Firestone Theatre delves into story of women behind Disney's 'Snow White' with drama 'The Fairest'

The talented artists who worked in the all-women ink and paint department creating hundreds of frames for the original Disney film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" functioned under an intense deadline in 1937 Hollywood.

The drama "The Fairest," which opens this year's Firestone Theatre season and will run Thursday through Saturday, explores how these women worked around the clock with little sleep, low pay and no air conditioning to finish the animated "Snow White" film. Men created the cartoon's original sketches, which the women then traced with black marker onto clear celluloid and painted in a numbered system according to the men's specifications.

"They would only work on these particular characters, and they weren't allowed to make any artistic or creative decisions about anything. It just had to be done the way they were being told to do it. Even though they had to be great artists, they couldn't really explore that artistry at all. They just had to do what they were told and get no credit for it," said director Mark Zimmerman.

This play, which was written by Cameron Darwin Bossert and premiered in New York in 2021, displays how the stressful circumstances in the ink and paint department took a physical and psychological toll on the women.

"At least two of these women are really struggling under this, like, assembly-line style" to create great art, Zimmerman said. "It's got a point of view because the women aren't being treated the same as the men, and they do start to stand up for themselves a little bit."

The all-female play stars senior Alaina Tennant as Frances, along with India Wray as Helen, Myliyah Phok as Hazel, Maggie Vollman as Grace, Miranda Bryan as Margie Belcher and Hanna Gippin as Betty Ann. In this play inspired by actual events, all of the characters' names are the real names of the historic Disney women. (Nineteen-year-old Margie Belcher, who served as the dance model for "Snow White," later married Broadway dancer and choreographer Gower Champion.)

The drama originated as a radio-style play during COVID with Bossert's theater company Thirdwing.

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At Firestone, Thursday's opening night will include a pre-show discussion with the cast and production team members. A post-show discussion will follow the final Saturday performance.

The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Firestone CLC, 470 Castle Blvd. in Akron. Cost is $10. Call 330-761-3275 or see firestonetheatre.com.

Firestone Theatre's 2023-2024 season

"The Fairest" is just one of many productions taking place across the Akron area over the next couple months.

The rest of Firestone Theatre's 2023-2024 season will include:

● "Alicia from the Real in Wonderland" Oct. 26-29. The play, a multicultural adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass," is written by Latinx playwright Carlos-Manuel and directed by Elynmarie Kazle. Alice is a 16-year-old who runs away after a fight with her mother and ends up meeting fantastical characters in a world full of wonders.

● "Dracula" Nov. 16-18. This feminist revenge fantasy is written by Kate Hamill and directed by Firestone alumna Jenni DeLuca. "The intent of the play is to expose the sexism of the original story," Zimmerman said.

● "Trial by Fire" Jan. 18-21, 2024. The drama by Akron playwright Eric Mansfield will receive its first fully staged production at Firestone. In this morality play about banned books, a private school teacher must stand up to the powers that be. Meanwhile, her students learn to stand up for themselves and what's important to them. With books being banned in other states, Mansfield wanted to make sure his play is produced in Ohio now, Zimmerman said.

● "The SpongeBob Musical" March 14-17, 2024. In this under-the-sea story based on the animated TV comedy and featuring original songs from Steven Tyler and Sara Bareilles, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save Bikini Bottom. "It doesn't have any gender requirement, so any characters can be played by anybody," Zimmerman said of the large cast.

'Murder on the Orient Express' at Weathervane

Another play set in the 1930s, Agatha Christie's classic whodunit "Murder on the Orient Express" opened last weekend at Weathervane Playhouse and continues through Oct. 15. In this thriller, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, passengers on the luxurious train must rely on detective Hercule Poirot (Adam C. Alderson) to figure out who murdered an American tycoon in his compartment overnight before the killer strikes again.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $14 to $33. Call 330-836-2626 or visit weathervaneplayhouse.com.

'Dracula' at Ohio Shakespeare Festival

The Ohio Shakespeare Festival will be getting spooky with its fan-favorite production of "Dracula," which has had sold-out runs in previous years at Greystone Hall, Thursday through Oct. 22 at 103 S. High St. in Akron.

This horror-adventure in Transylvania, adapted by local playwright Joe Pine from the novel by Bram Stoker, will take to the main stage with a new soundscape composed by company member Trevor Buda as well as new costumes, set designs and special effects.

Cost is $15 for the Thursday preview, free for students Oct. 12 and pay-what-you-will Sunday. Regular admission is $5-$35. See ohioshakespearefestival.com or call 330-574-2537.

Ohio Shakespeare also will host Dracula's Vampire Ball at 6 p.m. Oct. 14. The fundraiser will include food and drink, tarot readings, a photo booth, a live performance of "Dracula," dessert, and dancing and drinks on the stage after the show. Cost is $100.

Finally, the company will host its raucously popular ShakesBEER events at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, featuring an adults-only reading of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" in the theater bar. The ghost story by Sarah Coon and Joe Pine will return with live music, headless horsemen and plenty of beer.

Guests must be 21 and older. Cost is $15. See ohioshakespearefestival.com.

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None Too Fragile opens 'American Buffalo'

David Mamet's intense drama "American Buffalo" opens Friday at None Too Fragile at 732 W. Exchange St. in Akron, running through Oct. 21. In this 1975 play set in character Don's junk shop, lies, distrust, paranoia and backstabbing abound as three small-time hustlers scheme about a con job involving a valuable coin.

Cost is $35. See nonetoofragile.com or call 330-962-5547.

'Seussical' at Western Reserve Playhouse

Guests can enjoy the whimsical charm of Dr. Seuss with the musical "Seussical," featuring Horton and those Whos, which will play at Western Reserve Playhouse Friday through Oct. 21. The theater promises an imaginative comedy in this family-friendly show with music by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Director Dawn Sniadak-Yamokoski has dedicated the show to late Cleveland-area actor and director Kevin Joseph Kelly. Cost is $25. The theater is located at 3326 Everett Road in Bath Township. See thewrp.org or call 330-620-7314.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Firestone theater season begins with tale of women behind 'Snow White'