Ouachita Stories

Goldilocks on Trial will be this fall’s featured children’s production hosted by Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts Department of Theatre Arts. The children’s play will be performed Sept. 24-26 and 28-29 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 27 at 2:30 p.m. in Ouachita’s Verser Theatre. In addition to the show, the Theatre Department will hold a youth theatre workshop Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1-4 p.m.

The story of Goldilocks on Trial, created by playwright Ed Monk, is a silly look at the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Goldilocks on Trial asks if Goldi really did break the chair or if she is being framed, along with many more questions that branch out to other well-known children’s stories. The hour-long show is directed by Mary Handiboe, OBU associate professor of theatre arts.

“I like this play because despite its childlike goofiness, it has a lot of humor that we can all find funny,” said Michael Krikorian, a senior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, and president of OBU’s chapter of Theta Alpha Phi, a national honorary theatre fraternity. “It is not only accessible to children, but to everyone.”

In conjunction with the children’s play production, Ouachita will host its inaugural youth theatre workshop for students aged pre-K through 12th grade. The workshop, which costs $25 per person, will be held on the Saturday of the performance weekend. Participants will play improvisational theatre games, do age-appropriate acting exercises and go backstage in the theatre for a brief tour. They will also be provided with a snack and a ticket to one performance of their choice.

“We are using the workshop as a fundraiser for Theta Alpha Phi and also as an opportunity for theatre students to teach their craft,” Krikorian said. “Many of the Goldi cast will be instructors, which will be cool for the kids to see.”

Cast members playing traditional Goldilocks characters include: Lauren Casteel, a junior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas, as Goldilocks; Christopher Straw, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, as Papa Bear; Haley Broadaway, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., as Mama Bear; and Hannah Beth Midkiff, a freshman musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas, as Baby Bear (Tiffannii).

Cast members playing court room characters include: Jeffery Clark Stokes, a senior theatre arts and speech communication major from Gilmore, Texas, as Melvin the Bailiff; Lynley Vire, a junior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark., as Judge Wallabee; Heather Baker, a senior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas, as District Attorney Edwina Muffinhead; Xavier Lagunas, a sophomore musical theatre major from Mansfield, Texas, as Defense Attorney Felix Wombat; and Cessany Ford, a junior musical theatre major from Paragould, Ark., as the Court Reporter.

Cast members playing court room witnesses include:  Shay Michael, a sophomore musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas, as Detective Isadora Clorox; Heather White, a freshman musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, as The Little Pig Who Was Not Eaten By The Wolf; J. Neil Wacaster, a sophomore business major from Van Buren, Miss., as Dr. Lester Cantaloupe III; and Rudy Jones, a sophomore theatre and English double major from Smackover, Ark., as Merwin The Big Bad Wolf.

Cast members appearing as jurors include: Doug Brady, a junior musical theatre major from Saginaw, Texas, as Woody from Toy Story; Kelly Ann Davis, a freshman musical theatre major from Jacksonville, as the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland; Katelyn Helton, a freshman musical theatre major from Grand Prairie, Texas, as Bugs Bunny; and Justin Holzknecht, a freshman vocal performance major from Cabot, Ark., as Aladdin; Katherine Kellogg, a sophomore musical theatre and mass communications double major from Sherwood, Ark., as the Evil Witch from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Michelle Lackey, a freshman musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas, as Jessie from Toy Story; Amanda Murray, a freshman musical theatre major from Racine, Wisconsin, as Alice from Alice in Wonderland; Lindsey Pinkston, a 10^th grader at Arkadelphia High School who is an exchange student from Canada, as Peter Pan; Daniel Richardson, a freshman from Sheridan, Ark., as the Gingerbread Man; Cortnee Stewart, a junior theatre major from Cabot, Ark., as Little Bo Peep; Bethany Swiontek, a freshman musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo., as Snow White; Aaron Watson, a freshman theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., as the Jolly Green Giant; and Steven Miller, a junior musical theater major from Arlington, Texas, and Samantha Spradling, a sophomore theatre major from Italy, Texas, as the Alternate Jurors Mario and Luigi.

The production team includes: Daniel Inouye, Ouachita’s assistant professor of theatre arts, as costume designer; Jody Lee, a senior musical theater major from Arlington, Texas, as set designer and technical director; Michael Krikorian, senior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, designing lights, sound and properties; Ashley Partridge, a junior musical theatre major from Baton Rouge, La, as stage manager; and Moriah Patterson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sheridan, Ark., as assistant stage manager.

Crew heads and board operators include: Cessany Ford (also Court Reporter) in charge of costumes; Rachel Street, a senior musical theatre major from Mohamet, Ill., in charge of makeup; Taylor Bass, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, in charge of properties; Daniel Collier, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., in charge of the light board; and Cortnie DeVore, a junior musical theatre from Beebe, Ark., in charge of the house and publicity.

Tickets for Goldilocks on Trial are $6 per person and can be purchased from the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 2-5 p.m. or online at www.obu.edu/finearts. For more information about the production or the Youth Theatre Workshop, call (870) 245-5563 during box office business hours.

By Rebecca Stone