After weeks of preparation, the Cortez Middle School Theater Department is prepared to thrill audiences with a large-as-life presentation of” Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
The play will follow a plot line similar to that contained in the Grimm’s Fairy Tale version of “Snow White.” Director Angela Garbardi emphasized however, that the play will be far less dark.
“(The plot) will have that weird little Grimm twist to it that makes it not Disney, but it’s not scary,” said Gabardi. “There is a witch, but she’s funny.”
Forty-four middle school students and six high school mentors make up the play’s cast, which includes a stage crew, lighting managers and costume assistants. Montezuma-Cortez High School director Nicholas Sandner also assisted with the production.
“Everybody has been incredible,” said Garbardi. “The high school mentors came in the last few weeks to teach the (middle school) kids about backstage etiquette and tech etiquette. They all came through the CMS program, and they’ve done a good job of showed the kids where they can go.”
Among the middle school students participating in the play will be Sydney Bostrom, an eighth-grader, who will play the role of Snow White. Bostrom said that the most challenging aspect of her role has been memorizing lines.
“I like being one of the main characters,” said Bostrom. “In past years, I’ve only had one or two lines. I’ve spent a lot of long weekends working on my lines.”
Also playing a main role in the production will be sixth-grader Elana Short, who will play the role of the Evil Queen. Although this will be Short’s first major theater role, she said that she’s looking forward to the experience.
“It hasn’t been hard to play (the Evil Queen),” Short said. “I just pretend that I’m mad at my sister all of the time.”
In addition to the actors and actresses in the play, multiple stagehands, including Naomi Binia and Chance Comisky, will combine to make the production possible. Binia will assist with lighting and audio, while Coty will assist actors backstage.
“I was chosen for the position of stage manager, and I love it,” said Comisky .
According to Gabardi, the play will show at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 13. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for children under 13 and seniors. CMS staff and students can attend free with the presentation of a student or staff identification card.
Gabardi said that she is hoping that a large number of people from the community will attend the play.
“I think it’s amazing what sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders can do,” said the director. “These kids have illustrated immense talent, great talent and they’re having fun on stage. Having that audience makes it 10 times more fun for them.”