One would think the "Snow Queen" story is well known to children, not to mention the adults. Yet, even a story so familiar to all can turn out bright, gripping, and moving: everyone who came to the beautiful Christmas party were able to experience that. The party had been organized by the children from the Sunday school at St. Alexander Nevsky church: they performed a lovely play, "Snow Queen," that left no one unmoved.

Breathless, the audience of all ages (about 900 people!) were following the adventures of the courageous and loving Gerda. The performance of the talented young cast – ages 9 to 19 – would make the audience at times laugh and at times cry, but always empathize with the characters.

A few days later the "Snow Queen" traveled up north in our region: the young cast went to the Merkushino village to give a Christmas party for the children from the neighboring villages. The kids from the countryside always await such holidays far in advance, and there is always the "sold out" sign in the auditorium of the cultural center of the Vostochny settlement. When the curtain was drawn, a harmonious "Ah!" was heard out of the auditorium, so impr essive was the stage scenery. The exclamation would resound now and then throughout the play. After the performance, the young actors went together with the young audience in a round dance – and here began the fun around the Christmas tree! And when gifts – sweets and stuffed animals – were handed out to the countryside children, there was no end of joy!