Broadway Frozen actor snatches ‘Re-Elect Trump’ flag from audience member
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Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels
(Updated on Feb 20, 2019)
Call him a ‘stone cold snatcher’, Frozen actor Timothy Hughes grabbed a Trump re-election flag straight from the hands of an audience member during the Disney musical on Wednesday, 5 September 2018. The actors were taking their final bows when a front-row audience member, who was donning a ‘Make America Great Again’ visor, began waving the flag to and fro.
Pictured: Caissie Levy as Elsa in the Broadway production of Frozen. Photo credit: Deen van Meer
Timothy Hughes, who plays Pabbie the wise troll in the Broadway production of Disney’s Frozen, told NBC New York that the flag was a ‘sign of disrespect’ and did not belong in a show that promotes ‘messages of love, acceptance and diversity.’
Hughes showed no signs of remorse and remained entirely unapologetic on the matter. Following the incident, the Donald Trump supporter demanded $5 from cast members for the flag and was ultimately not removed from the St James Theatre due to the altercation occurring right at the very end of the performance.
Frozen premiered on Broadway at the St James Theatre back in March 2018 and has already received three Tony Award nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. In a similar fashion to The Lion King and Aladdin, the stage adaptation of Frozen takes the original story and expands upon the plot and themes with many new songs and scenes.
As far as a West End transfer of Frozen is concerned, Baz Bamigboye from the Daily Mail has already stirred rumours that snow might fall in London sooner than we think. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane was reported by Bamigboye to be one of the venues in consideration for a transfer. This makes sense as 42nd Street, which is now playing at the theatre, recently announced its closing date for next year on 5 January 2019. However, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is also due for refurbishment following the musical’s final curtain, so if the rumours hold true, it could still be a long, hard winter before London audiences see Frozen on the West End stage.
In the meantime, you can check out our list for the Top 5 Animated Disney Films We Want to See On Stage and our list for the Top 6 Musicals Adapted from Animated Disney Films.