Nathan Prince and Steve Simons on Bringing ‘Frozen’ to Redlands Bowl this summer

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Legendary Productions: A Civic Light Opera brings “Frozen” to the Redlands Bowl this summer.

By Tiffany Rose Price

Redlands News Collective

In the heart of Redlands, a summer tradition is about to get a little more magical. Redlands-based Legendary Productions: A Civic Light Opera is bringing Disney’s Frozen to the iconic Redlands Bowl this season, transforming one of the region’s most beloved outdoor stages into a world of music, spectacle, and storytelling. Behind the production are co-founders Nathan Prince, artistic producer, director, and creative force, alongside producing partner and co-founder Steve Simons, whose shared vision has helped Legendary Productions grow into a major presence in local theater.

In this interview, Prince and Simons discuss what audiences can expect from Frozen at the Bowl this summer, from the scale of the production to the challenges and excitement of bringing a Broadway favorite to an outdoor community stage. They also reflect on their personal journeys into theater, the passion that led them to co-found Legendary Productions, and the mission that continues to drive their work in the Inland Empire arts scene.

From building productions that bring families together to nurturing local talent and expanding opportunities in community theater, the duo shares what’s next for Legendary Productions and why they believe live performance still holds the power to inspire, connect, and transform a community.

RNC: How did you first get involved in acting and live performance?

Prince: Growing up, I was involved in television and film, which was amazing, but there was always something about live theater that felt different. I loved the camaraderie, teamwork, and the feeling of building something together as an ensemble. I really loved the reaction from the audience. The applause, the boos, the laughter, all of it. (Smiles) I loved taking audiences on a journey and making them feel something. There’s nothing like live theater because that connection happens in real time.

RNC: Did you grow up in a performing household?

Simons: So ... interesting question. My mom was Ms. Los Angeles, the leading operatic soprano in the West, performed at the Hollywood Bowl, made records, and was in movies. My dad traveled the country as a big band singer. They moved to a remote part of Canada to change their lives and get away, and then I was born. So, I was aware of their lives but had no opportunities to use any of those gifts because of where we lived.

RNC: Was there a specific moment when you realized theater was going to be an important part of your life?

Prince: It’s kind of always been part of my life, so I think it happened gradually. Every rehearsal, every late-night painting sets or running lines backstage, the teamwork, and the feeling when the final product comes together made me realize this was where I belonged. There’s something special about people coming together to create live art in front of an audience. No two performances are ever the same, and that’s part of the magic.

Simons: It was when my son started showing interest in theater and performing at a young age that I realized that it was going to be part of my life, at least through him. My daughter was also involved in theater productions but focused more on dance specifically. Then the theater my kids were involved in asked me to be involved. I performed in a few shows and then was asked to get involved on the production staff side and started directing shows.

RNC: Who were some of your biggest artistic influences growing up?

Prince: I’ve always been inspired by storytellers and productions that make audiences feel something. I grew up loving theater, music, movies, musicals, and stories that balanced heart, humor, and spectacle. My dad, my uncle, and honestly my whole family influenced me creatively. Whether through singing, acting, playing instruments, teaching, preaching, or storytelling, creativity was always around me growing up.

RNC: What inspired you to help create Legendary Productions?

Prince: Legendary Productions came from wanting to create a place where people could grow, create, and feel like they belong. We wanted to build a professional community theater company that creates quality productions while still feeling welcoming and community-driven.

Simons: Nathan and I met when he was 14 and started talking early on about our desire to offer Broadway-quality musicals in Redlands. The theater we were involved in only performed musicals written by the founder, and we wanted to branch outside of that. Redlands is a passionate arts town and so we wanted to stage Broadway musicals year-round.

Courtesy photos

Nathan Prince, left, and Steve Simons.

RNC: What keeps you passionate about performing and producing today?

Prince: Always the people. Watching performers grow, seeing audiences connect emotionally to a story, and creating something bigger than yourself never gets old. I also genuinely love the chaos of theater. There’s always a moment during tech week where someone misplaced a prop, somebody is sewing a costume five minutes before curtain, and somehow it all still comes together.

Simons: Our motto is "Change. Affect. Move," and I love to watch how art does that for the performers as well as the audience and production team. We could write a book about the stories we hear as the audience leaves our shows and how they were impacted. The cast tells us a specific story that has affected them. I get chills thinking about what people have shared with us. It makes everything worthwhile. (Smiles)

RNC: What is the mission behind Legendary Productions?

Prince: The mission of Legendary Productions is to inspire change, affect lives, move hearts, and unite communities through the power of art. We want to create professional-quality productions while keeping the heart of community theater alive and encouraging people to continue growing artistically and personally.

RNC: What are your roles in Legendary?

Simons: Nathan and I share responsibilities, but I generally oversee the business/finance/contract side of Legendary, and Nathan the directing/creative/technical side of the shows. We are a great team because I have enough of a creative eye to understand when Nathan asks for money to create something special for a show, that it is worth the investment. That leaves him the ability to use his creative gifts and not have to worry about a lot of the business stuff that can kill or hamper creativity.

RNC: How do you and Nathan work together? What are each other’s strengths — and weaknesses — in producing a show?

Simons: We communicate really well. We also trust each other enough to know that if one of us crosses over into what we think is "our role," neither of us is threatened by that. I can't remember a time when we didn't come to an agreement on any issue that has come up. Not saying we always agree initially on everything, because we do have different perspectives, but we always come to some sort of compromise. A lot of years of handling so many obstacles that have come up has bonded us.

RNC: How do you decide which productions to bring to local audiences?

Prince: We look for shows that connect emotionally with audiences and give performers opportunities to grow. We love productions that bring people together, challenge us creatively, and create memorable experiences for families and the community. Honestly, sometimes we choose shows simply because they’re fun! Sometimes people just need a night where they can laugh, escape for a little while, and experience something magical together.

RNC: Which productions have left you most proud?

Simons: That is a tough question. To say our first show was a Redlands Bowl production is pretty crazy. The Bowl staff took a risk on us before we had officially become Legendary. We staged Oklahoma! with a set that had been used by Hugh Jackman on tour and a stellar cast and production team. That experience launched Legendary because we realized we could produce a show on a historic stage. Singin' in the Rain at the Bowl when we had it rain on the entire stage was a very proud moment. Doing a huge show like The Hunchback of Notre Dame in our tiny original space and people telling us they felt like they were watching an LA or even Broadway production gave us validation. So many to list over the 10 years, and all because of our great team and the actors that come to audition for us. Being able to stage Hello, Dolly! for the 100th season of the Bowl ... wow, such an honor.

RNC: What are some of the biggest challenges of running a theater organization today?

Prince: Probably trying to fit rehearsal schedules onto one calendar while also figuring out where the missing microphone battery disappeared. Balancing budgets, rehearsal locations, production costs, rights, sets, tech, and time is always a challenge. One of the biggest responsibilities is making sure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and part of the process while somehow keeping an eye on the clock and calendar at the same time.

RNC: How important is local community support to keeping productions alive?

Prince: It means everything. Whether someone buys a ticket, volunteers backstage, sponsors a production, donates, shares a post online, or simply encourages performers, it all matters. Theater is built by a community. It’s not just the actors onstage. It’s the people building sets, running lights, sewing costumes, helping backstage, and cheering everyone on.

RNC: What does performing at the Redlands Bowl mean to Legendary Productions?

Prince: Performing at the Redlands Bowl is really special. Being part of over 100 years of history is an honor and privilege we don’t take lightly. Steve and I have co-produced several musicals there together, and I’ve directed five musicals at the Bowl and been part of several others over the years. There’s something magical about doing theater outdoors under the stars with families gathered watching a live performance. Seeing thousands of people watching something the entire team and ensemble worked so hard on is an incredible feeling. Hearing the audience react and cheer for the cast, orchestra, crew, and creative team makes all the hard work worth it.

Simons: I am blown away that we even get the opportunity to perform at the Bowl. The history and legacy that Grace Stewart Mullen had the foresight to start, and we get to be a part of that history and we get to excite the next generation to love the arts as well. On opening night, we stand at the back and get chills from the excitement to watch what our team has created for the community to experience. It makes all the hard work and long hours more than worth it. Then to pass on to the team all the amazing feedback we get to encourage them, and the connection people have to specific stories for varied reasons is truly the best part for me. Change. Affect. Move.

RNC: What drew Legendary Productions to staging the Disney musical Frozen?

Simons: Frozen became available to non-regional theaters at the end of 2025. So, I sent in our request at 12:31 a.m. of the day it became available and heard back almost immediately. We are so excited about the opportunity to wow the community with this great and well-known story.

Prince: Frozen has heart, humor, incredible music, and a story audiences of all ages connect with. At its core, it’s about love, family, and learning to embrace who you are. A lot of people know the movie, but now they get the chance to see it come to life onstage for free at the Bowl. For many families and kids, this may be their first live musical, and that’s really special to us. We want audiences to see things they’ve only imagined and watch that Disney magic come to life right in front of them. (Laughs) Plus the chance to create ice magic onstage sounded pretty fun too. It’s going to snow in our hot summer!

RNC: How did you go about casting?

Prince: We try to be very transparent when it comes to casting. If someone is precast, we’re honest about it from the beginning because we never want to waste people’s time. This production had no pre-casting at all. We had over 175 people audition. Originally, we planned for around 50 to 55 people, but the talent level was so strong we ended up with 68. When someone walks into an audition, we are genuinely rooting for them. Resumes and experience are great, but what matters most is what someone brings to the production, the team, and the room as a whole. I truly believe every production is an ensemble piece. Even in a one-person show, somebody opened the door, turned on the lights, built the set, or ran sound. Everyone matters. It’s important to note that not being cast does not mean someone isn’t talented. Often, it’s down to timing and finding the right fit for that specific production.

RNC: What can longtime fans of Frozen expect from your version of the production?

Prince: They can expect all the songs and moments they love, but also a production filled with heart, creativity, humor, and strong ensemble storytelling. We want audiences leaving inspired, connected to the experience, and feeling like they saw something come to life that they had only imagined before.

RNC: What are some behind-the-scenes challenges of producing a large outdoor show?

Prince: Outdoor theater always keeps you humble. You’re dealing with weather, sound, tech, costume quick changes, and large-scale coordination. In just a few days, we have to load an entire production onto the Bowl stage including truss, lighting, sound, effects, sets, costumes, props, cast, orchestra, and everything else that comes with a full-scale musical. At some point during rehearsals somebody will ask, “Has anyone seen Sven’s antlers?” and that’s when you know it’s officially tech week. (Smiles)

RNC: What are you like on opening night? (Nervous or excited?)

Simons: Always a little nervous, but our team is so good that we really over-prepare. Not to say that nothing could ever go awry, we just plan for lots of different scenarios so I am generally quite confident.

RNC: Tell us about your summer camp program. What do students experience?

Prince: Our summer camp gives students the chance to experience acting, singing, dancing, teamwork, creativity, and live performance while building confidence and a sense of belonging. Students learn the entire process from headshots and auditions to casting, blocking, music, choreography, and performance. By the end of camp, they perform in a full-scale production with lighting, sound, microphones, costumes, tech, and sets. We want them to feel like they’re part of something real and meaningful.

RNC: Why is theater education important for young people?

Prince: Theater teaches communication, confidence, empathy, teamwork, discipline, and creativity. It gives young people a place to express themselves and discover strengths they may not even realize they have yet. Theater teaches life skills without kids even realizing they’re learning them because they’re too busy having fun.

Simons: Watching both my kids who grew up in theater and hearing them now in their 30s relate skills they learned through theater in their everyday lives is a great example. Kids drawn to the arts can learn so many skills needed in everyday life.

RNC: Have you seen theater help young performers build confidence or find their voice?

Prince: Absolutely. Watching a student come in shy and nervous and eventually walk onstage confidently is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. They learn public speaking which will help them later in life.

RNC: What’s your favorite part of working with young performers?

Prince: Watching them surprise themselves! Kids are capable of so much more than they think they are and seeing that confidence grow is amazing.

RNC: How can people support local theater if they’re not performers themselves?

Prince: Come and watch shows. Donate if you’re able. Volunteer. Sponsor productions. Share events online. Encourage performers. Even kind words can mean a lot to someone working hard behind the scenes. Theater takes an entire community to survive and grow.

RNC: How can people get involved?

Prince: There are so many ways to get involved with Legendary Productions including auditions, volunteering, technical theater, sponsorships, youth programs, set building, costumes, and community partnerships. There’s a place for everyone in theater.

RNC: What’s your dream role if you could play any character?

Prince: I love roles with humor and emotional depth. Characters who make audiences laugh and then unexpectedly hit them emotionally are always the most fun to play. And one of the coolest things about theater is getting to play so many different types of characters and stories over time.

RNC: Do you have a favorite backstage memory or funny mishap?

Prince: There are way too many. Theater is basically organized chaos… sometimes organized. (Laughs) Somehow the cast become best friends while panic searching for a missing prop two minutes before curtain, and then somehow the show still works.

RNC: What’s one production that changed your life?

Simons: As a kid, West Side Story was a favorite. My mom had friends in the movie and so we watched it a lot. I was so impressed as a kid at the way the love story was told. Man of La Mancha is probably the other favorite.

RNC: Which production would you most like to bring to life in local theater?

Simons: Les Misérables, Annie Get Your Gun, and West Side Story.

RNC: What advice would you give someone who wants to get into theater but feels nervous?

Prince: Everyone is nervous. Theater is not about being perfect. It’s about showing up, growing, and being willing to take the chance.

Simons: On the production side, be patient and consistent and remain focused on your goal because many things and people will try to get in the way. Build a small loyal team that shares your vision, because it is impossible to do this on your own. On the performing side, prepare and audition and learn from the process.

RNC: What’s next for Legendary Productions?

Prince: We’re excited to continue growing and creating professional-quality theater experiences while staying true to the heart of what theater is really about: people coming together to create something meaningful. We want to continue creating productions that change, affect, and move not only the cast and creative team, but also the audience. We’re continuing to expand our productions, educational programs, and opportunities for performers of all ages while always striving to grow creatively and as a community.

Upcoming Performances

Frozen

Presented by: Legendary Productions / Redlands Bowl Performing Arts

Public Dress Rehearsal: July 21 at 8 p.m.

Run Dates: July 23 – July 26

Website: redlandsbowl.org

Godspell

Presented by: Legendary Productions / Yucaipa Performing Arts Center

Run Dates: June 12 – June 21

Website: yucaipaperformingarts.org

For more information, visit their Linktree: Legendary Productions on Instagram