Author Description

Nothing is going well for Marta. She's competing with her best friend, Kelly, for the role of Gerda in a dance production of The Snow Queen at their local arts center. She now only speaks to her friend, Nicholas, online. Marta's mom is still "six feet deep" in the cemetery, and suddenly her father, Timo, is back from Cleveland--with a "partner." In his effort to reconnect with his daughter, Timo accepts the ballet teacher's offer to be part of The Snow Queen ballet. Marta isn't sure what to think of this intrusion into her private world of dance. Marta meets Timo's partner, Mark, who has built her a barre in their home and who is "nicer than her dad." Ultimately, father and daughter dance the roles of the Hobgoblin King and the Hobgoblin Princess. They dance toward each other keeping their eyes locked, turning, connecting, turning, connecting--a beautiful and disciplined effort to keep from getting too dizzy. Lighthearted at times, the play also navigates strong emotional territory as Marta deals with loss, abandonment and, ultimately, forgiveness.