Audiences of all ages will get a fresh look at an old favorite this Saturday, Oct. 27 when the Missoula Children’s Theatre and more than 60 local students present “Hansel and Gretel.”
Actor/directors Jennifer Moore and Taylor Chew will be in residency this week with Missoula Children’s Theatre out of Missoula Montana. They will be guiding local youth through auditions and rehearsals in preparation for two performances this weekend.
According to their mission statement, the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s goal is “the development of lifeskills in children through participation in the performing arts.”
After a two-hour audition on Monday, the cast was selected, featuring Rowan Renfroe as Hansel, Caitlyn Hall as Gretel, Emily Poteat as the kindly grandmother and Sydney Powell as the Wildwood Witch.
Lynsey Dancy, Melody Lipford, Ebenezer Macknee, Katie Orr, Skyler Peterson, Bethany Shepherd, Cassie Shumate and Sarah Tippens will portray the witch’s loyal servants, the eight crafty cooks.
Modern day campers lost in time in the woods are played by Abby Calhoun, Leah Calhoun, Jordan Carlton, Zeke Cline, Mahaley Cronk, Zoe Cullifer, Abby Cole, Lauren Edmondson, Riley Edmondson, Cheyenne Eicher, Gracie Greene, Jade Hannewald, Hannah Howell, Nathan Howell, Rachelle Huff, Angelica Macknee, Harley Miller, Yzabelle Potter, Amanda Steele, Allyson Tippens and Avery Winterton.
The creepy crawly nasties are played by Deann Butler, Gracen Cline, Thomas Galloway, Savannah Greer, Elizabeth Hartzog, Paige Lewis, Caelon McNeil, Kazia Orkiszewski, Matthew Potter, Torin Potter, Weatherly Reeves, Dominic Retzatu, Cora Richardson, Alexis Rowland, Mali Shatley and Martin Spencer.
The wonderfully mythical wallybirds are played by Scott Butler, Kevin Butler, Therese Cote, Abby Elliott, Jezik Martin, Carson McNeil, Daniella Mercado, Jillian Miller, Tasman Orkiszewski, Camille Richardson and Jaylee Shoemate.
Casey Church, Jacob Fields, Lindsay McGinnis and Oliver Moss will serve as assistant directors throughout the week.
“Hansel and Gretel” will be presented at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Ashe Civic Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available in advance at the Ashe Arts Center and at the door.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre residency is sponsored by The Ashe County Arts Council, The Ashe County Little Theatre and the Ashe Civic Center. For more information or tickets, call 336-846-2787.








