There’s nothing in the theater quite like an intimate musical revue performed in a small venue. Instead of experiencing a show through the distant proscenium arch and picture-frame stage, a cabaret-sized space in which the actors’ every move and even facial expressions are front and center offers a more personal theatergoing experience.
Creative Cauldron Stage in Falls Church is blessed with such a space, complete with state-of-the-art lighting, sharp acoustics, and a cozy playing space that is just right for a small-cast revue.
Which is why Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook is such a satisfying production. Impeccably cast, staged with precision, and musically superb, this two-hour look at a potentially crumbling marriage will be a treat for audiences who catch it.
Nearly 30 Stephen Schwartz pieces are woven throughout the evening — from the Broadway composer’s early days of Godspell and Pippin, to the worldwide sensation Wicked, and many shows in between. However, calling Snapshots a musical revue is probably not 100 percent accurate; unlike many “and then I wrote…”–style revues of a single composer’s work, there is a storyline, written by David Stern, that is more than the usual skeletal framework of the piece. The book, as well as the tunes, gives the small cast more than enough material to bring to life.
As the lights come up on an impressionistic attic space, Sue is packing her suitcase, preparing to leave her longtime husband, Dan. As she packs, she picks up a scrapbook and thus begins her journey of memories, both sweet and bitter, of her time with Dan, since their first meeting as children. In a clever conceit, the youngest and young adult versions of Sue and Dan are portrayed by two additional performing couples. Older Sue and Dan not only relive their good and bad times together, but also see those moments play out again. Will they part ways by the end? Or will they rediscover some spark of hope along the way? These are the questions Scrapbooks brings to the surface, and it does so brilliantly.
Jennifer Redford is the older Sue, a rocksteady presence, whose intensity speaks volumes about her character’s progression from wide-eyed little girl to a woman, grown bitter by middle age. As her husband, Dan, Joshua Redford makes a strong impression with his sly humor and boyish charm. Redford and Redford? Yes, they are husband and wife off-stage, too. As performers, they have palpable chemistry, and their voices blend seamlessly in their musical numbers.
As the youngest versions of the couple, Gretchen Midgley Kaylor and Ben Ribler are charming and bring innocence and joy to their scenes and songs. Bringing to life 11-year-olds is no easy feat for grown-ups, but Kaylor and Ribler do it skillfully.
As the young adult version of the titular couple, now named Susan and Daniel, Sally Imbriano and Carl L. Williams bring them to life at their most romantic and connected.
The various permutations of the cast have a field day with the Schwartz songbook from start to finish. As mentioned, Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked are certainly well-known titles from the Schwartz canon. But more obscure shows such as The Magic Show, The Baker’s Wife, and Children of Eden provide some delightful treasures as well. No matter the source, Redford, Redford, Kaylor, Ribler, Imbriano, and Williams handle the songs with care and beauty. Stefan Sittig created lively choreography and staging for the six-member cast.
With a tunestack of nearly 30 songs, Snapshots is an embarrassment of musical riches, but here are some highlights: “Meadowlark,” “Spark of Creation,” “Moving in with Susan,” “Chanson,” and “Spark of Creation.”
Director Matt Conner and his designers Margie Jervis (scene design and properties) and Fern Middleton (lighting) use the intimate playing space to great advantage. E. Lieu Wolhardt provided accents to the scenic design with evocative projections.
Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook is a wonderful offering during these cold and icy times, a look at the complexities of marriage wrapped up in a heart-warming score by one of our best living theater writers.
Running time: Two hours, with one intermission.
Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook plays through March 8, 2026, at Creative Cauldron Stage, 27 E Broad St, Falls Church, VA. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Refer to the specific schedule of performances and purchase tickets online. Ticket prices range from $18 for students to $30 for adults, with group discounts available. Creative Cauldron is also always looking for volunteers who can earn free tickets; click here for more information.
Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook
Presented by Creative Cauldron Stage
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by David Stern
Additional Music and Lyrics by David Crane, Seth Friedman, Mrta Kaufman, Alan Menken, and Charles Strouse
Directed by Matt Conner
Music Direction by Elisa Rosman
Choreographer Stefan Sittig
CAST
Susan: Sally Imbriano
Susie: Gretchen Midgley Kaylor
Sue: Jennifer Redford
Dan: Joshua Redford
Danny: Ben Ribler
Daniel: Carl L. Williams
Understudies: Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo, Cristian Bustillos
—
