by Trevor Hass
Sports Reporter
For Lilly Hayworth, cackling as the Wicked Queen in “Into the Woods with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was a task she had, in a way, been preparing for her whole life.
The NorthStar Family Theatre put on a production of “Into the Woods with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” last week at Elk River High. Renee Mize played Gretel, Wyatt Olin was Hansel, and the Gingerbread Children were Ava Elstad, Lilly Kolyer, Lola Smith, Nathan Inselmann, Hailey Flynn, Olivia Jarvis and Brooklyn Michael.
“I’ve always been able to do it,” she said after the show on Sunday. “Ever since I started watching ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ I started imitating Margaret Hamilton.”
Hayworth was one of many stars in a production put on by the NorthStar Family Theatre at Elk River High School’s Little Theatre from April 8-17. The cast and crew put on 10 productions in total, and the ages of the cast members ranged from 1 to adult.
Not only did the play feature several classic fairy tales, but it also was specifically written for Elk River and included several local references including a couple Pizza Ranch mentions. There was also a Jake From State Farm reference, a Bieber Fever shout out and a playful jab at Kanye West.
As usual, the show was a family production and appealed to people of all ages.
“It was a lot of fun,” David Inselmann said. “Our whole family was involved. My daughter was Snow White, I was the Miller, my youngest son was Yellow Bird, and he was also Ginger Bread and then my other son was the Wolf and then my wife was the Mirror and the Bear.”
Lizzy Inselmann, who starred as Snow White, said it was different playing a largely one-dimensional role. When acting as a cartoon character, you have to stay in one mindset the entire time, as opposed to altering your inflection and mood.
She enjoyed interacting and working with her family members and other people, especially the seven dwarfs – all of whom she knows personally.
“You just kind of take age out of the equation,” Lizzy Inselmann said.
The Elk River drama department will put on “The Wizard of Oz” starting Friday night.
‘Wizard of Oz’ opens April 29 at Zabee
Audiences will be off to see the wizard beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Zabee Theater for Elk River High School’s drama club production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Additional showtimes at Elk River High School’s Zabee Theater include 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 30 as well as 7 p.m. May 6 and 7.
Tickets will be sold at the door. General admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors.
Spectrum performed ‘Into the Woods Jr.’
Spectrum High students performed “Into the Woods Jr.” this past weekend, showing off their singing voices and sharing a story with lots of twists and turns.
The students performed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Spectrum High gymnatorium.
Gilbert (sophomore Zach Jamison) checks on Anne (junior Madelyn Muckenhirn) after her accident.
ZHS presents Anna of ‘Anne of Green Gables’
Zimmerman High School will be presenting its spring play, “Anne of Green Gables,” this weekend at Zimmerman High School.
The shows will be Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. General admission is $6, and students and seniors can get in for $4.
The classic tale is based on the books by Lucy Maud Montgomery about an orphan girl who is adopted by an unlikely pair, and it chronicles her misadventures as she grows up in a small community on Prince Edward Island in the early 1900s.
Marilla (sophomore Linny Briggs) and Matthew (senior Nolan Cameron) discuss Anne’s progress and achievements.