World Premier of Snow in the Jungle/ Nieve en la jungla in Maddy's Theatre
Sabrina Gallego as Mamá clutches her suitcase as Ava Keniston - Zorra as Alex the Alligator looks on with Bluee Brewster as Monkey.
Portland, Maine – The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) presents the world premiere production of Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla in Maddy’s Theatre October 8 through November 13, 2022. Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla is based on the children’s book by Ariane Hofmann-Maniyar and adapted for the stage by Maine playwright Nicole McNulty. The first season of theatre for young audiences in Maddy’s Theatre launched with the opening of the brand new Museum & Theatre building at Thompson’s Point in the summer of 2021. Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla is the second world premiere to appear on the Maddy’s Theatre stage following Crisscrossing the Galaxy at Faster Than the Speed of Light by Paco José Madden in January.
Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla tells the story of Nieve, a young polar bear who moves from the arctic to the jungle when her mother gets a new job. Nieve navigates the anxieties of moving to a new place and making new friends, all while facing a language barrier in this bilingual, intergenerational production.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the growing immigrant population of Portland,” says Nicole McNulty, Playwright. “Theatre is a medium that is uniquely posed to play back experiences shared by anyone who has ever found themselves in a similar situation… Whether an audience member identifies more with Nieve or someone in the jungle crew, I hope that the show is able to validate the struggles we all face to connect with one another, and how rewarding it can be when we start to topple those hurdles.”
Bringing the story from the picture book to the script was a collaborative process between playwright Nicole McNulty and members of the Maddy’s Theatre team, with Spanish language consultation from Bowdoin Professor Margaret Boyle. The Museum & Theatre team also worked closely with the University of Southern Maine (USM) and I’m Your Neighbor Books to distribute copies of Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla to families, along with copies of Infinite Country to older readers, all in the Greater Portland area. USM was awarded an NEA Big Read Grant that helped fund a series of activities including a performance of Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla that will be made available to low-income households and new Mainers, welcoming new audiences and increasing access.
Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla is directed by Robbie Harrison, and features Laura Guzmán as Nieve and Sabrina Gallego as Mamá, with Ava Keniston, Mabel Peterson, Juliet Moniz, Zack Handlen, Annabelle Beam, Bluee Brewster, and Hillary Perry making up the ensemble. The world premiere opens October 8th and runs through November 13th in Maddy’s Theatre.
Snow in the Jungle / Nieve en la jungla is produced with permission from Child’s Play (International) Ltd. Snow in the Jungle/ Nieve en la jungla is made possible by generous support from season sponsors Northeast Bank, and production sponsors Rosemont Market and Flatbread. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
For showtimes and tickets, visit kitetails.org/snow-in-the-jungle
For press images contact Allison McCall, Theatre Company Coordinator, allison@kitetails.org, (207) 828-1234 ext. 251
About the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine:
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine inspires discovery and imagination through playful exploration, with a focus on science learning, community engagement, performing and visual arts, and early childhood education. The Museum & Theatre is an indispensable resource for families and educators, helping to create a broad community devoted to children's development and learning. The Museum & Theatre is committed to providing access for children of all economic means and all abilities through various access initiatives. With almost one hundred years of children’s theatre history and nearly fifty years as a children’s museum, the award-winning organization is considered one of the top children’s museums in the country. Visit kitetails.org to learn more.
About Maddy’s Theatre:
Maddy’s Theatre at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is the oldest continuously operating children’s theatre in the nation. Just shy of what will be its one-hundredth birthday in 2023, Maddy’s Theatre has found its home at Thompson’s Point where it can truly “unleash magic” and inspire joy and discovery. Equipped with a teaching tech booth, a soundproof viewing gallery, its own dedicated lobby, and a green room and workshop backstage, Maddy’s Theatre is a state-of-the-art facility designed with young family audiences in mind. To learn more, volunteer, enroll in afterschool programs, workshops, and more visit kitetails.org/maddys-theatre.