Hot Springs students perform 'Emperor’s New Clothes'
The cast of 'The Emperor's New Clothes.' (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Missoula Children's Theater director Logan Smart and Hot Sprints student Jody Page playing Many Penny. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press0
From left, Arya Kifer as Gem, Leena DePoe as Boots, Eliana Clarke as Lid and Isaac Campbell as Stitch. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
From left, Zoe Kifer as Queen Earth, Samantha Hofstetter as Queen Water, and Layla Ford as Queen Fire. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Austin Campbell as the Emperor. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Jody Page as Many Penny with cast member Violet Slonaker.
The Hot Springs Artist Society, Hot Spring School and the Missoula Children's Theater gave two performances of "The Emperor’s New Clothes" on March 3.
The Artist Society has been helping sponsor the Missoula Children's Theater to bring arts to the Hot Springs area. The afternoon performance was the first play since the pandemic.
The play is about an emperor who spends lavishly on clothing at the expense of his empire. His only concern is about his appearance in the clothing. Swindled out of his money by those promising him grand clothing, the emperor is placed in the very embarrassing situation in front of his constituents.
The Missoula Children’s Theater has been bringing the arts to communities throughout the world, including all 50 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces and 16 countries.
The play was directed by Lily Kraack and Logan Smart, with assistant director Sasha Kifer, and music provided by Terry Stephens.
The cast of characters were: Emperor, played by Austin Campbell; Roxy, played by Brielle Clarke; Red, played by Zaid Ramsey; Many Penny, played by Jody Page; The money council played by Joshua Clarke, Noah Campbell and Elijah Campbell; Queens of the Elemental Kingdoms Group played by Queen Air Peyton Salmi, Queen Fire Layla Ford, Queen Water Samantha Hofstetter, Queen Earth Zoe Kifer; Gem, played by Arya Kifer; Boots, played by Leena DePoe; Lid, played by Eliana Clarke; stitch, played by Isaac Campbell.
Silkworm cast members were Harper Depoe, Dakota Suess, Olivia Schmiedbauer, Azlynn Meador, Samuel Clark, LilaMae Stephens and Audrey Ludeman.
Cast members had only four days to learn their lines and songs with the only dress rehearsal happening earlier Friday. A second live performance was performed on the same evening.
Taylor Salmi, mother of Peyton Salmi who played Queen Air said, “I thought the play was great. They did a great job. This was the first year she had a big part.”
Another parent, Ben Campbell, father of Noah who played a part in the money council and Isaac Campbell who played Stitch said, “It was remarkable that they start in one week and come this far. They were committed to it and put a lot of effort in to it.”
