:JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Participants in “Cinderella” are back row: Olivia Wilson, Amelia Myers, Allison Rehl, Nicole Kunn, Bella Trefz. Middle row: Riely Rehl, Madeline Kuhl, Zoe Dougherty, Meagan Mestuzzi. Front row: Kenzie Smith and Emily Damron.

Pumpkin pie, lords and ladies waltzing and singing mice are all the staples of this year’s Missoula Children’s Theatre production: “Cinderella.”

“Give it all you’ve got, can you give it all your energy?” asked Lexi Inks, tour actor and director, as she blocked and taught songs to the local children playing pumpkins in the MCT show at Peoples Bank Theatre.

“It’s a wonderful program that they put on and we’re glad they’re here at our theater this week,” said Chuck Swaney, manager of Peoples Bank Theatre.

With 64 local youth between ages 5 and 18 in the production and only a week to learn the entire musical, repetition is key.

‘We’re singing and dancing and acting,” said Madison Lowers, 7, of Vienna. “I’ve been in (Missoula Children’s Theatre productions) before and we all talk together. My favorite is our pumpkin pie song.”

Inks said the songs and dances are segmented into groups and though her background from college is in musical theater, Missoula provided training on how to teach young children and keep them engaged in putting on a production in a week.

“It’s intense but also we keep it fun so that they think they’re goofing around but then they’re actually learning their lines and songs,” she explained. “My favorite is when we’re together the Thursdays before the shows doing silly run-throughs like acting like an old man in their parts or running through the show while pretending to be underwater at the same time.”

Some parents and grandparents stuck around to observe rehearsals Wednesday after hearing how excited their young ones were to get a part.

“She was all excited when she got in and about the costume she gets to wear,” said Loretta Perrine, of Ritchie County, W.Va, after watching her granddaughter. “It’s only an hour’s drive for us so that’s worth it to see her so happy.”

For assistant director Audrey Immele, 13, of Devola, helping to corral the variety of age groups and encourage them from behind the scenes is gratifying.

“You see them gain confidence as they learn their parts,” said Immele. “It’s fun to work with the kids and help the directors with whatever they need.”

Three local youth are serving as assistant directors for this show and Inks said they are integral to the success of each performance.

“I don’t know what we’d do without them, they stand in, they remember where we place the kids and the whole order of the show with who comes on stage when,” said Inks.

The final product of a week’s worth of song, dance and line memorization will culminate Saturday with two shows at Peoples Bank Theatre, one at 3 p.m. and one at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children with admission proceeds supporting further children’s theater productions.

Cinderella cast

¯ Cinderella: Gabriela Martinez.

¯ Rags/Prince: Allison Rehl.

¯ Raggedy Annie: Lakyn Campbell.

¯ Stepmother: Holly Buskirk.

¯ Lovely: Faith Burns.

¯ Beauty: Sarah Manter.

¯ King: Spencer Rehl.

¯ Town Crier 1: Lyanna Smith.

¯ Town Crier 2: Madison Givens.

¯ Cleo: Paige Kuhl.

¯ Fido: Hannah Greathouse.

Beggars:

¯ Nicole Kunn.

¯ Bella Trefz.

¯ Olivia Wilson.

¯ Amelia Myers.

¯ Madeline Kuhl.

¯ Meagan Mestuzzi.

¯ Zoe Dougherty.

¯ Kenzie Smith.

¯ Emily Damron.

Mice:

¯ Reagan Vuksic.

¯ Elora Vanaman.

¯ Sam Wilson.

¯ Joe Waller.

¯ Logan Lipscomb.

¯ Ella Steyn.

¯ Evan Waller.

¯ Mallory Westfall.

Lords and Ladies:

¯ Audrey Space.

¯ Kaitlyn Lipscomb.

¯ Grace Sprout.

¯ Alison White.

¯ Lilli Turner.

¯ Ella Day.

¯ Madison Lovejoy.

¯ Elena Rehl.

¯ Ana Stoudt.

¯ Ava Westbrook.

¯ Mitchell Rehl.

¯ Thea Koskye.

¯ Phoebe Goodnight.

¯ Eliza Towner.

Pumpkins:

¯ Madison Lowers.

¯ Maddy Graham.

¯ Leo Elliot.

¯ Max Rehl.

¯ Gavin Lipscomb.

¯ Caroline Rehl.

¯ Olivia Vessells.

¯ Ojaswi Gautam.

¯ Mia Fluhart.

¯ Addalyn Eichller.

¯ Aidan Day.

¯ Josephine Meyers.

¯ Ellie Pyatt.

¯ Francis Ryebosh.

¯ Elainana Koskey.

¯ Cameron Westfall.

Assistant Directors:

¯ Audrey Immele.

¯ Maeghan O’Neill.

¯ Charis Mace.

Source: Peoples Bank Theatre.