Disney’s ‘Frozen’ skates into Columbia this week

Winter may be over, but “Frozen”-mania isn’t thawing anytime soon.

Its story and soundtrack have enraptured not just children, but parents, teens and college students alike. Its princesses, Ana and Elsa, and goofy snowman Olaf have become culturally ubiquitous. And more than two years after its release, the earworm “Let It Go” is still rattling around inside our heads.

Now, the highest-grossing animated film of all time is being performed live on ice.

“It’s everything that you know and love about the film ‘Frozen,’ ” tour coordinator and University of South Carolina alumna Lynnlee Jewell said. “It was a great movie, and it’s even better on the ice.”

Disney on Ice presents “Frozen” at the Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday, April 13 through Sunday, April 17.

Jewell, a 2014 graduate who majored in sport and entertainment management, handles all of the logistics for the tour, including booking accommodations and transportation and arranging media interviews with the performers.

She said the show has elements that appeal to everyone: beautiful princesses; strong bonds of sisterhood; the comical, summer-loving snowman, Olaf; giant snowflakes that fall from the ceiling and even a 30-foot ice monster.

“And there’s ‘Let It Go,’ of course,” she said.

Jewell also pointed out that the audience is varied at every show.

“I’ve seen so many college students,” she said.

College students might not seem like the typical Disney audience, but “Frozen” is a hit with them, too.

A psychologist at Union College in New York led a study in 2014 called “The Psychology of Frozen” and found that Union College students who watched the movie all had one thing in common: They could relate to the character Elsa. After all, Elsa is not your typical princess – she’s closer to Mulan than Cinderella. And the story is more about her trying to control her magical powers than trying to land a prince.

Besides college students, “there are families but also teens on dates, girls’ night groups and grown adults (without kids),” Jewell said.

Not even dads can escape the pull of the on-ice adaptation, she added.

“They might look reluctant at first, but when the show gets rolling, they start looking like they actually want to be there.”

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Disney’s ‘Frozen’ skates into Columbia this week."