Published: November 15, 2008 09:01 pm            

Kids present Broadway musicals

When she started Stillwater Children’s Theatre, Amy Guthrie’s goal was to provide a creative outlet for children interested in performing arts — the one who just want to put on a show.

“That’s what we’re able to fulfill,” she said. “There wasn’t anything like it in Stillwater. There were Missoula and Rana McCoy in the summer, but nothing full-time.”

She started with one group of students in a theater class with a production at the end and has now expanded to four groups: pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, first and second grades, third through fifth grades and sixth through 12th grades. The younger classes present a small musical program for their parents at the end of their eight-week sessions, and the two older groups present bigger shows to the public after their 12-week sessions.

“We audition for solos and bigger parts, but everybody gets a part, whether we have to make them up or make it bigger,” Guthrie said.

The two older groups of students will present two shows at Stillwater Community Center on Nov. 22-23: “Into the Woods Junior” and “Annie Jr.” from Music Theatre International’s “Broadway Junior Collection.” The production company has taken Broadway musicals and made them over for students, according to the company’s Web site.

“Annie Jr.” will be at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 and 5 p.m. Nov 23. The musical tells the story of the orphan invited to spend Christmas with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, who helps her search for her parents.

“Into the Woods Jr.” will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 and 2 p.m. Nov. 23. In the musical comedy, a baker and his wife try to get items from Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack (of beanstalk fame) to break the spell that keeps them from having a child.

Tickets are $5 and are available from Guthrie and cast members and at the door

        

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