MARSHALL - To wed, or not to wed. That is the question Little Red Riding Hood must answer for herself in "Doo-Wop Wed Widing Hood," a twisted version of the classic tale that everyone knows so well.
Approximately 50 children in grades 3-8 have spent four hours a day for two weeks in preparation of the two performances, slated for 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday in the Marshall Middle School theater.
"The whole two weeks is all about ownership," director Sheila Tabaka said. "The kids will know that they helped with this and that and if they're a rabbit, for example, and they're gone, there will be a missing space there. Theater is about collaboration. You can't do it by yourself."
Tabaka is a theater professor at Southwest Minnesota State University. This summer marks her sixth time directing the children's theater workshop, which is sponsored by Marshall Community Services and Marshall Area Stage Company.
"Part of what we try to do is just let kids know it's OK to do theater," Tabaka said. "It's OK to get up in front of people. It's fun to see them grow. Two weeks ago, they knew nothing, no songs or lines."
Throughout the years, Tabaka has seen many of the young actors go from minimal roles to major ones, as the comfort level of being on stage goes up. Her son Eukariah Tabaka and Johanna Christensen are two prime examples of that process, with both of them acting in several productions.
"I've been in children's theater since second grade," said Eukariah Tabaka, a Marshall Middle School eighth-grader. "I like the acting, singing and dancing. It's a lot of fun."
Set in the 1950s, Eukariah Tabaka portrays Loud Prince Frank, one of three princes who try to woo Christensen's character, Little Red Riding Hood. Christensen said she loves to sing. The biggest challenge for her has been learning when and where to enter and exit on stage.
"I wasn't expecting this role, but I'm enjoying the challenge," said Christensen, a Marshall Area Christian School sixth-grader. "I think it's amazing that we can put this together in two weeks."
Little Red has two sisters, Medium Purple (portrayed by Emily Marshall) and Big Green Riding Hood (Heidi Goergen). Mr. and Mrs. Hood (Owen Bremser and Emma Smisek) cannot get enough of television and expect a lot from Red.
"I think the play is really creative," Christensen said. "My character believes she is too young to be married and is totally nervous about the whole thing."
Prince Frank has to compete with his two brothers, Wise Prince Jason (Nicholas Bot) and Strong Prince Justin (Eli Cole), for the right to court Little Red.
"It's fun because he doesn't ever have a conversation," Eukariah Tabaka said. "He just shouts things out. The hardest part is trying to sing as loud as he talks."
As Red ventures across the kingdom to deliver cookies to her grandmother (Meredith Bock), encountering a variety of woodland animals along the way, her future hangs in the balance as the Fairy Godmother (Eden Deutz) and the Evil Queen (Hannah Demmer) try to foil each other's plan.
Sheila Tabaka said that the musical selections and costumes are a lot different than most have experienced in other productions.
"The musical style is different," Tabaka said. "And, costuming has been taken to another level."
A number of volunteers help behind the scenes as well, including past participants. Jeanette Bosveld and Judy Houselog assist with costumes, including the designing of a large number of poodle skirts and tails for the woodland animals.
"People have been so generous," Tabaka said. "They're so giving of their time."
The young actors also helped prepare their costumes and assisted with the sets, props and posters.
