The Troll & the Elephant Prince
Immerse yourself in the magical world of The Troll and the Elephant Prince, the first production in the 2017 Tibbits Popcorn Theatre Season showing June 11 & 12 at 10am.
The citizens of Trolltown are forced to pay gold to an intimidating Troll so that he will protect them from the terrifying creatures that live in the mountains, the One-Eyed Slithering Zanies. One morning two strangers enter Trolltown, each on separate quests; the wise and knowledgeable Boult, a Traveler of Earth and Stars; the second is the young and lonely peasant boy, Jack with his traveling companion, a toy elephant. Upon seeing Jack in the village the Troll recognizes him and demands that the villagers hand him over immediately. Boult steps in and defends Jack while also trying to determine why the Troll would want him so badly. With the help of Dana, the daughter of an apple grower from the village, the adventurous Jack manages to escape the Troll, for the time being, and sets into motion a series of events that will at long last reveal the truth about the Zanies and what is really happening in Trolltown.
Making up the cast of The Troll and the Elephant Prince is Ben Shimkus as Jack, Beth Conley as Dana, Sean Thomas Noonan as Mr. Tripp, Emma Driver as Mrs. Mint, Bailey Kote as Boult, and Jacob Smith as the troll with Charles Burr directing.
This imaginative and original tale was written by Max Bush, one of America’s most successful new playwrights. Since graduating from Grand Valley in 1972 he has written more than sixteen major plays and won the American Alliance for Theatre in Education’s Distinguished Play Award in 1990 and 2002. In 1995 Bush received the nation’s highest prize for children’s playwriting, the Charlotte Chorpenning Cup. Bush has also produced commissioned plays for some of the most prestigious children’s theatre companies in the country, including the Nashville Academy and Emmy Gifford theatres, the Hartford Children’s Theatre, Honolulu Youth Theatre and others.
Tibbits Popcorn Theatre is ideal summer entertainment for the entire family and a great way for kids to be introduced to live theatre. Children are given the opportunity to experience theatre that is created “just for them” and performed by the professionals of the Tibbits Summer Theatre company. Each performance with the opportunity to meet the actors from the productions.
All Tibbits Popcorn Theatre presentations show Friday and Saturdays at 10am. Patrons will be treated to free popcorn and juice at intermission.
The presentation of “The Troll and the Elephant Prince” is sponsored by Edward Jones agents Greg Bruder and Tracy Kelley. The popcorn is donated by Ed Lake. The juice is donated by McDonald’s-The Maynadr Organization. Popcorn Theatre is also made possible through the generosity of Dr. Jon and Seibra Herbner.
Tickets are $9 (price includes fees) and are available at Tibbits.org, or by calling 517-278-6029. You may also stop by the box office located inside the Tibbits Opera House at 14 S. Hanchett St., Coldwater, MI. Box office hours are 9am-6pm, Monday through Friday. Group and family rates are available.
# # #