Neos Dance Theatre and UA bringing magically modern Snow White to life
Who is the fairest in the land? Neos Dance Theatre and The University of Akron are partnering to present a magically modern version of "Snow White and the Magic Mirror: A Grimm Tale" on Saturday, April 19.
Featuring live music, dramatic multimedia and inspired costumes, performances of Snow White are at 2 and 8 p.m. at UA's E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, 198 Hill St. Tickets range from $13-$28. They are available at the door as long as seats remain, and also in advance at 330-972-7570, the Thomas Hall Ticket Office and www.ticketmaster.com. To provide an intimate viewing experience for the audience, seats will only be sold in the orchestra section of the hall.
Collaborative production
Robert Wesner, the artistic director and co-founder of Neos Dance Theatre, choreographed this full-length work for Neos and a cast of 36 students from The University of Akron's Dance Program and Dance Institute. Appealing to all ages, the production also features musicians from the UA School of Music and throughout the area.
Stow native and Neos dancer Jennifer Safonovs is Snow White. Ashland resident Brooke Wesner, co-founder of Neos, is the Wicked Stepmother. Ethan Michael Lee of North Canton is dancing the role of the Huntsman and Alec Guthrie of Palo Alto, Calif., has the role of Snow White's Love. Neos dancers Erin Buck, Katie Edmonds, Mary-Elizabeth Fenn, Juliana Freude, Theresa Holland and Anna Trumbo are cast as the Woodland Fairies. The Mirror design and multimedia effects are by Andy Gardner and Lindsay Mulhollen.
"Snow White and the Magic Mirror, A Grimm Tale" is presented with support from Dominion, Hire Family Foundation, The Findlay Arts Partnership, the UA School of Music's Kulas Concert Series, Thomas Hall, and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund for Dance in Summit County, a fund of Akron Community Foundation.
Neos Dance Theatre is a company of young artists who are classically trained in ballet and passionate about new and contemporary dance. Its mission is to develop and serve audiences in Northern Ohio and become an ambassador of dance for the region and to a global dance community.
The Dance Program at The University of Akron prepares students for performing and teaching careers and graduate studies through traditional technical training imbedded within academic programs leading to B.F.A., B.A. and B.A. Dance Education degrees. The University of Akron is an institutionally accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.
The University of Akron's Dance Institute is a pre-professional program for children age 7 through high school. Founded in 1967, Dance Institute offers ballet-based training and prepares students for careers in dance performance and dance education, plus introductory dance classes for children ages 3-7 and recreational dance and conditioning classes for adults, teens, and children ages 7-12.
UA Dance Institute students in "Snow White and the Magic Mirror: A Grimm Tale":
- Jackie Armstrong, Bath
- Daniel Birchfield, Akron
- Zora Brown, Akron
- Haley Burns, Akron
- Callie Conzaman, Copley
- Katerina Gillespie, Macedonia
- Rebekah Gray, Akron
- Christopher Ha, Akron
- Casey Ha, Akron
- Alyssa Heller, Stow
- Farah Hestand, Akron
- Nina Hollopeter, Akron
- Heidi Hollopeter, Akron
- Jocelyn Magons, Wadsworth
- Margaret Mahaney, Akron
- Amanda Meder, Hudson
- Hannah Merle, Akron
- Faith Mills, Garrettsville
- Kathleen Mundy, Akron
- Abigail Murray, Akron
- Amanda Orban, Hinckley
- Baylie Perrin, North Canton
- Kaitlyn Rorar, Akron
- Delani J. Smith, Fairlawn
- Sierra Spoerndle, Wadsworth
- Barbara Sutherland, Akron
- Quinn Toth-Cseplo, Akron
- Zara Warford, Copley
UA Dance Program students in "Snow White and the Magic Mirror: A Grimm Tale":
- Elizabeth Bernhard, Shiloh
- Shannon Evans, Lancaster, Pa.
- Kathleen Horrell, Canal Fulton
- Christine Howe, Medina
- Alexandria LeBay, Macedonia
- Carey Ann Lopuchovsky, New Franklin Township
- Sarah Sutherland, Akron
Media contacts: Cyndee Snider, 330-972-5196 or cyndee@uakron.edu, Bobby Wesner, (artistic director of Neos Dance Theatre), 419-651-4938 or informationneos@gmail.com, or Christina Foisie, (manager of UA Dance Institute), 330-972-7910 or cfoisie@uakron.edu.
Jennifer Safonovs in the title role of "Snow White and the Magic Mirror: A Grimm Tale." Photo by Bryce Millikin.