller, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and a book by Jennifer Lee. It is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. If you are coming to see a specific performer, check the cast dates before you buy, because both casts have put in the same work and both deserve a full house.

Why This Show Matters for Berea Kids

Frozen KIDS is not a watered-down version of the movie. It is a real stage adaptation built for young casts, and it keeps what audiences love: Anna’s determination, Elsa’s struggle, Olaf’s warmth, Kristoff’s loyalty, and Sven’s quiet steadiness. The songs are there too, from "Let It Go" to "Love Is an Open Door" and "In Summer." The structure is shorter and the pacing is tighter, and every role is designed to be performed by a child.

That last part is the key. Spotlight’s stated goal is to cast everyone who auditions in a role, and that goal shapes everything about how the school runs a production. When a 6-year-old gets a part in Frozen KIDS, they are not just learning lines. They are learning how to listen for a cue, how to stand in a group and sing on pitch, and how to keep going if they miss a step. Those are skills that travel far beyond the stage.

For families in a town like Berea, that matters. We do not have a dozen youth theater programs to choose from, so Spotlight has been filling that gap since 2004, serving students from age 4 through 18. The Playhouse itself is a 13,000-square-foot facility with two professional theaters, and we produce over 125 performances a year. That is a lot of chances for a kid to find a place to belong.

The Practical Side of Getting Kids on Stage

I want to be plain about what goes into a production like this, because it is not magic. It is work, and it is community.

A show like Frozen KIDS involves months of rehearsal, and younger students need more repetition, more encouragement, and more patience than older ones. Directors and music instructors break down every song line by line, costume volunteers sew and fit and re-fit, and set builders measure and paint and haul. Parents run lines in the car and adjust schedules around rehearsal nights. None of that is glamorous, but all of it is necessary, and a 30-minute show for kids only happens because a lot of adults show up for each other.

Frozen KIDS is a kids’ production, but it is not a small undertaking. It is a community effort that ends with children standing in the lights, knowing they built something together.

A First Trip to the Theater

If you have never taken your kids to a live show, this is a good place to start. Thirty minutes is long enough to feel like a real event and short enough that nobody gets restless, the story is familiar, and the songs are ones your children already know. The venue is right here in Berea, not a drive to Lexington or beyond.

Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion space is available in the front row. If your family has special needs, let the folks at the door know when you arrive and they will help you get settled.

When you sit down in that theater, you are watching a 7-year-old remember their blocking, a 5-year-old hit a note they have been practicing for weeks, and a group of kids learn that being brave does not mean being unafraid. That is worth an afternoon.

Tickets and full details are available through the official Spotlight Acting School and Spotlight Playhouse listings. If you have questions, reach out to the school directly. Come see what Berea’s youngest performers can do.

Upcoming Community and Theater Events 🎭

Tickets and info for all shows: thespotlightplayhouse.com

Sources 📚

About the Author ✍

Chad Hembree serves as the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. A resident of Berea, Kentucky, and a former member of the Berea Council, he has spent decades working in community theater, arts education, and local journalism. Since 1995, he has operated BereaOnline.com, focusing on local news, civic issues, and stories that highlight community collaboration and grassroots efforts across Madison County.

This article originally appeared on BereaOnline.com.

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