Family Holiday Performance with Synetic Theater, “Snow Maiden”
A story of hope, friendship, and the power of dreams.
The magical and fully immersive experience of Silent Theater.
Based on the 19th-century folktale “Snegurochka” by Alexander Ostrovsky, “Snow Maiden” is a new production created and directed by Helen Hayes Award-winning choreographer and Synetic Co-Founder, Irina Tsikurishvili. In a 180-degree turn, following their stunning production of “Dracula,” Synetic gives us an equally mystical story of companionship, loss, and renewal but this time on the bright and hopeful end of the emotional spectrum. “Snow Maiden” is lovely, funny, and warm—and a unique and ideal family theatre event for this holiday season.
High in the mountains and deep in a snow-covered forest, an extraordinary friendship comes to a lonely boy who hopes for a friend. On Christmas morning, he builds a companion from snow, a Snow Maiden brought magically to life. Their friendship blossoms until the snow begins to melt around them.
A classically-trained ballerina, Maryam Najafzada shows her versatility as the charmingly mischievous Snow Maiden. She is the perfect counterpart to Vato Tsikurishvili as The Boy.
Performing without words, the two actors make all the jokes funny, shine on each other with warmth and respect, and create a delightful holiday gift for the audience.
Tsikurishvili excels at traditional mime and clowning—the athletic comedy necessary to make a pantomime work. The audience gasped more than once at his gymnastic performance. A ballet duet between the two characters in the snow is a highlight of the production.
The enchanting score combines holiday classics and music by resident composer Koki Lortkipanidze. You will hear strains of “The Nutcracker” and “The First Noel” amid the original compositions.
“Snow Maiden” is a charming holiday show family and friends of all ages will enjoy. Young children especially will be engaged by the spirit of mischief the two characters evoke as they compete to make the biggest snowball, catch magic spots of starlight, and ice skate. Without giving too much away, opportunities exist for gentle audience participation designed with children in mind. - MD Theatre Guide.
The show is also getting rave reviews:
"A true gem of a show and a perfect production to see this holiday season." -BroadwayWorld
"Lovely, funny, and warm—and a unique and ideal family theatre event...creates a delightful holiday gift for the audience." -MD Theatre Guide
"A family show that hits the mark with the younger audience and holds its own with the old-sters too...heartwarming to see families of three generations: children, parents, and grandparents." -Sun Gazette
"...In a span of just 45 minutes, Tsikurishvili and Najafzada take the audience on a spirited and tender journey from bare loneliness to rich companionship. Synetic Theater's Snow Maiden is funny and heartfelt, and the way it tells its story is truly a delight to watch. Prospective audience members - children and adults alike - who are unfamiliar with Synetic's signature, which utilizes movement as the medium for storytelling, are in for a real treat...." -BroadwayWorld
Running time: Approximately 45 minutes with no intermission. After the Show there will be a holiday reception at the Great Room.
COVID-19 POLICY: In the interest of everyone’s safety, all guests 5 years of age or older will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for entry to the Theatre House. Alternately a negative PCR test (taken within 48 hours) or antigen test (taken within 24 hours of the performance) and a valid ID for guests 18 years or older are required.
Masks indoors are now optional.
This policy is subject to review.
Founded in 2009 by Maestro Lorin Maazel and Dietlinde Turban Maazel, the Castleton Festival introduced classical music, theatre, and opera to the rolling hills of Rappahannock County.
Castleton has been a life-changing experience for over 3,000 participants. Set in one of the most beautiful areas of Virginia, Castleton’s performances take place at the Theatre House: a former chicken coop for 15,000 hens converted to a “mini-Globe” European-style theatre with one of the finest acoustics in the world.
There are four primary themes to Castleton’s present activities:
- Castleton in Residency (CiR): one- to four-week Residencies for Artists of the highest caliber furthering their collaborative work and artistic growth. Artists are invited based on outstanding talent. In line with Maestro Maazel’s ethos, they are proactively encouraged to take risks and to challenge their artistic boundaries. The opportunity to fully immerse in the Maestro’s Legacy, his home, his music library, and his composing studio, together with performing in the Theatre House and experiencing the bucolic surroundings, imbues the artists with inspiration. Residencies to date have exceeded all expectations culminating in numerous recordings, some available via streaming on Castleton’s website.
- Castleton in Mentorship (CiM): Artists in Residence are encouraged to make time available to teach Master Classes to high potential students from the local community. The Artists are also invited to bring their own students to participate in the unique experience.
- Castleton in Conversation (CiC): In collaboration with Daniel Lelchuk’s Talking Beats podcast, Castleton offers a new series which engages an extraordinary diversity of guests such as writers, musicians, scientists, entertainers, and thinkers in captivating and spirited dialogue. The common link between all is a passion for music.
- Castleton in Performance (CiP), a year-round series, offers a multicultural experience. This thematically diverse series of recitals, chamber music, jazz, world music, theatre, chamber opera, and dance, brings internationally acclaimed artists into our own backyard. Eminent performers have included Mstislav Rostropovich, José Carreras, Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Sir James Galway, Wynton Marsalis, Pepe Romero, Alec Baldwin, and Claire Bloom.
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