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News Releases 
"Have a strong heart, for that is what it takes to offer yourself to this world." -Crow to Gerda, The Snow Queen 
For Immediate Release: January 12, 2002
Minneapolis, MN - The Children’s Theatre Company brings the curtain up on the world premiere of The Snow Queen. This adaptation, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, was adapted for the stage by Twin Cities artist Ruth MacKenzie, who also composed the music and lyrics. The production is co-directed by CTC artistic director Peter C. Brosius, and Michael Sommers, who designed the scenery and puppets as well. The production is choreographed by Joe Chvala, with lighting design by Beverly Emmons, costume design by Sonya Berlovitz, music direction by Dick Hensold and sound design by Chris Heagle.
This dream-like fairytale follows a young girl, Gerda on an epic journey to rescue her friend, Kai, from the grips of the Snow Queen. The Snow Queen is an evil creature who has created a mirror that reflects everything as its opposite. When the mirror shatters, it sends a shower of wicked glass over the Earth. One piece lands in young Kai’s eye, and another in his heart. The shards of mirror skew his perception of the world; young looks old, beautiful looks ugly, and friendship looks false. Kai becomes the Snow Queen’s prisoner and it is up to his best friend to save him. Gerda’s epic journey is told through a brilliant variety of Scandinavian-inspired music used in contemporary ways, and is marked by singing flowers, talking crows, robbers and riddling reindeer. And, as in most fairytales, Gerda’s journey is fraught with perils, but each frightening event allows her the opportunity to make the choices that will ultimately, and joyfully, define her. It is Gerda’s strong heart and the power of deep friendship that give her the courage to prevail over the Snow Queen.
"After seeing a production of Kalevala, I knew that Ruth had to create something for CTC audiences," said artistic director Peter C. Brosius. "She is such a distinct and powerful artistic presence. Once we decided on The Snow Queen, Ruth threw herself into the project with her customary passion, focus and depth. She has been so committed to creating a script that fully explores the themes - powerful and moving, curious and comic - that are richly woven in Andersen’s story."
The Snow Queen is the fourth mainstage production fully developed in THRESHOLD, CTC’s new play lab (and the second this season). For the last several years, this project was given dramaturgical support, musical workshops and readings; all designed to encourage the artist to reach their fullest potential. Other THRESHOLD productions are The Beggars’ Strike, Mississippi Panorama and Starry Messenger.
Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark in 1805. At the age of 14, Andersen went to Copenhagen and became an apprentice at the Royal Theatre. He attended Copenhagen University and began to get his poems and stories published. His first real success came when his novel, The Improvisatore, was well received by critics, and a collection of four fairy tales was published. It was his 150+ stories for children that established him as one of the world’s great authors. His stories have been translated into more than 80 languages and been turned into plays, ballets, films, sculptures and paintings. Ruth MacKenzie has worn many hats as a singer, writer, and actor. For The Snow Queen, MacKenzie wears all hats at once as the playwright, composer and actor (she portrays the Snow Queen). Her creation and performance of Kalevala: Dream of the Salmon Maiden earned much acclaim from local and national press. Her solo career as a jazz and blues singer included performances at the Ordway Music Theater and she has been a featured artist at the Walker Art Center, Ruby’s Cabaret, The Dakotah Bar and Grill, Big Top Chautauqua and Winnipeg Folk Music Festival. She is the co-founder of the musical group TROVA which has toured throughout the United States and Europe, and recorded two albums.
Director Peter C. Brosius has served as CTC’s artistic director since July 1997. At CTC, he has directed Dragonwings, and the world premieres of Mississippi Panorama, and Garrison Keillor’s The Old Man Who Loved Cheese & Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham. Brosius has teamed up again with co-director and scenic designer Michael Sommers. The two worked together on last season’s world premiere Mississippi Panorama. Sommers is a Minneapolis theatre artist who has worked as director, designer, composer, and actor at theaters including the Guthrie Theater, the Jungle Theater, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. His work was seen last fall at the Henson International Festival of Puppetry in New York. Choreographer Joe Chvala is the founder and artistic director of the nationally celebrated dance company, Flying Foot Forum. Chvala designed choreography for The Children’s Theatre Company’s production of A Village Fable in 1999 and he has worked with several local theatre companies. He performed a solo piece at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and choreographed the opening ceremony at the European modern gymnastics finals.
Lighting designer Beverly Emmons received a Tony® for her work on Amadeus, as well as an OBIE, and two BESSIEs for her many productions on and off-Broadway. Sonya Berlovitz, designed costumes for last year’s Mississippi Panorama as well as two CTC touring productions. She has also designed costumes for Theatre de la Jeune Lune, as well as Berkley Repertory Theatre and Pangea Theater. Berlovitz is the recipient of fellowships from McKnight Theatre Artists and the Minnesota State Arts Board. CTC’s resident sound supervisor Chris Heagle has created the soundscapes for productions at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Interlochen Center for the Performing Arts, Times Theatre Company, and Illinois Repertory Theatre.
The Snow Queen is performed by a six-member live orchestra and a 21-member cast, which includes five local guest artists, one international guest artist, three CTC resident company members, five CTC performing apprentices, and seven student actors. Ruth MacKenzie makes her debut on the CTC stage as the Snow Queen. Britta Ollmann returns to the CTC stage as Gerda, the girl who must journey far to rescue her dear friend. Ollmann received glowing reviews for her performances as Pippi in Pippi Longstocking, Lilly in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, and Suzy in Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Plays, and participates in CTC’s Theatre Arts Training Program. Conor McDonald plays Kai in his second production at The Children's Theatre Company. He played Augustus Gloop in the fall production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and appeared in the Minnesota Opera productions of I Pagliacci and Camina Burana. Local actor/singer Bradley Greenwald plays Crow. He has been in productions at Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Jungle Theater, Minnesota Dance Theatre, North Star Opera, Nautilus Music Theater and the Minnesota Opera, as well as CTC. Greenwald is a past recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board Music Fellowship and the McKnight Fellowship for Theater Artists. Other principal actors include Diane Benjamin-Hill (Flower Lady), Emily Zimmer (Robber Girl), Autumn Ness (Princess and Old Robber Woman) and Reed Sigmund (Prince and Reindeer).
The Four Winds guide Gerda and the audience through this epic journey. They are a harmonic quartet made up of local and international talent. Lynn Dyrhaug Rotto was Augustus Gloop’s mother in the fall production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She was in productions at the Minnesota Opera, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, North Star Opera and Chimera Theater. Vera Mariner has worked with numerous local theater companies and has performed vocal solos for the Minnesota Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Roanoke Symphony. Performing apprentice Kirsten Sevig has been in several CTC productions both on the mainstage and in the studio theatre. She is a former student of CTC’s Theatre Arts Training program. And Petra Zilliacus has journeyed all the way from Finland for this production. She is a ballad singer who tours Scandinavia and she worked with MacKenzie on Kalevala: Dream of the Salmon Maiden.
The Snow Queen opens March 1 and runs through April 13. Preview performances are Tuesday, February 26, Wednesday, February 27, and Thursday, February 28. Ticket prices are $9-22 for children, seniors, and students, and $15-28 for adults. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For more information, call the CTC Ticket Office at 612-874-0400. The Children’s Theatre Company is located at 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and CTC will host the PAY WHAT YOU CAN performance of The Snow Queen on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30PM. Tickets go on-sale Tuesday, February 26, one week prior to the performance.
Photos are available online at: www.ctcpix.org.
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