A tale to remember

Photo by Paul Robeson

MARION AND HER COURT:Maid Marion, Darby Twight, center, is served by her Ladies in Waiting Charli Hawkins, left, and Annelise Capener during the Prairie School dress rehearsal of Rumpelstiltskin.

The nearly 200-year-old story by the Brothers Grimm of “Rumpelstiltskin” will come alive in a performance by 29 Prairie Elementary School students, grades K-3, at the Anderson High School Performing Arts Building on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m.

The young students are learning theatre first hand from thespian and show director Natalie Benfer and her stage manager, Cherry Cozart. Benfer is a personal aide at Prairie School, and Cozart is the mother of three of the young performers.

The children learned to dance, sing and memorize lines. The choreography was done by Benfer and Connie Blanc. Blanc is also the dance instructor for the show. Ann Cannan, the school music teacher, is the accompanist.

The throne room was painted by a Prairie School parent, Mary Brazelton and the hay closet backdrop is being painted by poster artist Kyle Lacey.

Benfer chose the basic design of the costumes and the dancer’s, guards and Marion’s costumes were rented. The messengers’, courtiers’, and servants’ costumes were sewn by Cozart and her mother Pat Short.

The sets were constructed by Benfer’s husband Ron. They had only eight weeks total to audition and rehearse the show. They started rehearsing in March every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour after school.

Admission to the play is $2 for 18 and over and those 17 and under are free if accompanied by an adult.