Local theater camp kids to put on ‘The Snow Queen’ on Saturday
Continuing a tradition that was started several summers ago, the Friends of Historic Breckenridge is once again hosting the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s kids theater camp this week. The program will wrap up on Saturday, June 22, with two performances of “The Snow Queen.”
Cast members of “The Snow Queen” rehearse the play on Thursday morning. They will present the production at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the National Theatre. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Saturday’s performances will be at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the National Theatre, 116 E. Walker, and will be open to the public. Tickets will cost $5 per person for each performance and may be purchased at the door or on Friday at the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce.
“The Snow Queen” is an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the same name. This version was written by Michael McGill, the executive director of the Missoula Children’s Theatre, which is located in Missoula, Montana, and presents theater camps each summer.
“The Snow Queen” is set in a “land of colored ice” and includes a cast of hobgoblins, snow animals, snow chickens and more. The story features Gerda and her quest to find her best friend while encountering the Snow Queen, a Yeti, robbers and more.
The mission of the Missoula Children’s Theatre is: The development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts. According to information from MCT, the theater program has been operating for more than 40 years and this year will work with 65,000 children in more than 1,200 communities in all 50 states and 17 countries.
In Breckenridge this summer, the MCT staff includes directors and tour actors Bridget Thesing and Justin Kline.
“They come in, and within a week, they’re able to teach the kids, rehearse and put on a play,” said Lisa Pitzer with the Friends of Historic Breckenridge.
The local cast of 49 kids for “The Snow Queen” includes:
Gerda – Regan Armstrong
Snow Queen – Abigale Wylie
Gardener Woman/Finnish Woman – Hannah Moreno
Kay – Aiden Boulevard
Gerda’s Grandma/Old Robber Woman – Bekah Moreno
Kay’s Grandma/Lappish Woman – Timber Russell
Bae – Reyse Hash
Yeti – Levi Adams
Little Robber Girl – Aurora Dawson
Mr. Crow – Brysen Hash
Mrs. Crow – Sara Griffith
Prince – Josiah Moreno
Princess – Providence Ezell
Hobgoblins – Elizabeth Prince, Taylor Champion, Shalie Ray, Kodee Crawford and Emma Griffith
Snow Animals – Sami Underwood, Isabelle Biddison, Ava Russell, Prentin Ezell, Sarah Moreno and Lane Bartoskewitz
Robbers – Lexington Boulevard, Hanna Griffith, Bella Morrison, Brooks Barton, Siler Morehart, Stella Ray, Kenzie Blackman, Maggie Wunsch, Samantha Prince and Blake Gilman
Snow Chickens – Davis Morehart, Evelyn Halari, Lydia Moreno, Joy Griffith, Clara Barton, Kalani Haiduk, Zavier Dawson, Caleb Windsor, Kaylee Lee, Will Martin, Aubryn Hayworth and Baze Russell
Assistant Directors – MagdaLynn Paul and Katherine Griffith
Accompanist – Anna Moreno
Lights/Sound – Bo Asher
Hob/Tour Actor/Director – Bridget Thesing
Director/Tour Actor – Justin Kline
The production is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Montana Arts Council, as well as by the following local sponsors of the FOHB’s 2019-2020 performance season:
Mike and Cassie Griffith
Ridge Oil Company
Lyn and David Clark
Gregg and Jan Goodall
McDonald’s
Jeff Dooley Operating, LLC
Arnot Oil Company, LLC
Sally Satterwhite
Darrell and Susan Shortes
Ron and Becky Payne
Adams Real Estate Solutions
Canyon Road Barn and Grill
Coffee State Farm
GLOC Stimulation Co., Inc.
Interbank
Lisa and Greg Pitzer
Warehouse Feed
Dr. and Mrs. J.T. Echols
Abigale Wylie, aka The Snow Queen, directs the Snow Chickens, along with Bridget Thesing, a director and tour actor with the Missoula Children’s Theatre, far left, during Thursday morning’s rehearsal. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Justin Kline, at right, a director/tour actor for the Missoula Children’s Theatre, talks to cast members, from left, Levi Adams, Aiden Boulevard and Abigale Wylie. The participants in the week-long summer theater camp will present “The Snow Queen” on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
