Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1912 play)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a stage play adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Snow White," written by Jessie Braham White. Premiering in 1912, it was a popular theatrical production, particularly notable for its successful Broadway run. Unlike some earlier stage versions, White's play helped solidify certain elements of the story in popular culture, including the names of some of the dwarfs.

The play featured a villainous queen (often referred to as either the Queen or the Stepmother) driven by vanity and envy of Snow White's beauty. Snow White, characterized by her innocence and kindness, flees into the forest to escape the Queen's murderous intentions. She finds refuge in the cottage of seven dwarfs, each with distinct personalities, though not always individually named. The Queen uses trickery, eventually employing a poisoned apple, to bring about Snow White's apparent death. A prince, captivated by Snow White's beauty, awakens her from her enchanted slumber, breaking the Queen's spell. The play typically concludes with Snow White and the Prince's marriage and the Queen's demise, often involving a punishment fitting her crimes.

The 1912 play significantly influenced subsequent adaptations of "Snow White," including the iconic 1937 Disney animated film. Many familiar tropes and characterizations from later versions can be traced back to Jessie Braham White's theatrical interpretation.