By Hannah Hecht–Do you need a study break? Something light and fun to rest your tired brain? Look no further than the Morningside College Department of Theatre and Dance’s musical production of the children’s play “Little Red Riding Hood,” which will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 in Klinger Neal Theatre.
This enchanting take on the classic Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale tells the story of young Red, who takes a journey across the woods to deliver a basket of goodies her grandmother’s house. All is well, that is, until she meets up with a wolf who makes it his goal to steal the contents of the basket.
Cat Ruddy, a double major in theatre and arts administration, will take the lead role of “Red” in this production. She has been involved in the theatre department since her freshman year and has been in seven plays while at Morningside, including last year’s production of “Grease.” She thinks that the children’s shows are really important to starting off the year correctly.
“The kid’s shows that we do here are all written by the same person, Stan Gill, so they’re all really similar,” says Ruddy, “They’re really basic shows that we use to get new people involved. It’s a good way to start off the year, plus they make a bit of money for the department.”
The children’ shows that the department puts on quite different from their shows aimed at college students. For example, the acting is much bigger and more deliberate.
“You cannot lose the kids’ focus, otherwise, you’re done for the whole show,” says Ruddy, “So, for these kids’ shows, you have to be way over the top.”
To help keep the children’s attention, the show features musical numbers from all different genres of music. However, Ruddy thinks that people of all ages will enjoy the humor and fun that the songs offer. She specifically cites a French tango, a jazz song between Red and the Wolf, and a “ballad about trees.”
Other student cast members in the play include: Shelby Blomberg as Greta, Elizabeth Planck as Grandma, Stephen Jessen as Wolf, and Wesley Johnson as the Huntsman. Students on the crew are Tiffany Green, assistant director, and Molly Baker, stage manager.
Tickets for the show are $5 and will be sold at the door.
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