This young Midcoast performer has a bright future on and off stage | Column
Young Harpswell Talent Steals the Spotlight in Maine State Music Theatre’s “Frozen”
HARPSWELL, ME – When the cast of Frozen hit the stage on July 15, 2026, the audience was not only treated to the familiar music and stunning sets of the beloved Disney production. They also witnessed the debut of 12‑year‑old Estella Wigg, who played the young Elsa in a role that has already earned her acclaim across the state.
Wigg, a native of Harpswell, grew up in the community and was first seen on a stage at the tender age of three when she performed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. “She stood out among all the other children,” said the photographer who captured her early moments. “She doesn’t necessarily seek the spotlight; she just has ‘it,’ that indefinable star quality.”
Her first professional role came at six, when she joined The Theater Project and portrayed a hobbit. The following year she auditioned for the Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT), though she was not selected. Over the next few years, she performed with the Midcoast Youth Theater, playing a star‑to‑be in Annie, the Artful Dodger in Oliver, and even an Oompa‑Loompa in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
At age ten, Wigg landed her first part with MSMT, again as an Oompa‑Loompa. “I was thrilled,” she recalls. “It felt like I was finally part of something bigger.”
Her breakthrough came in February 2026 when she auditioned for two MSMT productions: Matilda and Frozen. The audition required her to read lines from Frozen, perform the song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and demonstrate dancing skills. A month later, she learned she had secured an ensemble spot in Matilda. A few weeks of quiet followed; she assumed the Frozen audition had not been successful until a phone call from Kathy Kacinski, MSMT’s company manager, changed her day.
“I squealed and cried,” Wigg said with a grin. “I was so excited. I was chosen from over 100 candidates, including those who auditioned in New York City.”
Rehearsals began on June 27, leaving the cast just under three weeks to prepare for the opening night. The production, directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, ran 24 shows over the next three weeks, with many days featuring two performances. Wigg, who lives in Harpswell, said she slept as late as midnight and woke around ten a.m. for rehearsals. “I’d be a little nervous before each show, but all of my nerves would disappear the minute I walked on stage,” she explained, a testament to the confidence she has cultivated over years of stage work.
Beyond her work with MSMT, Wigg is a recognized singer. In 2025, she beat out 100 other fifth‑ and sixth‑grade performers to win a singing competition at the University of Southern Maine, sponsored by the National Association of Teachers and Singing. She will compete again this year in a higher age group. She also performs with Horizon Voices, the youth section of Classical Uprising, under the direction of Emily Isaacson.
When asked about her future, Wigg said she has a wide array of interests. “I love soccer, baseball, running, and I’m also taking ballet lessons,” she shared. Her mother, Johanna Wigg, who runs The Vicarage by the Sea, said she never pushes her daughter toward stardom. “I’m totally new to the whole acting scene,” she told the writer. “I want Estella to have a balanced life, but I won’t stand in her way.”
The Frozen cast also included 12‑year‑old Rya Redding, who portrayed Anna. The ensemble’s performance, praised by reviewers and audience members alike, showcased not only the actors’ talent but the dedication of the entire production team.
As the lights dimmed on the final performance of the run, it was clear that Estella Wigg’s journey was just beginning. With a solid foundation in theater, singing, and a supportive family, her future in the performing arts looks bright. For now, the Harpswell community can take pride in one of its own, whose voice and presence have already illuminated stages across Maine.
