Creative Cauldron’s 2022-23 season continues with the all-ages musical comedy, The Snow Queen, adapted from the same Hans Christen Anderson tale that inspired Disney’s Frozen and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Originally written by Ellen Selby and PJ Audenzia, this year has an updated script by Lenny Mendez and Laura Connors Hull, featuring some Spanish language elements. The show is presented by Creative Cauldron’s Learning Theater Ensemble, an educational theater program comprised of 25 elementary and middle school aged students, and two professional actors. The Snow Queen is sponsored by Destination Rwanda. Shows run from March 17 through April 2, 2023.
The Snow Queen follows the story of a shy young girl named Gerda who must summon all of her courage and venture out into a wild, magical world to rescue her best friend Kai from the clutches of the evil Snow Queen. Associate Artist Lenny Mendez not only updated the script in her directing process, but wove Spanish language moments into the story, as part of Creative Cauldron’s “Artes Para Todos” project and mission to serve a larger audience. Students participating in the project attend local Title One Schools. They will be invited, along with their parents, to attend performances of The Snow Queen during the run, at no charge.
Cast and Creative Team
Professional Cast members include Gus Knapp (Ole Lukoje) and Lenny Mendez (The Snow Queen). Gus has appeared in past Learning Theater productions of Oliver Twist, Peter Pan and Wendy, Alice in Wonderland and last season’s The Adventures of Mr. Toad and The Princess and the Goblin. He appeared in Creative Cauldron’s professional productions as The Wizard/Professor Marvel in The Wizard of Oz, and the Ensemble cast of Christmas Cabin of Carnaween. Lenny Mendez, Creative Cauldron’s new bi-lingual Associate Artist appeared this season as Hendrika in Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Thomasina in The Christmas Angel, and as the Grandmother in last spring’s Learning Theater production of The Princess and the Goblin. She recently appeared as Tania in Native Gardens at Gala Hispanic Theater and previously at Gala in Prom Night. Other recent credits include: Natalie in The Proposal! Workhouse Arts Center, Objects May Appear Spookier (Recent Cutbacks NYC).
The Snow Queen is directed by Founding Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull, Artistic Associate Lenny Mendez, and Will Stevenson, with Musical Direction and Choreography by Matt Conner. All the original music in the show was written by Helen Hayes Award winner, Matt Conner, and lyrics were written by Stephen Gregory Smith, Creative Cauldron’s Resident
Musical Composer team. Together they have written 6 original musicals for professional casts under Creative Cauldron’s “Bold New Works for Intimate Stages” initiative and the music for over 20 Learning Theater Productions.
Also on the Creative Team are Margie Jervis, Creative Cauldron’s Resident Scenic and Costume Designer. Margie is a two-time Arts Fairfax Strauss Award-winning artist, whose designs for both professional and Learning Theater productions at Creative Cauldron have been amazing audiences for the past 13 years. She is joined by Helen Hayes nominated Lighting Designer, Lynn Joslin, and Projection Designer, James Morrison. Nicholas Goodman is the Stage Manager
Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at www.creativecauldron.org or by calling 703- 436-9948. Masks are required for all patrons at all times.
Who/What
Creative Cauldron’s The Snow Queen
When
March 17 – April 2, 2023
Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm
Tickets
Adults $20
Students $18
Family 4-Packs $65
Where
Creative Cauldron
410 South Maple Avenue, Retail 116
Falls Church, VA 22042
Live Stream
Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 7:30pm
Live Stream Tickets
$15
Contact
creativecauldron.org
703-436-9948
About Creative Cauldron
Creative Cauldron is an award-winning non-profit theater and educational arts organization whose innovative programs in the performing and visual arts embody collaboration, experimentation and community engagement. Founding Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull launched Creative Cauldron in 2002. In June of 2009, took up occupancy in ArtSpace Falls Church, a 3,000 square foot flexible arts space that provides a venue for year-round classes, and performances. In 2024 the organization is transferring to a new 5,000 square foot black box theater in the Insight Property Group, Broad and Washington project in Falls Church. Programs are presented in part through grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsFairfax, the City of Falls Church, the Little City CATCH Foundation, the Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts, and the Robert W and Gladys S Meserve Charitable Trust. Generous corporate and individual sponsors also support creative Cauldron’s programs.
