It's all good in the hood
<p>Emily Morigeau, left, waits backstage with her fellow raccoons as St. Ignatius students perform Missoula Children's Theatre's Red Riding Hood last Friday.</p>
<p>The cast of Red Riding Hood gathers for a group photo on Friday afternoon. The program organized by the Missoula Children's Theatre, required students to audition and learn lines over a four-day period in time to perform a live show for fellow students. A second show was performed for parents and the community Friday evening.</p>
<p>Red Riding Hood played by Sydney Castor , finally reaches Grandma's House. Grandma was played by Brianda Jackson and the Big Bad Wold was played by Steven Thomas of the Missoula Children's Theatre.</p>
<p>Jazmin Druffel/ Baby Hood rehearses her lines before the performance on Friday.</p>
<p>From left to right, Sophie Tolbert, Morgan Hall, Trinity Lewandowski, Aaron Johnson and Troy Tron practice their lines before the performance on Friday.</p>
<p>From left to right, Tori Peterson, Sydney Brander, Mataya Jore-Padilla and Azai Umphrey heat things up as flames on Friday's performance.</p>
ST. IGNATIUS — Mischievous wolves and rosy- cheeked raccoons lined up backstage Friday afternoon in eager anticipation of St. Ignatius’ performance of Little Red Riding Hood. The play is put-on by members of the Missoula Children’s Theatre and stars 50 St. Ignatius students from the Elementary, Middle and High School in an original musical adaptation.
Allie Kauling and Steven Thomas, “Actors in Standing” at the Missoula Children’s Theatre, directed, auditioned, and even performed in the production.
The show was part of the Performing Arts Workshop Medley that the theatre offers to schools as a way to incorporate more performing arts into the community.
The troupe presents the performance after a four-day workshop where students are auditioned and required to learn lines.
“It is an amazing experience to see how far they come in 4 days.” Kauling said about the students, many of whom have little or no experience acting.
“This workshop teaches life skills , commitment and teamwork.”
Thomas starred as the “Big Bad Wolf, “ (whom it turns out is not so very bad after-all.) said,
“This is an experience to do something in a short period of time and students are able to see that if they work hard they can be successful at whatever they choose to do.”
“The performance was just wonderful! Some of the parents said it was the best play they had ever seen.
St. Ignatius second grade teacher Paula Schock said. Schock has organized the collaboration between the theatre and the schools for the past few years and was pleased with the outcome.
“The children were very happy, parents and the community were entertained, it was a very successful show.” Schock said,
“I can’t wait to have the Missoula Children’s Theatre back next year!”