Disney’s magic reached up from sunny California to the great white (er, wet) north opening the long awaited staging of the hit movie, Frozen, Saturday.

High tech, glittering, and senstional best describe the staging, while a stellar cast and tech crew clearly personify Disney’s demand for excellence – an expectation thickly felt before the lights even went down in a theater packed February 8 with lots of little girls in princess dresses, and the giddy moms and dads who brought them in from the cold.

Following 20 months on Broadway, the travelling Frozen, with its familiar songs as well as a few new ones, near-faithfully recreates the 2013 animation blockbuster. Scenes sparkle with Disney animation and special effects creating audible gasps and thunderous applause throughout the 2-hour-plus show at Seattle’s Paramount theater.

Stealing the scenes are, of course, snowman Olaf, impishly puppeteered by Michael Haynie, and Caroline Innerbichler, performing the part of Anna. Innerbichler embodies Anna’s awkward innocence and inner strength, something especially appreciated by girls making that transition to pre-teen and beyond.

Not everything in life meets expecations, and that is true for Disney’s Frozen in Seattle. It actually far exceeds it!

For tickets, click here