Once there was, and once there was not, a little girl and a little boy…

Best friends Gerda and Kay spend the changing seasons weaving stories and tending their beloved garden. As the flowers bloom, so do they. But when a shard of enchanted glass pierces Kay’s heart, everything changes. His laughter freezes. His warmth disappears. Swept away by the enigmatic Snow Queen to her kingdom beyond the aurora, Kay is destined to remain in an endless winter… unless someone dares follow.

Fueled by unwavering love and impossible hope, Gerda embarks on a journey into the unknown. Along the way she encounters unpredictable elements, a talking raven, a band of singing robbers, whispering flowers, deceptive sweetness, and strangers who become family. With every trial she must decide not only how to save Kay, but who she is becoming.

Can Gerda withstand the bitter cold and the Snow Queen’s relentless desire to control the narrative? Will Kay reclaim the story that was stolen from him, or surrender himself to the silence of the ice?

A beloved folktale reimagined through a new landscape, The Snow Queen explores the people who carry our stories when we no longer can-and the courage it takes to let them go. Equal parts whimsical, haunting, joyful, and deeply human, this production warms even the coldest hearts into blooming again.

[Appropriate for ages 12 to 112]

The Artists

Playwright Mallory Swisher
Director Stefan Roseen
Director & Choreographer Anna Roemer
Composer Dominick Alesia
Costume Designer Toria Olivier
Lighting Designer Emma Luke
Associate Lighting Designer Alex Branka
Puppert Designer Kim Campbell
Props Designer/Puppet Designer Jessica Miller
Props Designer/Puppet Designer Jackie Bobbitt
Sound Designer Stefan Roseen
Stage Manager B Valek

The Cast

The Snow Queen Courtney Marie
Gerda Shannon McEldowney
Kay Cee Scallen
Storyteller 1: The Raven & Others Hilary Sanzel
Storyteller 2: The Reindeer & Others Bryson David Hoff
Storyteller 3: Grandma & Others Mary Ross
Storyteller 4: The Old Woman & Others JA Loyd
Storyteller 5: The Sprite & Others Mab De Guzman
Storyteller 6: The Robber Girl & Others Mara Currens
Storyteller 7: Mother & Others Eilish Morse-O'Rourke