Beijing Playhouse -- Snow White

Where have I been the past 10 weeks?  Rehearsing and performing in Beijing's English Language Theater Production of Snow White.

Opening Number, performed to a rendition of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

And a cast song as well.

Two fairy sisters, our narrators.

On the right, Clarissa the Cook, in the employ of the Evil Queen and on the left, her son Muddles.

Queen Evilynn

Her Minions.

Myself in the background.  I am the Queen's Herald, always annoucing her presence.  Here she is asking the Magic Mirror, "who is the fairest in the land"

The Queen and her Minions in a rendition of "I Will Survive" in which she attempts to seduce Prince Valiant.

Any scene with the Queen was a show highlight.  I was lucky to always be on stage with the Queen and be apart of her amazing act.

The Queen molests the Prince and I get molested by a Minion.

The Comic Relief Scene in the Kitchen with Clarissa and Muddles.

Whipped Cream in the face, broken eggs everywhere.  The scene was a big winner with the audience.

Next scene has the Queen finding out from the Magic Mirror that the Prince has met and fallen in love with Snow White.  I didn't have many lines, but I got to make lots of faces!

The Queen ordering Muddles to kill Snow White.

Muddles and Snow White in the forest where he plans to kill her, but devises a plan to trick the Queen into THINKING he killed Snow White.

The Three Kings informing Snow White of the presences of a dwarves cottage deep in the forest.

Meanwhile back at the castle, Clarissa is locked up and watched by two guards.  (That's not me on the right, but my friend Dong Tien)

Alas, this picture doesn't do justice to the scene.  The Queen is given what is supposedly Snow White's heart and releases Clarissa.

The showstopping number, the entrance of the dwarves.  And yes, the dwarf on the left is 6 feet 2 inches tall!!

The dwarves and Snow White.

In my favorite scene, the Queen hatches a plan to drink a magic potion to disguise herself and "deal with Snow White" herself.  I get to waltz with the Queen in this scene!!  And I get to sing as well.

The Queen now as the Old Hag with the Minions climbing overthemselves to get the poison apple the Old Hag has tossed aside.

A Modern Dance deep in the forest.

A recently freed Mirriam the Magic Mirror, Clarissa, Muddles and the Prince hanging out in the forest.

Don't eat the poisoned apple Snow White!!!

The dwarves mourning Snow White's death.

After a kiss from the Prince, Snow White returns to life....

And we sing Jingle Bells as a final number!

So, where have I been these past 10 weeks upon return from the school trip to Gansu??  I've spent three or four nights a week rehearsing with Beijing Playhouse's Christmas Musical Snow White.  Having never really done any live theater, and having nothing else to do but sit at home and watch television, and upon the encouragement of DD, I overcame my inhibitions and went to the auditions back in late September.  I got a call back (which I took to be a good sign) and before the October trip, I got a call from the director saying I was cast!!!  My role was a minor character with few lines "Chop, Chop, The Queen" was one I said on more than one occasion, but I was on stage six times a performance, mostly in a reactionary comic relief character.

Upon reflection, now that I've finished all 16 performances (year, over 2,000 people saw the show over the course of two and a half weeks) I have to say that I could not have asked for a better thing to participate in as an introduction to my life here in Beijing. What was special about it (as are all those things in life that are memorable) is that it was 30 cast members and an equal number of crew ALL WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL.  There were no egos.  No one was making money off of this experience.  We were all there to have fun and entertain.  And when it came together, it was magic.  It's one of those special feelings when everyone is on the same page, working towards the same goal.

And who were these people I was on stage with.  Chris V., many years ago had a vision to bring English Language Theater to China and he established Beijing Playhouse. It has grown to running kids theater camps and producing two to three shows a year. He has attracted an amazing international cast.  Our cast of 30 had a Snow White from Finland, the Prince from Argentina, and others from Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, China, France, India, England, Indonesian, South Africa, the Philippines and Uganda.  Hell, I got to meet the famed Tim Tebow's cousin as she was our musical director.

As I write this, I'm on the post show high. Just back from the cast party where we all stood around the piano and sang all the songs from the show. We had all heard each others songs that it was so fun to finally belt out another characters song.  The we sang Christmas Carols.  It's just like all those great times in life, I just had to savor the moment as I knew that ALL of us would never be in one place again. We will only have those memories, but great ones they are.  We can be proud of the show we put on and have the smiles on our faces from the grand times we had in rehearsal and on stage.  Thanks to all my fellow Snow White cast members.