'Crazy' time at Canyon School

Students take stage today for two shows

It's been a whirlwind week for 62 Canyon Elementary students.

On Monday, they auditioned for roles in "Beauty Lou and the Country Beast," a Missoula Children's Theatre production.

By Wednesday, they had learned each song and scene and were beginning to put the pieces together into a cohesive play. This morning, they will see their costumes for the first time and run through a dress rehearsal.

Then, at 3 p.m. and again at 7 p.m., it's show time.

Going from audition to performance in five days may sound impossible, but the actors don't seem to feel the pressure.

"I think it's all fun," fourth-grader McKenzie Kickbusch said.

It's been just another week for Amanda Dyke and Chelle Robinson. Every week has a new location with new children, but bringing the theater experience to children all over the world is what Missoula Children's Theatre is all about.

"Sometimes kids don't shine in the classroom, and they don't do sports. This is a place they get to shine," Dyke said. "They're the star."

This is the first time in four years that Missoula Children's Theatre has come to the Hungry Horse school. Until 2003, the school hosted actors 13 years in a row. Past Canyon students have put on everything from "The Wizard of Oz" to "The Pied Piper" to this year's Western-themed take on a classic fairy tale.

About half the student body turned out when Robinson and Dyke held auditions for "Beauty Lou and the Country Beast" in the gym Monday after school. Some students turned suddenly shy when called on. Others were thrilled at the chance to yell without being told to quiet down.

One by one, they practiced acting sassy, greedy and excited. They tipped imaginary cowboy hats and greeted an imaginary woman in a western drawl. They sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" at the top of their lungs.

And finally, after nearly two hours, Dyke and Robinson made their decision.

"We have good news and bad news," Robinson said. "Which do you want to hear first?"

The children decided it was best to get the bad news out of the way, so Robinson made a sad announcement: Dyke had fallen on the ice earlier that day.

Most of the kids giggled; some looked relieved the bad news didn't affect them. The suspense was terrible.

"And the good news is …" Robinson paused for effect. The kids watched her expectantly. "Everyone gets a part!"

The gym erupted with delighted screams and applause. A few boys thrust victorious fists in the air.

Once Robinson and Dyke had assigned everyone roles and after a quick break for pizza, it was time to get down to business. The show was days away and the students had some major memorizing to do.

To make it easier, the actors from Missoula broke the play down into its various scenes and songs. Through mind-numbing repetition, they taught the children to listen for their cues.

"I wondered, how can they memorize their lines in a week?" Principal Brenda Hoerner said. "But the prompts are so good that it's easy for the kids to know when it's their cue to come in."

Even with rehearsals after school each day until 7 or 8 p.m., the students needed more time to learn their parts. Nearly everyone practiced at home each night. Others gave up precious recess time to memorize lines or to finish homework so their entire evening would be free for play practice.

"They've been very responsible," Hoerner said.

Jake King, a fourth-grader, has one of the lead roles in the play. As the Beast, he has more lines

to memorize than most students.

"It's really hard to remember," he said, adding that it hasn't been much of a problem during rehearsals. "They [Dyke and Robinson] help you when you're on stage."

Students with fewer lines than King are working just as hard to memorize their parts.

"We have to learn songs and sing them and stuff, and we have some parts and stuff," fourth-grader Cody Welch explained.

By Wednesday, at least part of that was down pat.

"We've learned every song," fourth-grader Jon Luke said proudly.

And for some students, the challenge of learning their roles has been one of the week's highlights.

The best thing is "learning our lines, because I like to learn a lot of new stuff," said fifth-grader Ryder Hermann.

"I like to learn parts and say it out to the audience," fifth-grader Dillon Hoerner agreed.

With students from kindergarten through fifth grade, Canyon Elementary has younger children than Dyke and Robinson usually work with. But the students are smart, Dyke said, and they're excited about the play.

"They are so good," Robinson said. "They're loud, and they're energetic."

Some students have felt butterflies for most of the week.

"Almost everybody's pretty nervous about the whole show," Kickbusch said.

But the nerves won't really hit until the curtain goes up this afternoon, Robinson said. That's when the youths will realize they're actually going to be performing in front of people - but some won't be fazed by the audience's staring faces.

"It's been my experience that the younger they are, the more fearless they are," Dyke said. "My favorite is the little guy who's up there …" She stepped back, squeezed her face into a cheesy grin and waved frantically.

Some actors already have plans to deal with the jitters.

Kickbusch will take a deep breath - in through her nose and out through her mouth - before going on stage. Hermann says picturing the audience in their underwear really works. Hoerner is going to pretend the crowd isn't there.

"I just don't look at the audience," he said. "I either look up or down or at the spotlight."

The students will be in the spotlight today at 3 and 7 p.m. in the Canyon Elementary gymnasium. Admission for either show is $5 per person or $20 for a family or six or less. The audience can expect a "crazy" show.

"Most of the parts are crazy, and the teachers act funny," Kickbusch said. "Everything's just crazy all the time."

On the Net: www.mctinc.org

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.