Menu
Robin Hood and the rest on stage Saturday
Wacky humor and an original music score add a fresh new look to a legendary outlaw in a legendary time.
A cast of 57 young Southwest Nebraska-area performers has been selected to present an original musical stage performance of "Robin Hood," Saturday in McCook. These performances conclude a week-long visit by touring directors from the famed Missoula Children's Theater.
Performances are set for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the McCook High School Auditorium. Cost for the show is $4 for all seats.
"Robin Hood" is an original adaptation of the classic children's tale, but it is unlike any version of the tale that you have probably ever seen. The show features the antics of Robin Hood and his Merry Band deep in magical, mythical Sherwood Forest. In this twist, the band is not made up of outlaws and thieves, however, it is comprised of colorful out-of-work actors, musicians, comedians, dancers and jugglers.
Christopher Boyd and Victoria Tjoelker, professional actors and directors from the Missoula Children's Theater, have been working intensely with the cast since their auditions Monday afternoon. This direction team has been touring together throughout the school year, and has presented this play for other communities in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.
Playing the title hero of Robin Hood is McCook High School student Carson Kain. His Merry Band of characters includes roles performed by JoanAnn Blomstedt, Kaitlynn Eaton, Joseph McCarty, Nathan McCarty, Kellanie Pinkal, Erin Premer, Megan Rokusek, Chelsea Svoboda, Elizabeth Wilcox, Emily Wood and Stefani Yeager.
Jessica Lotter is featured as the Maid Marion, and Nikea Grove portrays her Maid.
Robin and his Band will seek the help of the Foresters -- played by Mallory Baum, Tyler Cuellar, Aubrey Fredrick, Savannah Fulgham, Madysyn Garcia and Emily Karr -- as they seek to waylay the Aristocrats, portrayed by Joey Anderjaska, Andie Jernigan, Kiley Machart, Alaini Priebe, Austin Rice and Chandler Wagner.
Ethan Poore, who plays frustrated Prince John, orders his Sheriff (Raini Goltl), the Guards (Courtney Baum, Arianna Galla, Nicole Green, Trenton Klimper, Laura McCarty, McKenzie Schmitz, and Megan Swartz) and the Horsemen (Rio Bustamante, Becca Sehnert, Mishka Waya, and Keegan Williams) to find and arrest Robin Hood.
In the end, the arrest is foiled by the aromatic Skunks played by Alley Baker, Brodie Baum, Gracie Fredrick, Greg Gaston, Joey Lynn Knappert, M'Kayla Lytle, Karlie Sines, John Slaby, Shelby Stevens, Courtney Thompson, Tori Tietz and Logan Vrgas.
Chosen as student Assistant Directors for the Saturday production are Alyssa Karr, Justin Salyer, Katrina Stewart and Faith Swanson.
Christopher Lyons of McCook will be performing the piano accompaniment for the show.
The students in the cast, auditioned for their roles Monday morning, from a talented group of 93 local kindergarten through 12th grade students. This diverse group of students hails from 10 different communities, including McCook, Culbertson, Indianola, Trenton, Stratton, Palisade, Curtis, Hayes Center, Cambridge and Wilsonville.
This year the Missoula Children's Theater will present more than 1,100 residencies in all 50 states, four Canadian provinces and 15 other countries in Europe and Asia -- communities from Wisconsin to Japan to McCook, Nebraska. In all, more than 55,00 young people will participate as performers in the intercontinental tour program. This residency marks the fifth time that they have appeared on the McCook stage.
The project is presented locally by the Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association, in cooperation with the McCook High School Thespian Society, the McCook Arts Council and the McCook Optimist Club. For more information on this and future local children's theater programs, contact Trevor Premer at (308) 345-7419 or kidstheater@mccooknet.com.