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Disney Frozen – The Broadway Musical – 2026

Magical! Reviewed by Vicki Stokes Disney’s Frozen, now on the Main Stage of Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend, is a musical that will dazzle the whole family. To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the movie, but witnessing the wonder on stage is a completely different experience. I would recommend that you bring the kids, splurge on some of the fun merchandise and immerse them in the whole experience. The story revolves around two sisters from the kingdom of Arendelle: the eldest, and heir to the throne, Elsa, and her dear sister Anna. Upon her coronation, Elsa’s secret power is exposed as she unwittingly covers Arendelle in ice. Anna, who falls for Prince Hans at first sight, sets out on a quest to find her sister, teaming up with charming Kristoff and his reindeer Sven. Thinking that an act of true love will save Anna and Elsa, this modern fairy tale proves that you don’t need a prince’s kiss to solve the problems of a princess. The casting is perfect. AJ Bridel brings authenticity to Anna, an insecure, quirky, loving and open-hearted princess, a redhead who doesn’t seem to mind being the spare to the throne. Bridel has perfect comedic timing and a clear, strong singing voice. If you saw the Cinderella Panto, you will remember that she played Buttons, a character beloved by the kids. Melanie Paiement plays Elsa, a very different character from her sister Anna. She’s fearful of her magical powers and the responsibility of the throne, bottling up her emotions but ultimately summoning up her strength to secure her role as Queen of Arendelle. Paiement perfectly conveys the tenderness and protectiveness toward her sister, expressing her frustration, loss and loneliness. The quick change into the iconic blue dress and the performance of “Let It ...
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Mary's Musings

Karen Coughlin-Melo AKA Linda Ronstadt!

Great to see Karen on stage! By Mary Alderson, June 14, 2026 It was a delight to see the beautiful and very talented Karen Coughlin-Melo in a tribute concert as Linda Ronstadt last week. We used to see Karen on a regular basis, starting in 2005, when she had a lead role in a cute little musical called Suds. Suds was presented at the Hiawatha Horse Park near Sarnia. At the time it was touted to be a future location for musical theatre, but I think Suds was the only show presented there. The next time we saw Karen on stage was also in 2005, when she starred as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. She performed the same role the next year at the Grand Theatre in London. She sang all the Belle songs beautifully. Also in 2006, she played Patsy Cline in the musical A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline at Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia, where she wowed the audience with her country sound.  In 2007, she was the beloved Miss Stacey, the school teacher, in Anne of Green Gables at the Grand Theatre.  Her clear, bell-like voice was perfect for the role of everyone’s favourite teacher. In 2010, she was back at Huron Country Playhouse as part of the Country Legends show, where Karen again sang some Patsy Cline favourites, among others. Later in 2010, she played the prim and proper Sarah Brown, the Salvation-Army-type woman, in the hit musical Guys and Dolls at Drayton Theatre. To finish off 2010, Karen was the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Grand Theatre in London.  Here’s what I had to say about Karen in my review: “Karen Coughlin is incredibly good as the Narrator. Her voice is in ...
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