The North Atlanta Drama Society debuted its One Act for this season, Snow White and the Seven Endings, early this October. Safe to say, this electrifying performance put a unique twist on the classic fairytale where the audience gets to see seven different ways this timeless story could have taken place. For many, it looks like a seamless performance, where the characters are dressed in bright costumes and enjoy eating apples in their off time – wait, scratch that, avoid the apples – but the first part of that is still true. However, what many people do not know is all the effort and hard work that gets put into this showcase.
The One Act itself is the story of Snow White told seven different ways and from seven different genres; traditional (think fairytale), slapstick comedy, melodrama, Shakespearean, mystery, interpretive dance, and action/adventure. Each character had their style in their performances, which was vividly demonstrated through their costumes and acting choices as they retold the Snow White story again and again. Navigating this performance would not have been possible without the guidance and instruction of Nathan Snyder. Snyder is a Theater Fundamentals and Theater Tech teacher at North Atlanta who served as the director of the One Act. “We needed something character-driven and light after our previous One Acts,” said Synder. “Directing it was such a fun experience because of all the different things we got to do. It felt like directing seven different shows all at the same time, something I enjoyed getting to explore.”
Each actor also had their own unique experience throughout this process. They were trying to fully express themselves in the genre their character had been given, as well as trying to fit their character into the other narratives when their involvement was needed. Spending at least four to eight hours a week working on this performance, inside and outside of rehearsals, these actors truly gave their all when it came down to performing. Casted as Plucky, a Shakespearean forest dweller, senior Aria Brooks was one of many who appreciated this new opportunity. “This show got me out of my comfort zone and being a part of other scenes challenged me as an actor which was something I loved to experience,” said Brooks. “The interactions between all the characters made the show come to life and developed as we worked together as a cast.”
This production would not have been remotely possible without the tech crew who helped make it run so smoothly. This crew was responsible for not only the lighting and sound effects, but also the set, costumes, props, and many more little details that without them, the show would not have had the same magical feeling. “Honestly, it can be stressful when helping with tech because I worry about something going wrong,” said junior Maya Hullum, one of the stage managers. “However, once the show starts, that worry just disappears and it truly is a lot of fun.”
The cast and crew of Snow White and the Seven Endings continue to work towards their One Act Competition at the end of October. And for those of you wondering what the next One Act might look like, only time will tell (well, that and taking a slice of life – apple pie sorry!).
