Ellis to visit Neverland; Student actors to perform ‘Peter Pan’
Published 10:44 am Thursday, February 19, 2015
Peter Pan (Rachel Christenson) sits on the sleeping Wendy’s (Elizabeth Carlson) bed as the cast from Peter Pan practices Tuesday afternoon. — Photo provided.
Ellis Middle School students are taking a trip with Peter Pan to Neverland.
At 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, students from Ellis Middle School will perform the play “Peter Pan” in the Ellis Auditorium. Maria Wilson, the choir teacher at Ellis, is co-directing the show with Nikky Tolde, a music teacher at I.J. Holton Intermediate School. The two have been directing Ellis plays since the 2012-2013 school year and are excited to direct Peter Pan.
“[We] thought that would be a fun show to do with the cast this year, so that’s what we chose,” Wilson said.
The family-friendly show is about one hour long and tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults. There are about 35 students in the cast.
Michael (Noah Wollersheim) and John (Evan Anderson) Darling look at different items in a chest as the cast from Peter Pan practices Tuesday afternoon.
“I think it’s always fun to see kids use their talents that they’ve been given,” Wilson said.
She and the students are excited for the show and Wilson said everyone can enjoy it. She was happy to see everything come together at their last Saturday rehearsal.
“The cast is great, the singing is wonderful, the set is fun, there’s a lot of other things that are really great about it,” Wilson said.
Wilson enjoys helping the students learn their characters and teaching them about theater, and seeing the progress they make from the first rehearsal to the final performance. She hopes the students come away with an appreciation of music and theater as well as the realization that success can only come with hard work.
“I hope that they learn that and can apply it to all areas of their lives,” she said.
‘Peter Pan’ cast list
Peter Pan: Rachel Christenson
Tinker Bell: Mackenzie Windschitl
Iridessa/Arista: Katie Lillemon
Silvermist/Andrina: Brianna Winter
Rosetta/Adella: Hannah Finney and Jara Williams
Fawn/Atina: Konengjwok Olayi
Lyria/Allana: Kamryn Helfritz
Vidia/Aquata: Julia Moldenhauer
Wendy: Elizabeth Carlson
John: Evan Anderson
Michael: Noah Wollersheim
Mr. Darling: Cameron Krueger
Mrs. Darling: Chloe Guttormson
Nana: Ella Muzik
Captain Hook: Michael Petersen
Smee: Josh Dyke
Scottish Jukes: Sarah Bachmeier
Cockney Flint: Teontae Thomas
Clubfoot Cookson: Renata Vaughn
Simpleminded Noodler: Alex Hamlin
Sweet Skylights: Lauren Riskedahl
Cubby: Marc Salomon
Skunk: Kelsey Swanson
Hop: Katelyn Billat
Fox: Adrianna Meiergerd
Raccoon Twins: Matt Boyer and Quintin Riley
Chief Tiger Bamboo: Rayia Omot
Tiger Lilly: Chloe Guttormson
Brave Pine: Trey Martinson
Brave Oak: Cortney Espe
Brave Cedar: Mikai Stewart
Brave Shrub: JaVaughn Bryant
Brave Aspen: Hannah Thompson
Brave Birch: Ella Muzik
Brave Elm: Cheya Deceder
Crew: Acacia Wahlin, Quincy Muzik, and Lukas Howard
