‘Frozen’ at the Eccles Theatre brings Salt Lake City actor home
Oct 28, 2021, 6:42 PM | Updated: Nov 8, 2021, 1:30 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City has once again opened its doors to Broadway touring companies. As the curtain goes up on “Frozen,” one cast member is coming home.
The iconic strains of Disney’s “Frozen” have brought audiences back to the Eccles Theatre. And as the cast sings the now-familiar music, one actor, is hearing in return, ‘welcome home!’
Michael Milkanin says he is thrilled.
“It feels amazing! It’s a full-circle experience to be back in my hometown, in a place I haven’t performed in since college.”
He was born and raised in Riverton, where his parents still live and where he grew up knowing he wanted to perform. He watched “The Music Man” more times than he can remember, telling his mother he wanted to make people laugh.
“Sort of did it all growing up, then my high school theatre teacher from Riverton High sort of encouraged me to continue this career,” he said.
Then Michael became a musical theatre major at Brigham Young University.
“I feel like I really cultivated a lot of dancing and singing, so many skills were built in that school and a lot of connections, to be able to move to New York.”
In “Frozen,” he plays the character ‘Oaken.’
“The best part is he has a tagline, which everyone loves, ‘Hoo Hoo, big summer blow out!’ It’s such a joy! It’s about ‘hooga’ which is about warmness and relaxation. He’s such a giggly joy and I think the kids really love him.”
Coming home for Michael Milkanin means many special experiences. One of them is having his own cheering section at the Eccles Theatre. Practically everyone he knows is coming.
“Family, friends… my high school theatre teacher’s bringing 35 students to come and see the show next week,” he said. “It is this full-circle moment where I get to give back to the community, that helped foster this love of theatre and now I get to share it with them.”
As the cast sings “Let it go!” the sheer joy of live theatre is evident as the magic of “Frozen” lives on and the hometown guy makes new memories.
The Eccles Theatre management requires that all ticket holders wear masks throughout the theatre and during performances.
Patrons can remove them briefly to take photos at the “Frozen” backdrop.
