Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Skip to content

CES performs the Missoula Children's Theatre rendition of Rapunzel

For over 40 years the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) has focused on helping youth discover a passion for performing and assisting youth in developing life skills.
GN201310311019997AR.jpg
Fun Gus (Jaiden R.) pops up out of the mushroom patch to say a few final words during the performance.

For over 40 years the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) has focused on helping youth discover a passion for performing and assisting youth in developing life skills.

"Just this year, we will work with 65,000 children in more than 1,200 communities in all 50 states and 17 countries," MCT director Eli Halterman explained.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair," Madame Gothel, played by Madison Hourd, calls during the Carlyle Elementary School's rendition of Rapunzel as directed by MCT on Friday, Oct. 25.

As people settled in their seats and young children took to standing in the aisles or on chairs with their parents watching them closely, the play began.

Though usually set in Germany, this rendition of Rapunzel took place in France where Madame Gothel trades garden goods to Maurice (Kaedin Slykhuis) and Monique (Kaysha Turner) for their first born child. Rapunzel, played by both Sydney Flynn and Jillian Hietanen, was then locked in a tower by Gothel with the intent to make a wig from Rapunzel's hair.

Through the antics of a forgetful prince, played by both Brayden Hill and Judah Wardrope, Frenchy, the narrator played by Laura Barron of MCT, and the help of forest creatures Rapunzel is saved from the tower.

Upon discovery Madame Gothel tracks them down through the help of her spies, two Ears of Corn (Taris Rae and Morgan Robertson), and Potato (Coty Hofos). It is when they are caught that Gothel is told she is a bully, which ends with her dedication to become kind.

Throughout their travels the characters meet Wood Elves (Asley Gilks, Cassidy Kinistino, Tori Chapman, Emily Bouchard, Kenna Hagel, Madison Messier, Emily Nelson, Kendra Schultz, and Carley Goudy), Unicorns (Tyra Newell and Payton Spry), Pixies (Sydnie Bouchard, Lainey Levesque, Darcie Rae, Bea Caan, Logan Procyk, and Zadie Gervais), Gremlins (Addyson Morse, Brianna Sharp, Paris Rutten, Samantha Colpitts, Makenna Slykhuis, and Brityn Baker), Billy Goats Gruff (Presley Wilcox, Breck Therens-Waterman, and Vashti Wardrope), Troll (Sheredin Slykhuis), Three Bears (Jiho Hur, Ashley Foster, and Tarris Valentine), Bucky the Beaver pretending to be a bear (Dylan Sparks), Ogres (Summer Rutten, Carter Morrison, Halle Schultz, and Madison Goudy), Fun Gus (Jaiden Riddell), and a multitude of Mushrooms (Kassidy Schultz, Emma Pelletier, Ty Fehrenbach, Shacal Taypotat, Rylee Frache, Brooklyn Laiss, Jole Yanyu-Littlechief, Lily Cormier, Aurora Maxie, Sawyer Tomaszewski, Gaige Laiss, Katie Yanyu-Littlechief, and Jayda Yanyu-Littlechief).

With the help of student directors Denita Shepherd and Audrey Barath, along with accompanist Carroll Dyck, under Halterman's direction, were able to successfully put on a wonderful production.

The children worked hard all week long, with auditions having been held on Monday, Oct. 21. Rehearsing after school each day the kids poured their hearts and souls into the performance.

Through dancing, singing, and acting the group of students chosen for parts in the play showcased their talents to a full gymnasium of family and friends who were all proud to watch their children on stage.

With much laughter and an abundance of applause the performance was a great success.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks