Sept. 12, 2012

Morningside College Theatre Department to present “Jack and the Beanstalk”

The Morningside College Theatre Department will present “Jack and the Beanstalk” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, in Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Ave. The production is for people of all ages.

In the story, Jack is conned by a dishonest salesman, and he exchanges his cow for what he is told are magic beans. When he returns home, his mother is angry, and she throws the beans into the garden, where they grow into a beanstalk that stretches to the clouds. This is the window to adventure that Jack has waited for, and he cannot resist climbing into the clouds to seek his fortune. 

Student cast members are Melissa Richter of Rock Valley, Iowa, as the Minstrel; Kyle McGlade of Council Bluffs, Iowa, as Jack; Elizabeth Planck of Omaha, Neb., as Jack’s Mother; Addi Morgan of Kansas City, Kan., as Lucky the Cow; Mandy Suing of Sioux City as The Giant’s Cook; Charles Ummach of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, as The Giant; Cat Ruddy of Minneapolis, Minn., as The Golden Goose; and Haley Gabriel of Holdrege, Neb., as The Magic Singing Harp.

Students on the crew are stage manager Haleigh Pigott of Sioux City; backstage manager Cristina McCrystal of Sloan, Iowa; makeup coordinator Holli Luff of Garland, Neb.; and stage crew members Minh Vu of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Liz Burtis of Algona, Iowa; and Katharine Klave of Le Mars, Iowa.

The musical is directed by Betty Skewis-Arnett, professor and chair of the theatre and dance department. Set and lighting design is crafted by Kenton Jones, visiting instructor of theatre. Music direction is provided by Steve Lundberg, visiting guest artist in the theatre department.

Seats are $5 general admission and can be purchased at the door.