Missoula Children's Theater Production Showcases Community Talent
Author: mt43news staff reporter
MT43 News Staff Reporter
Acting talent lies right under the surface in children, a fact Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT) leaders know by heart. Veteran actor-directors Bridget Forsythe and Savanah Price coaxed that talent out Saturday when 28 grade school and middle school students performed the play “Hercules”.
A classic Greek play about Hercules the legendary strong man who must carry the torch to begin the games, starred Axel Brakefield as Hercules. Kathryn Six played a strong part as Androcles, along with Caleb Crusch as king of gods, Zeus. A supporting cast included Madelyne Truesdell, Socrates; Lillian Stauww, Aristotle; Scarlett Aguirre, Hera; Sophia Demetriades, Helen of Troy; Pegasus, Roxie Burns; Archimedes, Katy Crusch and Homer, AJ Saxby. Chloe Bennett played the really scary lion.
The influencers of the games starred Holly Hazlett, River Spurlock, Ruby Aguirre, and Paisley Daniels. Most important were the actual teams who played in the games, including the Cyclops-Brock Hall, Wyatt Martin and Liam Easter; Olympians – Louise Cahill, Phoenix Aguirre, Remi Smith and Mathew Barragan and the tough Titans -Hazel Hazlett, Wesleyan Spurlock, Harper Smith, Landon Nimmick, Cody Martin and Amelia Six.
From the time the students audition for parts on Monday until Saturday when they perform, they must learn their parts as well as learn to dance the routines and sing the songs. It’s a major effort for them. It’s also a major effort for their parents and grandparents to get them to practice. Those guardians were well rewarded with all the effort put into the play.
Veteran MCT accompanist Lori Morris kept things moving with each song. Coordinator Amanda Hazlett set up the sound and many chairs, plus helped set up and take down the set. The theater production was hosted by Broadwater Community Theater along with the generous use of Broadwater High School’s stage gym and the Community Library Room for 6 days.
Broadwater Community Foundation and Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation provided grant monies to fund the performance. Sponsors of the theater funded the remainder of the costs. They are Jax’s Heating and Air, East Helena; Pat Plantenberg and Mary Mistek, Dwight and Julie Thompson, Jeannie Mainwaring, Jan Hubber, Nancy Marks, Ron and Mary Ann Salladay, John and Tamie Hahn, Judy Schenk, Chuck McLane, Bob Saxby, Townsend Rotary, Jack and Judy Gillespie, Vic and Pam Sample, Joe and Kim Kondelik, Pam Bucy, Sharon McMillan and Sharon Potenza.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Actor and Director Bridget Forsythe leads the Olympians in song during the "Hercules" play Saturday.
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Hercules (Axel Brakefield) presents the torch to Kind of the Gods Zeus (Caleb Crusch) while others look on.
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
