King Arthur’s Quest, featuring two actors from Missoula Children’s Theatre – Vicki Pace and Augustus Bennett – and 54 local children.
Performances August 1 at 7:30pm, August 2 at 2:00pm at NWC DeWitt Theatre.
CAST for King Arthur’s Quest named!
ORANGE CITY – King Arthur, of legend and song, strode across Medieval England with courage and confidence…or did he?
Missoula Children’s Theatre brings their original twist on the tale of King Arthur’s Quest, and 54 local students are part of the production in Orange City August 1 and 2.
The performances are scheduled for Friday, August 1 at 7:30pm and Saturday, August 2 at 2:00pm at Northwestern College’s DeWitt Theatre. Vicki Pace of Missoula Children’s Theatre is part of the cast, and Augustus Bennett is director for the week.
Bennett and Pace conducted auditions Monday morning, July 28 and are rehearsing this week with the cast. Assisting them are Jenna Hayungs, Chloe Krommendyk and Mullin Smith, assistant directors.
Marissa Beaty will take the stage as King Arthur; Haley Smit is Guinevere; Josh Jorgensen will be Sir Lancelot; and William Minninck will be Merlin.
Other young actors will be Landon De Jong, the Raven; Anna Karen Pauls, Taleisin; Nick Grossmann, Uther Pendragon; Isaac Krommendyk, Mordred; Reagan Rowenhorst, Morgan Le Fey; and Riley Rowenhorst, Lady of the Lake.
Vicki Pace of MCT will play the Keeper of the Keep, the Recalcitrant Giant and the Intractable Dragon.
Rounding out the cast are the Knights of the Round Table, the Squires, the Damsels of the First and Second Order, the Citizens of Camelot and the Minis. Local actresses and actors in these roles include Isabel Arteche, Maren Beaty, Kendra Breems, Zachary Cruse, Makenna Davis, Sarah Diekevers, Faith Elgersma, Faythe Groeneweg, Leah Hayungs, Jayden Veldkamp, Arika Van Gelder, Megan Brower, Addaly Miller, Breeah Miller and August Hubbard.
Other students serving as citizens, knights, squires, damsels or minis are Courtney Joiner, Tara Joiner, Rachel Jorgensen, Cloda O’Boyle, Rebecca Philipsen, Jenna Smit, Kolton Smit, Annika Smith, Reagan Snieder, Amalia Visser, Maggie Winn, Kaitlyn Bruinsma, Sam Walhof, Kate Walhof, Sydney Krommendyk, Annalise Elliott, Mikayla Turek, Dylan De Jong, Amelia Holmquist, Alivia Holmquist, Katherine Pauls, Karoline Pauls, Gabe Andres, Luke Andres, Lindsay Kuiper and Katie Kensak.
Mary Reinders of Orange City will serve as the piano accompanist.
Admission to King Arthur’s Quest is $7 for adults and $3 for K-12 students. All tickets are general admission. No advance tickets will be sold.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre residency is sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council. For more information, contact ocArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712-707-4885. The website is orangecityarts.net or facebook.com/ocArts.
Pictured below (front row, left to right) are cast members and assistant directors: Augustus Bennett of Missoula Children’s Theatre, Landon De Jong, Isaac Krommendyk, Jenna Hayungs, Haley Smit, Riley Rowenhorst, and Chloe Krommendyk. Second row, left to right, are: Josh Jorgensen, William Minnick, Mullin Smith (in front of William), Anna Karen Pauls, Nick Grossmann, Marissa Beaty, Vicki Pace of Missoula Children’s Theatre and Reagan Rowenhorst.
Other details:
Auditions: Monday, July 28 – 9:45am to noon. $17. Northwestern College DeWitt Theatre
Shows: August 1, 7:30pm and August 2, 2:00pm
Northwestern College DeWitt Theatre
Sponsor: Orange City Arts Council
King Arthur, of legend and song, strode across Medieval England with courage and confidence…or did he? What if the troubles of his kingdom threaten to overwhelm him? Follow the original twist on this familiar story as it weaves its way through a landscape full of surprises!
Auditions: Monday, July 28 – 9:45am to noon. $17. Northwestern College DeWitt Theatre
Interested students, entering grades 1-12, may audition. Students must attend school at MOC-FV, OCCS, Spalding or Unity (or be homeschoolers in the MOC-FV school district).
Audition does NOT require a prepared song or reading, but students must attend entire audition. All children who audition MUST be available for rehearsal Monday through Friday, July 28 – August 1, from 10am to 2:30pm, and have Friday evening and Saturday afternoon free for the performances. There are spots for 50 or 60 students. We’re very sorry, but there is no guarantee that everyone who auditions will be cast in the play.
CASTING: For King Arthur’s Quest, MCT can cast a maximum of 60 students plus 4 assistant directors. DETAILS: number of students entering 1st grades thru age 7: 16 students maximum. Number of students ages 8-12: 28 students maximum. Number of students ages 13-18: 16 students maximum. Ages are approximate, of course. It depends on whether you fit in the costume! : ) Good luck, everyone!!
Everyone who auditions must pay the participation fee of $17. If the student is not cast in the play, the participation fee will be refunded.
Register online by July 24 at orangecityiowa.com/parks-recreation. Go to the registration tab, then Register for Activities. Select Arts, Crafts, Library link and then Missoula Children’s Theatre. (Registration is available in person on July 28 if you miss the online deadline.)
Rehearsals: Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 1, from 10am to noon and 12:30 to 2:30pm. Students must attend when their part is scheduled. Some students will attend morning and afternoon rehearsals, and will need to bring a sack lunch.
Performances: Friday, August 1, 7:30pm and Saturday, August 2, 2:00pm at Northwestern College’s DeWitt Theatre. Admission will be: Adults $7; K-12 students $3. A DVD will be recorded of the local production of King Arthur’s Quest, for a $15 charge.
Workshops: Free & open to all students. Please register with Orange City Arts Council. Northwestern’s DeWitt Theatre.
* Acting 1-2-3. (Children entering grades 1-2) When odds & evens come together, everyone has a fun time! July 29, 2:45 – 3:30pm
* Behind the Scenes. (Children entering grades 3-6) What happens before the curtain rises? How role-play helps group dynamics! Wed., July 30, 2:45 – 3:30pm
* Versed in Verse. (Youth entering grades 7-12) Is Shakespeare boring? Incorporate Elizabethan English with pop culture & discover Shakespeare’s humor & creativity. Thurs., July 31, 2:45 – 3:30pm
Parents: If you are willing to assist with the Missoula Children’s Theatre project by volunteering an hour or two of your time, please contact Janine at the Orange City Arts Council, 707-6514 or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.
