Interview: Brittany Ellis Let's it Go in THE SNOW QUEEN

We've all the seen videos of people doing their rendition of a song from Frozen: a high school girl belting "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" or my favorite, a 5 year old boy in an Elsa costume singing "Let it Go" as his father shakes his head in confusion (spoiler alert: I was that child). But before there was YouTube or Frozen, there was the original fairytale "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen, which sparked a lifetime of familiar adaptations and countless hours of entertainment.

Rather than deviating from the fairy tale, Serenbe Playhouse performed an adaptation of Andersen's story this last December entitled The Snow Queen to end their 2015 season. Unlike most adaptations that try to shy away from the original source material, Serenbe's take on the tale incorporated forms of dance and outdoor staging that sought to enrich the text. I sat down with The Snow Queen's Brittany Ellis, who played the title character, about what is was like to perform in Serenbe's adaptation.

Broadway World: In the last year there's been a lot of popular adaptations of the Snow Queen's story: Disney's Frozen, ABC's Once Upon a Time, and most recently a trailer for the upcoming movie The Huntsman: Winter's War premiered. How did Serenbe Playhouse's production of The Snow Queen differ from those adaptations?

BRITTANY: One of the first things that pops into my head, is the fact that we told our story through a combination of dialogue and movement. In our version, the Snow Queen doesn't have much dialogue. Much of her story is told through these beautiful dance pieces, which were choreographed by Bubba Carr. While much of the Snow Queen's story is told through dance, other characters get to enjoy dances that enhance their characters and story too. We have Kaja, the robber girl and her reindeer side kick that did a fun hip hop inspired dance. Another character, Kai got to express a more intense, dark piece of choreography. It's not very common to see a show that incorporates movement the way that we did in this production.

Broadway World: Serenbe Playhouse is known for its engaging outdoor productions that place audiences directly into the world of the play they are watching. How did performing the show outside, compared to a traditional presidium staging, enhance your performance in The Snow Queen?

BRITTANY: Performing The Snow Queen outside during the winter definitely added a little something extra to the performance. There were some nights that got pretty cold, so it helped the cast feel like we were in a wintery land. The atmosphere was just perfect for the show. There were some nights where you could actually see our breath in the air. For me, I loved being able to use that little detail throughout the show. Doing the show outdoors, we didn't have the traditional off stage wings where you wait to make your next entrance. This meant we all had to time out our entrances so that they made sense. For example, there is one point where I am seen at the top of a hill, but I'm not in another scene again for another scene or two. There is no way to get to my next place without being seen, so I had to decide when it made sense in the story where the Snow Queen could be spotted walking through the woods. It added another level of mystery to her story.

Broadway World: Do you believe the Snow Queen is a villain, or simply misunderstood by the village she terrorizes? What trauma from her past made her into the character we see in the show?

BRITTANY: I definitely think the Snow Queen is misunderstood. Right from the start we hear that the Snow Queen was created from the winter wind. She was not even able to be held as a child because she was too cold to touch. She grew up without anyone in her life by her side and she knew nothing but isolation. No one ever expressed love to her so she only knew hatred, so naturally she became this "evil" being. However, in the middle of the show we see another side of her. She can see the beauty in herself but realizes that no one else can. She just wants to have a chance for others to see what she knows is there. This part is all told through the Snow Queen's beautiful solo dance. Also, at the very end of the show, there is finally a character, Gerda, who sees that the Snow Queen isn't this evil, terrible person that everyone else seems to see. Gerda turns out to be the one who melts the Snow Queen's heart and reverses her cold, dark ways. It just took someone to give the Snow Queen a chance to show her true colors. It's a really beautiful ending to the story.

I think so much of this story is about the power of love. In our story, every subplot is powered by some kind of compassion. Every character confronts some form of love along the way. Ultimately, love is what breaks down the Snow Queen's icy guard. It may sound cheesy but I think a great message to take away from this story is to let love in! Imagine what can happen if you do.

You can check out more info on Serenbe Playhouse's upcoming shows and their 2016 season, "A Season of Surrender," by visiting www.serenbeplayhouse.com

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