Playreading: The Snow Queen (a work in progress)

Western Washington University's Theatre and Dance Department is excited to unveil its first-ever collaboration with Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) in a special "work in progress" reading of "The Snow Queen."

"The Snow Queen" is a remarkable adaptation of the beloved Hans Christian Andersen tale, penned by NYC-based playwright Matt Opatrny. Originally premiered in New York City during the fall of 2017, the play is currently undergoing significant rewriting and development for its West Coast premiere at Seattle Children's mainstage in December 2024.

The adaptation remains faithful to Andersen’s wild tale, presenting the title monarch as a metaphor for the cool allure of modern technology – the force that alters most present-day interpersonal interactions. Our protagonist couple are not the victims of a sinister force, but sentient travelers in search of deep human connection.

The public is invited to attend the reading, which will be held on Friday, August 4, at 2 p.m. in WWU's Performing Arts Center room 399. Admission to this event is free, providing an excellent opportunity for the local community to experience an early iteration of this captivating play.

This reading is part of a three-year plan to foster the development of new work at WWU during the summers, with the ultimate goal of premiering the productions on SCT's mainstage.

The co-direction of this reading is in the capable hands of Johamy Morales -- SCT's Associate Artistic Director, and Rich Brown, Chair of WWU's Theatre and Dance Department. The production will feature a talented cast, including Western Students, Theatre alum Teague Parker, and Rich Brown himself. The performance is expected to run for approximately 90 minutes.

Idris Goodwin, Artistic Director of SCT plans to attend the event. Goodwin has performed and lead workshops for WWU students as a guest artist several times in the past.