Multigenerational ‘Snow White’ performance set at Geyer Performing Arts Center
Share this post:
A fairy tale favorite is coming to the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale this month, with a cast that connects multiple generations.
The musical production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” will run at the theater from Friday to Sunday.
The show is a twist on the familiar story, including many of the same main characters featured in the Disney rendition. The script features the original names for all the dwarfs but adds some new characters and unique music which differs from the movie version.
The Geyer’s take on the tale puts young actors in the spotlight. Aside from the Evil Queen and the Crone who gives Snow White a poisoned apple, the entire cast is made up of student performers. The Prince and Snow White are played by an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old, respectively.
“We have two adults, two 18-year-olds, and everybody else is 15 down to 8 (years old),” said director Loren McCullough. “The kids have been working on it hard the last couple of weeks. They’re amazing from what they’ve been doing … I think it will be enjoyable for the whole family.”
Martha Oliver, who is playing the Crone, said she enjoys the multigenerational aspect of the show.
“I think that is one of the most interesting kinds of theater to do,” she said. “We have all these children and they’re so enthusiastic and cheerful and having such a good time. That’s always such a fun thing to do.”
Oliver and other adults who are part of the show have the chance to give theatrical advice to the next generation, she said.
“We have to give them basic stage craft information: ‘Don’t turn your back to the audience, if you’re in profile, try to open yourself up a little bit,’ and how you interact with other people onstage, how you build a character, and how these characters then interact with each other,” she said. “Some of them are very sophisticated and have done a lot of theater — others are just starting out. We love to help them with that.”
Acting education
The theater has been moving toward putting on more family-oriented productions in recent years. A performance of “The Lion King Jr.” last year garnered a lot of participation and included more than 100 children as part of the show.
“We’re trying to build up our education program and get more kids involved,” McCullough said.
Geyer education department manager Taylor McNeice said many of the children who audition for shows find the theater through its summer camps and afterschool programs.
“We’ve had kids come as far as (from) Pittsburgh to be part of our shows, but it’s mostly our local community,” she said. “We’re trying to gear more towards teaching the children and getting them involved in theater — they are the next generation.”
Students who participate in Geyer summer programs learn basic acting skills in addition to costuming, props and set work, she said. The Geyer After School Program, also called G.A.S.P., includes tutoring, homework help, snacks, crafts and games. It’s held at the Geyer Education Center adjacent to the theater at 111 Pittsburgh St.
“We try to keep them intertwined, so that the kids know that if they aren’t doing a show, they are welcome to come to the education center,” she said. “A lot of the kids kind of refer to it as a second home.”
McNeice is looking forward to the “Snow White” performance.
“I think it’s a great multigenerational show. I think it’s something all generations can enjoy, from a musical aspect, from an artistic aspect, and from getting along with everybody who’s onstage,” she said. “It’s really great to see each generation interact, and see our older cast look at our younger cast and have that realization of ‘Oh, this is the next group.’”
Tickets for the show are available online at geyerpac.com.