Victory Gardens Theatre's THE SNOW QUEEN Returns To Chicago 11/27-12/27

Hold on tight, because Victory Gardens Theater's smash hit winter musical The Snow Queen - conceived by Chicago folk music legend Michael Smith, Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati, and master puppeteer Blair Thomas & Co - is sledding back into town for her fourth season as Chicago's #1 alternative to traditional holiday fare.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's beloved winter tale about a boy who is lost in the cold, and the girl who won't give up until she finds him, Victory Gardens' The Snow Queen is the rare family musical that sings to children, and speaks to adults. Eye-popping puppetry, warm storytelling, and a chillingly beautiful score combine for "a terrific holiday show in a great theater" (Chicago Sun-Times) and "the nicest present we've gotten for the holidays" (Time Out Chicago). Anticipating this year's remount, Chicago Magazine just added "any musical rhyming ‘sturgeon' with ‘virgin' deserves a look-see."

Audiences can expect a few new touches in 2009 when director Jim Corti takes over the The Snow Queen's directorial reins, fresh from his wildly acclaimed staging of Cabaret at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Victory Gardens also introduces a new Gerda this season - Leslie Ann Sheppard, who most recently attracted rave reviews as Maddie in Chicago Children's Theater's The Hundred Dresses. Andrew Keltz, who originated the role of Kai in the musical's first two outings, and recently featured in American Theater Company's Yeast Nation, returns as the Snow Queen's young prey. Award-winning actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce also returns for her fourth year as The Storyteller.

Backing Michael Smith live on stage are a who's who of Chicago's top folk musicians - Rob Arendt, Barbara Barrow, Sue Demel, Bob Goins, and Cathy Norden - who also play various fairy tale characters in the show. In addition to directing, Jim Corti also returns as choreographer, along with master puppeteer Blair Thomas, MerEdith Miller (co-puppet designer), Jeff Bauer (sets), Tatjana Radisic (costumes), Jenna McDanold (lights) and Joe Cerqua (sound). Puppeteer/dancers are Genevieve Victoria Garcia, Nicole Pellegrino and Lindsay Noel Whiting. Tina M. Jach is production stage manager.

The Snow Queen begins previews November 27. Press opening is Monday, November 30 at 7:30 pm. Performances run through December 27 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. The Snow Queen is recommended for children seven and up. For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens box office, (773) 871-3000, or visit http://www.victorygardens.org/ .

The Snow Queen is supported in part by Motorola Foundation.

MORE ABOUT THE SNOW QUEEN

Meet Kai and Gerda - the best of childhood friends. But tragedy strikes when Kai's eye and heart are pierced with frozen shards from the Devil's mirror, and the sweet, loving boy Gerda knew vanishes. The evil Snow Queen has put Kai under her trance and spirited him away to her frozen palace of snow and ice. Determined to rescue Kai, Gerda sets off on a journey north, encountering a sly enchantress, singing wooden soldiers, talking reindeer, and knife-wielding robber girls along the way. Will Gerda successfully brave the Snow Queen's icy ire, and bring Kai home to the love that awaits him?

Victory Gardens' live musical version of The Snow Queen debuted in 2006, and quickly became one of the biggest hits in the company's 36-year history. In its second outing, the original production returned with a magical new scenic design by top Chicago designer Jeff Bauer, inventive new choreography by Jim Corti, and the same haunting, hilarious folk music score that charmed young and old alike. The Chicago Tribune called the show's eclectic score a "complex folk opera," praising Smith's wickedly humorous lyrics and moving songs of the heart including "Red Shoes," "Love Letter on a Fish," and "Up in the Clouds." The Chicago Sun-Times hailed the new, improved Snow Queen "Even better the second time around...by far the strangest, funniest and most musically and verbally sophisticated of all the holiday offerings."

THE SNOW QUEEN: TIMES, DATES AND TICKET INFORMATION

Low priced previews are November 27-29: Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 3 pm and 7:30 pm; and Sunday at 3 pm. Previews are $20-$37. Press opening is Monday, November 30 at 7:30 pm. Regular performances are: Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30 pm; Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 pm; Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 5 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm; Sunday, December 6 at 3 pm; Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 pm; Friday, December 11 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm; Sunday, December 13 at 3 pm; Wednesday, December 16 at 7:30 pm; Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 pm; Friday, December 18 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 19 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm; Sunday, December 20 at 3 pm; Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 pm; Wednesday, December 23 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm; Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) at 3 pm; Saturday, December 26 at 3 and 7:30 pm; and Sunday, December 27 at 3 pm. Tickets to regular performances are $20-$48.

For tickets and information, call (773) 871-3000, or go to victorygardens.org. Call (773) 549-5788 ext. 2131 for discounted group rates. Five-play subscriptions including The Snow Queen and four more exciting productions start at only $80, and make wonderful holiday gifts.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SNOW QUEEN

HUMANITIES NIGHT - Thursday, December 3, 6 pm pre-show discussion; 7:30 pm performance
Come early for a pre-show panel discussion on issues and themes related to The Snow Queen.

HAPPY HOUR - Friday, December 11, 6 pm pre-show reception; 7:30 pm performance
The series formerly known as Pub Night has a new name - Happy Hour! Come early to meet friends and make new ones over pre-show appetizers and a free drink in our own Biograph lobby bar.

POST SHOW DISCUSSIONS - Every Wednesday during the regular run
December 2, 7:30 pm; December 16, 7:30 pm; December 23, 3 pm and 7:30 pm

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

Word for word captioning for patrons who are hearing impaired
Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 19 at 3 pm

Sign language interpretation for patrons who are hearing impaired
Saturday, December 19 at 3 pm

Audio descriptions for patrons who are blind or have low vision
Friday, December 18 at 7:30 pm; Sunday, December 27 at 3 pm

SPECIAL OFFERS AND DISCOUNTS

20 @ $20
Ask the box office about "20 @ $20": Victory Gardens always has 20 seats on sale for every show, for only $20 - in advance, not just day-of. Limit 4 per customer. Subject to availability.

Host your holiday party at the Biograph
Call (773) 549-5788 ext. 2131 or email information@victorygardens.org to learn about group discounts and holiday party options at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater.

Songs of the Snow Queen
The CD Songs of The Snow Queen, a fantastic soundtrack featuring 11 original songs from and inspired by Chicago's favorite homegrown holiday musical, is on sale at the Victory Gardens box office for only $15.

THE BASICS

Location: The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens box office - 773.871.3000 - or visit victorygardens.org.

Dining: Go to victorygardens.org/boxoffice for a list of Victory Gardens' dining partners. Each is within walking distance, and all offer a special discount to patrons who present a VGT ticket stub (day of show only.)

Parking: $11 valet parking is available for all shows. $6 discounted parking is available one block south at Children's Memorial Hospital for all shows except weekday matinees (no overnights). Metered and street parking is available, but mind the neighborhood parking restrictions.

Public transit: By CTA train, take the Red, Purple and Brown lines to the Fullerton stop. Walk east on Fullerton to Lincoln, then north 1/2 block to the theater. The #8 Halsted, #11 Lincoln, #37 Sedgwick/Ogden, and #74 Fullerton buses all stop at Fullerton and Halsted, 1/2 block south of the theater.

THE ORIGINAL CREATORS OF THE SNOW QUEEN

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in the slums of Odense, Denmark, the son of a shoemaker and a washerwoman. He went to university in Copenhagen where he became known for his poetry. His first book of fairy tales was published in 1835, followed by many other volumes of children's stories, almost one a year, until 1872. He wrote more than 150 fairy tales in his lifetime, including The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, and The Ugly Duckling, and his stories have been translated into over 100 languages. Tall and skinny with a big nose, Andersen always thought that he was very ugly. Hence, his tales showed compassion for those who are outcast and suffering, and that there is a magical beauty even within the most unlikely characters. Because of his wonderful stories, which were not meant merely for children but for adults as well, Andersen became known as the greatest writer in Denmark, and he remains one of the most beloved children's authors in the world.

Michael Peter Smith (Lyrics and Music, Musician) has been singing and composing since the 1960s, and more than 30 performers have recorded his rich and challenging songs. Smith's score for The Snow Queen echoes his past hits at Victory Gardens, his musical autobiography Michael, Margaret, Pat & Kate in 1994, winner of four Joseph Jefferson Awards, and Hello Dali: From the Sublime to the Surreal, his folk music homage to the world's great artists performed in 2000. Smith also wrote the music for Chicago Children's Theater's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant, in collaboration with Blair Thomas, as well as Frank Galati's staging of The Grapes of Wrath at Steppenwolf, which transferred to New York and won two Tony Awards. He is perhaps best known for writing "The Dutchman," a song that was popularized by Steve Goodman. He continues to perform regularly, and has been seen at dozens of major folk festivals. For more information, go to michaelsmithmusic.com.

Jim Corti (Director) returns for a third season to direct The Snow Queen having choreographed the previous two productions. He debuted at VG co-directing with Dennis Zacek while choreographing and performing You Move and directed Symphony Pastorale/Fugue and Doug Post's musical adaptation of Antigone, God and Country. At Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace he recently directed Cabaret and received a Jeff Award for Outstanding Director for Sweet Charity and a nomination for Meet Me In St. Louis that same year. Also for Drury Lane he helmed Damn Yankees, Bye Bye Birdie, and choreographed Company and Singin' In the Rain for which he received a Jeff for Outstanding Choreography. Corti was awarded a Jeff as well for his direction of Blues In the Night at Northlight where he choreographed City on the Make, a musical adaptation of Nelson Algren's stories. He directed The Cleveland Play House productions of A Day in Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine, A.. My Name is Alice, and The Canterbury Tales. For Writers' Theatre, he is currently directing Oh Coward! and will helm Lonnie Carter's The Lost Boys of Sudan at VG in the spring. A Broadway actor as well, Corti appeared in the New York cast of Ragtime, A Chorus Line, and Candide as well as the national tours of Urinetown, Cabaret, and Bob Fosse's Dancin'.

Blair Thomas & Co. (Puppet Design) is a company of collaborators founded by Blair Thomas, co-founder and former artistic director of Chicago's Redmoon Theater. In addition to The Snow Queen with co-puppet designer MerEdith Miller, his credits include the recently concluded Hard Headed Heart: A Chicago Neighborhood Tour, The Selfish Giant for Chicago Children's Theater, The Oxherder's Tale at Museum of Contemporary Art, Cabaret of Desire at DCA Theatre, Trinity Repertory's A Christmas Carol, and The Rabbit's Tale with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Before this he started Chicago's award-winning Redmoon Theater in 1989 and served as artistic director and co-artistic director until 1998. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was the first Jim Henson Artist in Residence at the University of Maryland.

ABOUT VICTORY GARDENS THEATER

Victory Gardens Theater is home to the bold voices of world premiere theater. The company features the work of its own 14-member Playwrights Ensemble, as well as that of exciting playwrights who are changing theater in the United States and abroad. Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Regional Theatre. The company's dedication to developing, supporting and producing new work makes Victory Gardens an American Center for New Plays.

Working with a $3.1 million annual budget in 2009-2010, Victory Gardens continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Dennis Zacek, Executive Director Jan Kallish, Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner, Board President Jeffrey Rappin, a dedicated staff and board, and the support of its loyal subscribers.

Victory Gardens Theater is supported by the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), a stage agency, and is partially supported by a CityArts Program 4 Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Major funders also include Alphawood Foundation, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Arie & Ida Crown Memorial, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Illinois Tool Works, Joyce Foundation, Kraft Foods, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Albert Pick, Jr. Fund, Polk Bros. Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, Shubert Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, and Wrightwood Neighbors Association. For complete information, visit victorygardens.org.

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