Mark your calendar for upcoming performances from students at ExHaLTT Performing Arts Academy's summer camps when "Frozen KIDS" and "Frozen JR." hit the stage in late July and early August.

"(These) are family-friendly shows that highlight how love is the key to melt hearts and bring unity to a world that is in desperate need of that demonstrated and lived out loud," said Jill Thomasson, founder and artistic director of ExHaLTT.

"Frozen KIDS" will be performed on Saturday, July 26, at 1 p.m. "Frozen JR." will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, July 31 and Aug. 1. All performances will be held at the Tempest Theatre on the Elizabethtown College campus, 1 Alpha Drive, and are open to the public.

" 'Frozen JR.' is a 60-minute production, while 'Frozen KIDS' is a 30-minute production," Thomasson explained. Both shows will feature students who participated in either a one- or two-week camp at ExHaLTT, and both tell the story made famous by the Disney movie "Frozen."

"The story of sisters Elsa and Anna remains closely the same for both performances, but the KIDS script is just condensed," Thomasson explained. "Our audition was fully virtual this summer, so performers submitted a prescribed monologue, sang a selection from the show and learned a dance combination."

The cast members prepared for the performances on their own time ahead of the camps, which began on July 21.

"After our production team reviewed all of the videos and cast the show, the cast are memorizing their lines, learning all of the vocals and dance portions via video," she explained. "It's a lot to put a full 60-minute musical production together in just seven to eight days, so the cast are busy working on their own so when camp begins, we can hit the ground running."

ExHaLTT, which stands for "Expressing Hearts and Lives to Touch," is a 501(c)(3), faith-based nonprofit performing arts academy located in Elizabethtown.

"Our mission, to provide excellent instruction in the various performing arts - dance, musical theater and vocal instruction - began in February 2023 and has been growing ever since," Thomasson shared. "Coupled with that, we offer student scholarships to families to access arts education to cover tuition costs. We also have a 'give back' division, Dancers Make A Difference, where we serve locally in the community - food drives, Toys for Tots, performances/interactive activities in senior living communities - and will be launching our first summer mission trip to Guatemala in June 2026 to reach beyond our local region to global communities."

While Thomasson serves as producer and choreographer for "Frozen JR." and co-director, choreographer and producer of "Frozen KIDS," she has help from a team of professionals to pull off both productions. "Frozen JR." will be directed by Larry Cox Jr., with vocal direction by Gretchen Lee. Lee will also serve as co-director and vocal instructor for "Frozen KIDS."

Thomasson encourages people to come see the performances, noting that seating is limited. Tickets are available at http://www.exhalttdancecompany.org.

"Our tagline, 'Where the Arts Thrive, the Soul Comes Alive,' encompasses our hopes for any and every one stepping into ExHaLTT," she said, adding that she hopes participants and audiences will experience "a positive, vibrant, family-like community with hearts and lives reaching out to make a positive difference in the world through the arts."