Disney's 'Frozen' to become musical on cruise ship

It's official: Disney's animated hit Frozen soon will debut as a musical on the high seas.

Disney on Wednesday announced the blockbuster film from 2013 would be turned into a stage show to play in the 977-seat theater aboard Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder.

Frozen, A Musical Spectacular will debut on the 1,754-passenger vessel in November when it begins sailing out of Galveston, Texas.

As with the animated version of the musical, the shipboard version will follow the royal sisters Anna and Elsa as they embark on a journey to discover the meaning of sisterhood, inner strength and true love, Disney said.

Disney said Frozen's emblematic ballad, Let it Go, will be transformed for the show into a "full-fledged stage spectacle ... complete with real-life magic." The company is promising snow flurries during the number among other special effects.

Disney said the production would be led by Tony Award-nominated director Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall, Mothers and Sons). Joining the creative team are Tony Award-winning costume designer Paloma Young (Peter and the Starcatcher), choreographer Josh Prince (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), scenic designer Jason Sherwood (Paint Your Wagon) and writer Sara Wordsworth (In Transit).

The show will include puppetry for such characters as Sven and Olaf by Michael Curry, whose designs are featured in Disney’s Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King.

With nearly $1.3 billion in worldwide box office revenue, Frozen ranks as the highest-grossing animated film of all time.