Book series comes to the stage in ‘The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt’
Members of the Flathead High School Acting 2 class and cast of “Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt” are pictured as follows from back to front row: Fallon Maas, Grant Westover, Tyler Dyk, Arrianna Gilbert, Lily Amundson, Tovar Rodrigues and Lou Corbett. Not pictured is India Swanson. (Photo provided by Margo Sorenson)
When a one-eyed buccaneer gives you a treasure map, what other choice is there than to seek adventure?
Join Flathead High School’s Acting 2 class on May 9 and 10 as they travel to Ocracoke, or “Artichoke,” Island in “The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt” a funny play for young audiences.
As soon as the Moody family drops anchor on “Artichoke” Island, they are greeted by the mysterious Cap'n Weevil, a pirate with a secret treasure map. In the blink of an eye, Stink and Judy are on a mad dash across the island in search of gold. At least that is Judy’s take on things.
“It’s back to school and Judy is jealous of all her classmates' adventures. She’s determined to find and wear ‘a T-shirt with words’ so she can boast about her epic summer,” Acting 2 Instructor, Liz Sykora, said. “On a weekend trip to Ocracoke Island, a pirate tour guide announces the yearly treasure hunt, in which the prize is — you guessed it, ‘a T-shirt with words.’”
Can Judy and her brother beat out their scallywag rivals, Tall Boy and Smart Girl, to claim the treasure? It’s a race to find the hidden clues, crack the secret codes, and solve the tricky puzzles before time runs out.
Based on the “Judy Moody” book series by Megan McDonald and adapted for the stage by Allison Gregory, “Judy and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt” is the perfect combination of adventure and humor that will be a hit with the K-5 crowd, Sykora said.
“It is full of hilarious hijinks and classic humor like the old ‘Scooby Doo’ chase scene. It's got mystery and intrigue, while still being super funny and adorable,” Sykora said.
The production is presented by the Acting 2 class, which is part of the International Baccalaureate curriculum, and gives students opportunities to practice theater skills and study the relationship between the play’s themes and the actions of characters within the play. Through a full-length production, students explore the process of bringing a script to life on stage.
The cast includes Fallon Maas, Tovar Rodriguez, India Swanson, Tyler Dyk, Grant Westover, Lily Amundson, Arrianna Gilbert and Lou Corbett.
“These seven students are really excited to be onstage. Many of them have been on stage before in supporting roles, but for two of them it is their first time onstage,” Sykora said. “We have really tried to foster the environment of ensemble and creativity among our group. The show is about healthy competition, friendship, and working together. And these are things that these students have learned in class as well.”
Behind the scenes is the tech crew of Keeley Mahoney, Axel Jones, Bethany Nairn, Jax Stebbins-Han, Kennedy Dortch, Abby Castruita, Ada Milner, Brooklyn Plum, Hadley Dennison and Sophie Herbert.
The play will be held at 6:27 p.m. May 9 and 10 in the David M. Hashley Theater at Flathead High School. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens. Tickets are available for purchase at the high school's main office, Photo Video Plus and at the door.