Things are about to get chilly this week as Neuqua Valley High School theater department presents “The Snow Queen,” an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that will be performed Thursday through Saturday.
“While the premise and plot of the show appeal to children, the characters have many layers and provide a distinct challenge for my actors,” Neuqua teacher and director Elizabeth Morgan said.
Based on the same fairy tale that inspired the blockbuster “Frozen,” “The Snow Queen” is the story of best friends Gerda, played by Tina Boffa, and Cei, played by Dillon Tartaglia, who must overcome obstacles in order to be together after the Snow Queen stirs up trouble.
“The audience will travel along with our main character, Gerda, through all four seasons as she searches for her best friend Cei,” Morgan said. “Flowers will dance in the springtime, the waves will bring back warm memories of summer, autumn trees will bring Gerda closer to Cei, and it might even snow a little bit when she reaches the ice palace.”
Morgan said the show has lyrical and tap dance elements, special seasonal effects, innovative set design and costumes along with original compositions inspired by Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” movement.
“There are the typical princes, princesses, animals, and villains of fairy tales, but there is also more depth,” Morgan said. “The characters have to overcome loss, sorrow, selfishness and pride along their journey towards adulthood.”
Senior Lauren Kessler, who plays the role of the Snow Queen, shared the sentiment.
“I think when people think of the children’s show, they think of something that is smaller and downplayed, but there is a lot of depth to this show,” Kessler said.
A crew of 20 and a cast of 30 actors — including school-age children who participated in Neuqua’s summer theater camp — bring the frosty world to life.
“The first day they impressed me with their maturity and commitment to giving their best,” Morgan said. “From then on, they only grew as performers.”
‘The Snow Queen’
When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St., Naperville
Tickets: $8 to $11
Information: www.NVHStheatre.org or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2620926
