JOURNAL ARTICLE

Aisha Jackson on the Broadway Musical Stage: An Afro-Fabulative Embodiment of Princess Anna in Frozen: The Broadway Musical.

  • Published In: Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures, 2025, v. 17, n. 2. P. 162 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Case, Christine 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the significance of Black performer Aisha Jackson’s role as the alternate for Princess Anna in the original 2018 cast of Frozen: The Broadway Musical, arguing that her live performances from 2018 to 2020 enable Black fan communities to see themselves reflected in a Disney Princess and challenge the franchise’s traditionally white narratives. Drawing on the concept of afro-fabulation, the article situates Jackson’s embodiment of Anna as a form of Black artistic expression that disrupts racial norms in youth storytelling and Broadway performance, fostering a “dark fantastic” space for Black imagining. It also highlights the role of community archiving through social media in preserving and celebrating Jackson’s performances amid limited institutional recognition, framing Frozen: The Broadway Musical as an afro-fabulative affiliate of Black Broadway that expands representation and invites diverse audiences into the fairy-tale world.

Additional Information

  • Source:Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures. 2025/12, Vol. 17, Issue 2, p162
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Political Science
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1920-2601
  • DOI:10.3138/jeunesse-2023-0043
  • Accession Number:190390623
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.