Youth to present ?Aladdin Jr.? in community theater this weekend
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
Twenty-six young actors from throughout Presque Isle County have been working hard all summer as the 2009 season continues for members of the Rogers City Community Theatre. Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30 the young talents will shine as Disney?s Aladdin Jr. hits the stage at the Rogers City Theater. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The show is directed by Andrea Shadbolt and features Josiah Ochieng as Aladdin, Kayli Witulski as Jasmine, Julie LaBar as the Genie and Bailey Budnick as Jafar. The audience will be welcomed to Agrabah, City of Enchantment where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail. As the Genie first meets Disney?s resourceful young hero, Aladdin, he proclaims, ?It?s a BIG musical.?
Aladdin and the wise-cracking Genie come to life in the special Broadway Junior adaptation of one of the most popular animated movies of all time. The production is filled with magic, mayhem and flying carpet rides featuring songs such as ?A Whole New World? and ?Friend Like Me?. The score is an academy award winner.
?The kids have really been working hard. We are going to have a great show! Aladdin Jr. provides a great growing and learning experience for everyone involved,? said first-time director Shadbolt.
Other actors making up the largest summer youth production cast include Emily Nowicki, Cody Whitsitt, Linnea Hentkowski, Jenae LaFleche, Brandi Chojnacki, Grace Darga, Ashley Nowicki, Samantha Bober, Brooke Ciarkowski, Heather Hentkowski, Amber Nowicki, Alana Wirgau, Alissa Bowden, Jade Shadbolt, Salena Heidemann, Emilee Madison, Maryanne Ochieng, Bradley Heidemann, Arianne Chojnacki, Andrea Madison, Caitlynn Shadbolt and Henry Ochieng.