Townsend Students Strut Their Talents In Pied Piper Play
Author: mt43news staff reporter
Townsend Students Strut Their Talents in Pied Piper Play
MT43 News Staff Reporter
Angelina Wirtz stole the show Saturday at the Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT) production of Pied Piper. The littlest rat, Angelina, felt her baggy pants begin to slip during the rats’ song and dance number. She carefully wriggled them up, never missing a beat of her part. The crowd of parents and grandparents laughed out loud at what they thought was part of the show.
Students who performed in the production were Blair Taylor, Tia Tallwhiteman, Ayden Thompson, Kianna Tallwhiteman, Roxy Burns, Angel Sentinella, Tessie Hughes, Aurora Toney, Sevigne Flynn, Kaylee Flynn, Izzy Sentinella, Madelyne Truesdell, Harper Hazlett, Paisley Daniel, River Spurlock, Weslyn Spurlock, Angelina Wirtz, Remi Smith and Harper Smith.
The show was the culmination of five days of hard work for nineteen grade school and high school students, some of whom had never acted. They learned to sing, dance and act, thanks to the professional coaching of Raven Whitefawn and Dylan Hearley of Missoula Children’s Theater Productions of Missoula.
Whitefawn and Hearley are part of a 64-member troupe who tour all over the United States, Canada and 16 countries, to bring the fine art of acting to school children. The program reaches 65,000 children annually and has been touring for over 50 years. Hearley, from Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Steven’s Point. Whitefawn graduated from Wilkes University. The newly minted actors joined MCT in May 2024 and will serve out their contracts by traveling throughout this year. They drive to a destination, stay in people’s homes, put up the set out of their truck, train the children, provide the costumes, produce the show, then take it all down and travel to the next school. “I did a few Missoula shows growing up so when the company reached out and expressed interest, I knew it was a perfect match. I want to share everything performing has taught me, with the kids – confidence, quick thinking, honesty and so much more,” Hearley said.
Committee Co-Chairman Amanda Hazlett lined up housing for the actors and generally put together programs, lined up the high school stage auditorium and filled in the details for the production.
Hazlett would like to thank Broadwater High School for the use of the auditorium, head janitor Jim Riddle, piano accompanist Lori Morris and Ann Inghram and Nancy Marks for hosting the directors. She thanks Broadwater Community Theater sponsors who help bring fine arts programs to Townsend. Another MCT production is planned for next year.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Amanda Hazlett and Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Pied Piper actors celebrate after giving a successful performance last Saturday.
***Photo very dark and blurry- replaced with clearer photo ~STwm***
Image 2 Caption: The Hamelin rats act their scariest as the littlest rat does her best to keep her pants from falling down. From left: Remi Smith, Harper Smith, Weslyn Spurlock and Angelina Wirtz.
Photo Credit: Nancy Marks
Image 3 Caption: Pied Piper actors celebrate after giving a successful performance last Saturday.
Photo Credit: Sarah Tallwhiteman
