The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) presents
an elaborately staged reading of The Snow Queen by Hans
Christian Andersen as part of their new
series for young audiences titled Classics for Kids! Directed
and adapted by Brian B. Crowe, this scripts-in-hand presentation
features a cast of many of STNJ’s long-time company members and patron
favorites.
The Cast:
The Snow Queen and
Lady-Love Crow will be played by Chantal Jean-Pierre, who was
last seen as The Strega in this season’s production of The Rose
Tattoo. Chantal Jean-Pierre is in her third season with STNJ and
has also made appearances in The Bluebird and Henry V.
Courtney McGowan has been with STNJ for seven seasons,
and will play young Gerda. Her previous roles include Brenda in A
Child’s Christmas in Wales, Sabine in Ken Ludwig’s The Three
Musketeers, and Perdita in The Winter’s Tale.
Silas Lloyd joins the cast as Kai and the Prince
after just having spent the summer with STNJ as part of the Summer
Professional Training Series (SPTP). For the SPTP Final Project, As
You Like It, Silas Lloyd played Orlando.
In his 22nd
season with STNJ, Jeffrey M. Bender returns as Crow and Devil
Goblin. He was last seen in last season’s final production of Twelfth
Night as Sir Toby Belch, and has also been seen in Ken Ludwig’s The
Three Musketeers, The Merchant of Venice, and many others.
After appearing
this season as Assunta in The Rose Tattoo, Angela Della
Ventura returns to STNJ’s stage for the second time this season as
Grandmother, Magic Woman, and Robber Woman.
James A. Earley is in his sixth season with The
Shakespeare Theatre and joins the cast as Reindeer, a Goblin,
and the Herald. Previous credits include A Child’s Christmas in
Wales, The Grapes of Wrath, and the original cast of A
Midwinter Night’s Dream.
Ellie Gossage returns as the Robber Girl, the
Princess, and a Goblin. Last seen in Much Ado About Nothing on
the Outdoor Stage in 2022, Ellie Gossage has also appeared in STNJ’s
Outdoor Stage productions of The Comedy of Errors and SNUG as
well as the stream-able Pandemic Playhouse Entertainment videos.
Last seen as Bessie
in the 2021 production of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Amy
Hutchins will be the tale’s Narrator. Other STNJ production credits
include Twelfth Night and A Country Wife.
The Director:
Brian B. Crowe is
in his 28th season with The Shakespeare Theatre, and will be stepping
into the role of Artistic Director for the Theatre’s upcoming 2024
season. He has directed numerous productions for STNJ, including this
season’s production of A Midwinter Night’s Dream.
The Creative
Team:
This adaptation
of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen by Brian B. Crowe
features Lighting and Sound Design by Steven Beckel. Jenna Gregson is
the Production Stage Manager.
Classics for Kids! is made possible by funds from the New
Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National
Endowment for the Arts, along with additional funding provided by Stark
D. Kirby, Jr.
The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an
independent, professional theatre company whose Main Stage is located
on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres
in the nation, it is New Jersey’s largest professional theatre company
dedicated solely to Shakespeare’s canon and other world classics.
Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the
company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of
the classics for a diverse and contemporary audience.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s programs are made
possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the
Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well
as funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major
support is received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Shubert
Foundation, MacMillan Family Foundation, The Hearst Foundations, The
Edward T. Cone Foundation, CTW Foundation, The Samuel H. Scripps
Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Bank of America,
Shakespeare in American Communities: National Endowment for the Arts in
partnership with Arts Midwest, E.J. Grassmann Trust, Hyde and Watson
Foundation, New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund at the Princeton
Area Community Foundation, Union Foundation, The Merrill G. and Emita
E. Hastings Foundation, Turrell Fund, The Jack K. Ayre & Frank Ayre
Lee Theatre Foundation, The John R. Eckel Jr. Foundation, The
Broadfield Fund, and the Howard Gilman Foundation, as well as contributions
from numerous other foundations, corporations, government agencies, and
individuals.
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