Snow Child

Snow Child

book by John Strand

music by Bob Banghart and Georgia Stitt

lyrics by Georgia Stitt

Originally produced at Arena Stage, Washington, DC

April 13 to May 20, 2018




About the Premiere Production:

Synopsis: Eowyn Ivey’s debut novel The Snow Child, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, is reborn as a magical new musical featuring a score that combines Alaskan back country string-band traditions and contemporary musical theater. The 1920 Alaskan wilderness is a brutal place to try to save a marriage. Reeling from the loss of an unborn child, Mabel and Jack struggle to rebuild their lives even as the fissures between them continue to widen. But everything changes suddenly when they are visited by a wild, mysterious girl who embodies the dark woods that surround their cabin. In this beautiful and violent land, things are rarely as they appear, and what the snow child teaches them will ultimately transform them all.

Artistic Statement: “This musical offers a unique perspective on frontier life and the far north. It’s a story about the wilderness and its brutal effect on human beings who don’t understand their place in the world. At its heart, Snow Child is a love story between human beings, their community, their imaginations and the wild. Arena Stage always shares a diversity of American voices on our stages, and we are eager to see the impact this Alaskan voice has on our audiences in the east.” -Molly Smith, Artistic Director.

Grant Statement: “This is a major challenge and one that will take all of our talent and shared imaginations. Along with the unique music combination of Alaskan back-country and contemporary musical theater , we will use puppetry for the animals which will underscore the rough magic of Alaska. Capturing the environment of this piece, from the Alaskan forests to the snow to the visceral nature of the child makes this production a fantastic undertaking. We are deeply grateful to the Edgerton Foundation for providing with us with the funds for an additional week of rehearsals, as it will enable us to take on this challenge and attempt to capture the power of Alaska.” -Molly Smith, Artistic Director

 

Director: Molly Smith

Playwright:  John Strand

Composer: Bob Banghart

Composer/Lyricist: Georgia Stitt

Music Director: Kris Kukul

Co-Production with Perseverance Theatre

 

Additional funders: Andrew R. Ammerman