Evil spying ears of corn, heroic unicorns, and adorable mushrooms delighted audiences over the weekend as Boulder Elementary students performed in the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “Rapunzel.”
With hilarious scenes, including one in which bears confuse Rapunzel with Goldilocks and chase her through the forest, the play presents a message of personal triumph and the irreplaceable value of friendship. It was not a cast of thousands, but it was a cast of nearly sixty, allowing for students of all ages to find a role.
With tryouts on Monday and rehearsals all week, the students were well prepared for their Friday and Saturday performances. Madison Johnson and Abigail Youde towered over the cast with their portrayals as Rapunzel. Kolbe Michaud and Kael Hesford as the princes, and Emma Brown as the evil Madame Gothel moved the story along.
From the eldest cast members, as the Wood Elves whose talented singing explained the plot changes, to the youngest, who needed only to be themselves as the Mushrooms to get oohs and aahs from the audience, the program was once again the welcome spring show locals have come to expect from the Missoula Children’s Theatre.
Leading the young people through their week of practices and the performance were Seth Holman, who portrayed Frenchy, and Monica Domena, the MCT tour director. Both are adult members of the MCT who travel the state helping schools all across Montana enjoying the same pleasures that filled the state in Boulder this month. Missoula Children’s Theatre is partially supported by the Montana Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts as well as donations from audiences.
To learn how you can contribute, contact Brit- ton Mann at Boulder Elementary or MCT Development Director Cate Sundeen at csundeen@MCTinc.org.
