When most people think of the film Frozen, they think of the two sisters at the heart of the story: Elsa and Anna. They probably also think of Kristoff and then Olaf. If you were to go a bit deeper you might be a big fan of Sven, the reindeer. If you are doing a stage musical, though, how do you create a believable reindeer on stage? Once a puppet was designed, that task fell on the shoulders of Collin Baja and Evan Strand for the North American tour. Or rather, the entire bodies of Baja and Strand.
While Olaf is a externalized puppet paired with the actor’s body, Sven isn’t meant to show any sense of human form. So for Baja and Strand, they have to squeeze into a truly impressive puppet, contort their bodies for the whole show and never betray that there’s a human underneath. Between the two of them they do eight shows a week at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
Baja, who graduated from Juilliard, has appeared on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark and most recently in Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus. Rather ironically, he made his Broadway debut playing the horse in Equus opposite Daniel Radcliffe. We spoke by phone just before the holidays about the challenges of portraying Sven, the physical toll it takes on his body and the complete lack of ego required to play the part.
You have a BFA from Juilliard. Did you think when you graduated you’d be inside a character like Sven?
To be perfectly honest I had no idea what to expect after graduation. But no, I did not think I would end up in some miraculous beautiful dream role. But I’m grateful because Juilliard was so intense it prepared me for anything.
In addition to acting you coach people and help guide them to what they truly want. How does Sven play a part in what you really want for your life and career?
That’s a beautiful question. I have a BFA in dance. Performing has always been an element of my life since I was two years old. My personal definition of happiness, which is all I can control, is making sure I’m still performing in some way shape or form.
Sven came into my world at a perfect time. I was divorced, I was doing other Broadway gigs and the opportunity to come in for Sven was miraculous because I said “no” to tours before. This aligned with needing to escape New York for a while and another new way to expand myself. Sven is the most physically demanding role I’ve ever done. I was ready for the challenge.
What are those physical challenges and what do you have to do pre- and post-performance so that your body won’t fail you?
All summer leading up I had to work up to 8-minute planks. Michael Curry created this beautiful puppet. Once you get in it all of your weight is forward from your shoulders down to your arms. If you have weight in your feet it cheats the illusion – it takes away the image of a natural reindeer.
I immediately come off stage and grab a shoulder ice pack and tree sleeves you put on from shoulder to wrist. I put on the ice packs for twenty minutes. I’m cooling down and stretching. I have physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and more. Massages used to be this luxury every now and then. Now it’s just practical. It’s more necessity than luxury.
How does your dance training impact the work you do?
I don’t want to speak out of turn for anyone, but they discovered they actually needed dancers to play Sven or those with extensive dance training. There’s a different physicality and awareness of self. My dance training comes in, especially Juilliard, because that work was so glorious, but the work allowed for being trapped in a super hard role which required a certain mentality and I’ve been put through the ringer before in other parts of my dance career. The epic core strength and the grace and physicality dancers bring to the role has been crucial to make him fun, but also a more naturalistic reindeer.
Sven maintains an incredible personality throughout the show. How much of the Sven I saw on opening night is a reflection of you and your personality?
There are certain limitations that, not only the puppet has, but the direction and the way Michael Curry and [director] Michael Grandage wanted to go. There are parameters and making sure it stays natural. In the movie Sven is very comedic. I’m in real life a very jovial, touchy, fun person. I try to bring as much as I could to the mix. Evan and I do create our own versions of Sven. We do it very differently. There’s probably 75% that we found works best to maintain that Disney magic. The other 25% they’ve allowed us to incorporate different choices.
Part of maintaining that Disney magic is that you are not seen in your human form at all. Not even the curtain call. Most actors want to be seen and recognized for the work they do.
That’s exactly what excites me about this. It’s not about you. It’s not about showcasing your look or trying to get acclaim and credit. Inside the show there’s no potential for ego. You are focused on bringing this puppet to life and the magic and story and it’s not a part of you. I get to honor this creation and also make a bunch of choices in a whole new way. There’s no dialogue. No singing. It’s making everything come across to the back row in the physical moments. Those are great opportunities not to focus on Collin Baja the actor.
Does embodying this puppet allow you to do things you might not otherwise do as an actor?
I put on this elaborate and beautiful costume and being in control and not being seen as an actor allows me to be more free. It allows me to be more committed to exploring different choices. It allows me to be less trapped in my head and to be even more aware of my surroundings and the choices by other actors. The puppet takes away the inner voices that keep you self-involved or critical. It’s just bigger than you.
Note: In the clip from this year’s Rose Parade, Evan Strand played the part of “Sven.” I felt it was important for you to see the physicality involved with the work he and Baja do in Frozen.
Main photo of Mason Reeves (Kristoff) and Collin Baja (Sven) in the North American tour of Frozen (Photo by Deen van Meer)/Photos courtesy of Disney Theatrical Productions and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre