A classic staple of the fantasy genre is coming next week to the stage of The Little Theatre on the campus of Central Methodist University. The Hobbit, written by J.R.R. Tolkien and adapted by Markland Taylor, will be open to the public on March 4 and 5.
Directed for the CMU production by professor Lonna Wilke, the show centers on Bilbo Baggins, a young and extremely reluctant Hobbit, who leaves home and sets off with a band of adventurers to slay Smaug the dragon and recover an enormous treasure, discovering the Ring in the process. Told with wit and humor, this entirely new play based on the Tolkien classic is specially designed for a small cast.
Bilbo will be played by Central’s Cole Nowlin, with Amanda Schrivener joining the cast as Thorin, and Daniel Ard playing Gandalf. Other members of the cast include Gram Coalier, Kayla Wainscott, Arielle Prince, Kara McQuerrey, and Kaitlyn Bailey, all playing multiple roles. Elana Dodson is part of the cast as the lead puppeteer for the show.
Also part of the production on the technical side will be Jackson Strain as the assistant director/stage manager, Joseph Lass as the assistant technical director, and Eric Lotz as the assistant director. Margaret Eyberg will serve as the assistant director in charge of props and puppets, while Poppy Garner will control light board operations and Perrin Dowse will serve as sound board operator and sound designer.
Other members of the crew include Lizzy Thomas, Eric Lotz, Margaret Powell, Sarah King, Cocone Matsuzawa, Samantha Cox, Cass Harris, and Emily Gann. Members of Wilke’s stagecraft class who have pitched in to create the set include Brooke Adams, Neil Green, Ryan Green, Katie Hendel, Cayley Hollon, Caleb Hurt, Anthony Johnson, Jamal Keyes, Teagan Lovin, Hannah Redding, Zane Rice, Gracie Sadler, Caleb Small, Cyndilyn Trinidad, Kynleigh White, and Shianne Witted.
The Hobbit will be open to the public in The Little Theatre on Saturday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $8 for general admission and $5 for CMU faculty and staff. Central students with ID may attend for free. Individual and group reservations can be made at any time by calling the Little Theatre box office at 660-248-6281. Reserved tickets are held at the box office and can be picked up and paid for the night of the performance.