Hurricane Irma, which has ravaged parts of the Caribbean and along the western coast of Florida has weakened significantly to the point that it was downgraded to category 2. Even so, the devastation it wrought to communities and infrastructure. While a good many Floridians have decided to cut their losses and evacuate well in advance of the storm, many were still caught and are thus waiting out for the weather in shelters across the state. They range from residents to travelers, such as actress Kristen Bell of Broadway and “Frozen” fame, who decided to do something productive by providing entertainment at a school shelter.
She sang songs by her Disney character Princess Anna to the very enthusiastic audiences.
Disney Princess performance
Kristen Bell had been in Orlando since last week to film her latest film “Like Father,” and was not able to evacuate in time to avoid Hurricane Irma. While there, she was inspired by how many Floridians she saw who were helping one another to prepare for the coming storm. In addition to recording what she observed on her Instagram account, the voice of Princess Anna was inspired to make a contribution herself, which she did by visiting the Meadow Woods Middle School shelter in Orlando last Saturday, September 9.
While there, Bell posed for photos with the families who have evacuated to the school while Irma passed over their heads.
In addition, she performed song numbers from the hit 2013 Disney animated film “Frozen,” which made her a household name for her voice performance as Princess Anna. Accompanied by local Bert Rodriguez on piano, she rehearsed several songs and belted out child-memorable hits such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “For the First Time in Forever.” Needless to say, her audience of evacuees loved it.
Accompanied by local Bert Rodriguez on piano, she rehearsed several songs and belted out child-memorable hits such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “For the First Time in Forever.” Needless to say, her audience of evacuees loved it.
Thank you @IMKristenBell for stopping by today! @DrFritzler_OCPS @DrTrimble_OCPS @BethSharpeFL pic.twitter.com/HP5wqYZEl6
— Meadow Woods MS (@meadowwoodsms) September 10, 2017
Hotel refuge
In addition to her visit to Meadow Woods Middle School, Kristen Bell also called on evacuees from a local Orlando senior citizens’ center that has taken refuge at her hotel.
The elderly refugees received her warmly and invited her to join their Bingo game to pass the time. In addition, the actress also invited the parents of fellow “Frozen” star Josh Gad, who live in the area, to stay at the hotel with her. The actor wrote on his Instagram that this gesture by Bell “saved” his family from Hurricane Irma.
There are thousands of senior home evacuees in our hotel so...heres me dining with all my new friends! #Irma2017 #HurricaneIrma pic.twitter.com/JoEmAAT4cv
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) September 10, 2017
Bell, Gad, and all of their fellow cast-mates are set to reprise their voice roles for the heavily anticipated Disney sequel “Frozen 2,” scheduled for 2019. In the meantime, a stage musical adaptation is already on a trial run in Denver until October. Bell will also be voicing Anna who will cameo on “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it-Ralph 2” which will premiere next year.