Watching Disney’s Frozen the Musical live on stage at The Orpheum was a total blast…literally! From ice-throwing special effects, to mountain-sized glacier cliffs and icicle castles, the production brings to life the full power of emotion and diligence of the characters and overall story.
Matthew Murphy
Disney's Frozen North American Tour
Developed from the original big-screen animation in 2013, Disney’s Frozen, accounts a story of fearless optimist Anna, who sets off on an epic journey to find her sister, Elsa, who isolated herself after icy powers accidentally trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Laughter, humility, and resilience all come to fruition as the hunt is on to reunite with the ice princess and save their kingdom.
Frozen’s energy engages crowds of all ages through stages of its story, especially sing-a-long moments with popular songs such as "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?," "Love is an Open Door," and of course, “Let it Go"—a point in time when Elsa releases her fears and embraces the great power she holds in her hands.
Memphis Parent recently caught up with Sydney Elise Russell, 11-year-old actress and author who plays the astonishing role of Young Elsa, during one of Frozen’s North American Tour stops in Memphis. As you can probably imagine, being cast in the huge role as Young Elsa reflected Sydney’s excitement, not only during her performance, but also in her presence off stage.
Finding out I would have the honor to play the role of Young Elsa in the Frozen national tour was such a special moment,” says Sydney. “I was very excited to experience touring across the country and the friendships I would create with my new cast mates. I was also delighted about the opportunity to help other little black girls see themselves on stage.”
Thom Carroll Photography
Sydney Elise Russell as Young Elsa, Frozen North American Tour
Of course, as a young actress, Sydney has seen her share of challenges, but just like her character, Young Elsa, she gracefully conquers them through the love and support of others. “One of my biggest challenges as a young actress is balancing being a kid while fulfilling my acting dreams,” says Sydney. “Achieving my goals as an actress means I spend a lot of time working on my craft and performing. I love what I do, and I’m grateful for parents who help me find time to just be a kid. They always find fun activities to help me relax and just enjoy myself during my downtime.”
As a very busy traveling actress, Sydney certainly takes into consideration the importance of off-stage interests and is quite the crafter in a variety of things. “When I’m not performing, my hobbies include crafting and learning new things,” says Sydney. “I make miniature items for my dolls, enjoy paper crafts, and am learning to crochet. Also, I’m having fun learning American Sign Language.” If that isn’t enough, Sydney has also authored two books. “Additionally, I am an author,” she added. “I wrote my first book in 2020 during the pandemic and started the Super ME Book Series.” During her time outside of performing with the cast at The Orpheum in Memphis, Sydney took part in Storytime at the Central Library, reading her books to an audience full of eager listeners.
Sydney began writing stories when she was just six years old. Her mom, Dr. Tiffany McKinnon-Russell - momager, vocal coach, and biggest cheerleader to Sydney - encouraged her to write stories to practice spelling and grammar. Sydney has always taken a love for writing empowering stories that include fantasy. “In 2020, during the pandemic, I was worried about what was happening in the world,” says Sydney. “I thought if I was having those feelings, other kids might be feeling the same way. I decided to write stories to empower kids like me to know we have the power to change the world. You don’t have to be an adult to make a difference. That was the inspiration for the Super ME Book Series.”
Memphis Parent
Storytime at Central Library
To help Sydney share her first book with as many children as possible, she created a Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $6,000 to gift her book to over 200 children in five countries (US, Canada, China, Singapore, and United Kingdom). The Super ME Book Series follows the main character, Stephanie, as she discovers how to change the world simply by being herself, helping children address tough emotions, including fear, hate, jealousy, and sadness. Additionally, each book includes a section for guided journaling to help readers express their feelings about the story and their own experiences. “The Super ME Book Series currently includes two books, but the series will eventually have five books,” says Sydney.
When it comes to managing the role as mom to a talented young actress who stays on-the-go, Dr. Tiffany McKinnon-Russell states “it is a blessing that keeps me on my toes.” Russell shares that her challenge is to never get too comfortable as Sydney always has an idea she wants to bring to fruition, or a goal she’s determined to reach. “She helps me enjoy each day and stay creative,” says Russell. “I am extremely proud of Sydney and all that she’s accomplished at such a young age. She inspires me every day as a true illustration of what it looks like to follow God’s lead as He guides you to your destiny.”
Recalling Sydney’s love for acting, Russell and her husband remember first noticing her passion at the age of five.
We had taken her to see her first musical, The Lion King, and she sat on the edge of her seat for the entire show,” says Russell. “When she saw the actress playing the role of Young Nala come out on stage, she turned to me and whispered, ‘Mommy, is that a little girl?’ When I nodded yes, she answered, ‘I can do that!’ From that moment, she set a goal to perform on Broadway. In 2021, her Broadway dreams came true, and she was cast as Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway. Her debut, at age nine, was the re-opening night of Broadway on September 14, 2021!”
While there is much achievement to be celebrated, it can also be difficult at times when advancing the course. “When you’re focusing on reaching a big goal, there will always be difficult parts of the journey,” says Russell. “Sydney has already accomplished so much, and our journey is just beginning. What’s most important is being clear about the goal and committing to the work along the way. I’ve always taught Sydney that before we make a move, we pray, listen for instruction, and then take confident action. When God is leading, you know you’re on the right path and He’s already aware of any difficulty you may face.”
Russell believes parenting isn’t always easy, specifically for children with huge, creative dreams that add potential challenges. She encourages parents to “Remember that you were specifically designed to parent your child, and that you have what it takes to help them become who they are meant to be. You are the catalyst for your child’s dreams, and they need you to walk alongside them on the path to their goal.”
While Sydney’s acting performance is lively and animated, she leaves a real-life lasting impression in the room with her meek and humble demeanor, giving full attention to her fans as they approach her for hugs and photos. Sydney’s advice to young people is to believe in yourself and always pursue your dreams. “Make sure you get the training, coaching, and guidance you need so you become great at your craft,” says Sydney. “Never give up and always remember you have the power to change the world!”
For more information about the Frozen tour, visit frozenthemusical.com. To learn more about Sydney Elise Russell and the Super ME Book Series, visit sydneyelise.com.
Special thanks to The Orpheum for hosting Memphis Parent during the opening night of Frozen in June. Explore more about The Orpheum and its mission to enhance communities through performing arts and education HERE.