Robin Hood and his Merry Band perform a top-notch show
The hearty laughter of Robin Hood and his Merry Band swept through the Springfield High School Performing Arts Center over the weekend as local children along with two professional actors in Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre presented PFCT’s original musical production of “Robin Hood.”
Performances were held Friday evening and Saturday afternoon in the Springfield High School Performing Arts Center.
“Robin Hood,” with original script and music by Daniel Nordquist, continues Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre’s tradition of presenting classic tales as you’ve never seen. Though set traditionally in the 12th century, complete with Faeries and Gnomes, Prairie Fire’s version features the Sheriff of Nottingham as a man ahead of his time … way ahead … eight centuries ahead, in fact. He is a visionary and in his vision he sees the trees of Sherwood Forest gone and in their place stand “Sherwood Theme Park” and the “Mall of Nottigham.” In his way stands the environmentally conscious outlaw, Robin Hood.
More than 50 children had a theatre experience in the production.
Cast in the Merry Band were Noah Riederer as Robin Hood, Alexis Clemon as Cook Henny, Kierin Lafferty at Little John, Andres Manko as Will Scarlet, Jace Rosenau as Friar Tuck, Kiera Lafferty as Mother Fitzsooth, Noah Mueller as Rimshot along with Ellie Tonn, Erika Wells, Lily Pingeon, Evelyn Begin, Rylee Nelson, Olivia Milbrath, Zoey Swing, Jada Reese, Zoe Evers and Christina Reindl.
The Royal Family consisted of Sarah Kottke as Maid Marian, PFCT Director Will Ruthkowski as the Sheriff of Nottingham; Russell Beers as Prince John, Brenna Pabst as Anabel, Fara Weber as Jezebel, Braxtyn Meyer as Ariel, Grace Goedtke as Juliette, Sydne Wahl as Wilhelmina and Brayden Sturm as King Richard.
The deputies were played by Leo Hovland, Lucas Milbrath, Elaina Junker, Gabby Andersen, Skyla Dauer, Thomas Beers, Kallen Riederer, Brayden Sturm, Paul Geoedtke and Hazel Dauer.
The Faeries, led by PFCT Director Hannah Findley, were Avery Wenisch, Madison Welch, Amelia Begin, KayLynn Sanderville, Amaira Brown, Sylvia Hovland, Brielle Brown, Jalyn Louwagie, Lydia Dauer, Kyla Horning and Delayna Johnson.
The Gnomes were played by Timothy Reindl, Bowen Eberhard, Paytin Johnson, Wyatt Mueller, Sophia Siekmann, Kaylee Hillesheim, Emma Wenisch, Zoie Riederer and Madelyne Tome.
This Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre residency was sponsored by Springfield Community Theatre with a grant from the Pieschel Family Foundation.
Organized in 1981, the Springfield Community Theatre operates within the artistic goals of 1) to stimulate an appreciation for and enhance the arts in the local and surrounding areas; 2) to provide a vehicle of talent for all ages to continue to express their creativity and to entertain the public by displaying their talents; 3) and to bring together varied levels of talent and background to produce a quality performance.