It’s out of the tower and on the run as a zany cast of friends and foes help Rapunzel’s harrowing escape from the towering imprisonment of Madame Gothel. Add a dash of French flair and a pinch of personal triumph and friendship and you have a story you won’t forget! Hailing from the John Maley Theatre in the Mathis Performing Arts Center of Coffee High School with a standing room only patronage, Missoula Children’s Theatre and more than 50 local students presented an original musical adaptation of Rapunzel, the beloved fairytale of children and adults alike.

     Playing the title character Rapunzel, were local students Lynnzy Wooten as Tower Rapunzel and Lenira Barlow as Room Rapunzel. Eli Bird and Harry Bagwell played the princes, while the role of Madam Gothel was performed by Sarah Ott.  Sam Rodriguez and Mattie Fussell played Rapunzel’s parents, Maurice and Monique, while Angelina Johnson, Ruby Grace Kight, Kaylyn McKinnon, Aaron Metts, and Elyse Spivey starred as the Wood Elves, Sophie Bird as the Troll, Jayden Anthony and Javion Dent as the Ears of Corn, and Lee Andrews as the Potato. The Unicorns featured Jordan Sutton and Jenna Watson, along with the Pixies and Gremlins played by Mercer Grace Clenney, Amy Cortez, Olivia Graves, Zoey Graves, Riley O'Steen, Lily Tanner, Zaila Temple, Ellie Watson, and Juliana Wells. Performing as the Billy Goats Gruff were Gavin Kight, Laurel Spivey, and Sarah Grace Williams. The Three Bears featuared performances by Laken Paulk, Carlyn Turner, and Mary Elizabeth Ursery with Bucky the Beaver played by Bolden Bair. Braylee Dale, Chezley Harrell, and Chloe Tanner played the role of the Ogres and appearing as the Mushrooms were Berkeley Bair, Mallory Camp, Lily Paige Haddock, Amaya Shivers, Vianne Smith, Camille Summerlin, Gwen Watson, Amelia Williams, and Anna Zaw. Brynlee Yawn starred as Fun Gus and Tyler Bowlin played the role of Frenchy.

     The MCT Tour Director featured Tyler Bowlin with Elizabeth Avery as showrunner and director, along with Keller Phillips, Arwen Hazelwood, and Jillian Sailors serving as assistant directors throughout the week. Katie Gillis served as accompanist, Susie Mishkin as director support, David Franklin as light/sound director, and Dominic Mimbang as videographer. Lisa Tierney served as production photographer.

     The Missoula Children's Theatre residency in Coffee County is brought to you by Coffee Alliance for the Arts with support from the Community Foundation of Coffee County, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Sylvia Chambers, Chick-Fil-A, and the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. Additional local support from our generous patrons includes Jane Abler, Allison Ag Insurance, Coffee High School Athletic Department, Jim & Elizabeth Cottingham, Sally Cottingham, Danny's Pizza, Esco Industries, Sarah Evans, Doug & Donna Haines, Farrar, Hennesy, Tanner, First Presbyterian Church, Fitzgerald Eyecare, Lott Builders Supply Co., Nearly Famous, Inc./Burger King, Nedra Mathis, Premium Peanut, St. Andrews Anglican Church, Suttles and Associates, and VIP Fabric Care.

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For more information on Missoula Children's Theatre and Coffee Alliance for the Arts, please contact JoAnn Danna at joanndanna49@gmail.com.