February 09, 2012 - February 19, 2012

Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30pm, Sundays 4pm, with one Saturday matinee Feb. 18 at 2pm

Whitefish Theatre Co. is delighted to present the beloved children’s classic “The Borrowers” in a staged production with local actors and puppeteers directed by Education Director April Dawn Vogel. The Borrowers are a series of novels by Mary Norton about “tiny people” that live beneath the floorboards of the “Human Beans,” adapted for the stage by Charles Way. The production opens February 10th and runs through February 19th. There will be a sneak preview on February 9th.

“’The Borrowers’ offers a warm-hearted, uncomplicated slice of theatre for the whole family" - The Stage. 14-year-old Arrietty Clock lives under the floorboards of a house with her timid parents, Homily and Pod, until the family must flee and run for their lives afield and afloat in the great big human world. Spirited Arrietty befriends everyone, including the Boy upstairs, and discovers a world teeming with wonder, "where a field mouse becomes game the size of an elk, where one side of a pair of scissors becomes a great sword, and where a shoe can provide shelter for an entire family!" - Seattle Actor. In addition to the wonderful storyline, the language of “The Borrowers” flows in beautiful verse that captures the warmth and picturesque countryside of old England. Vogel has paired her favorite classical composer Claude Debussy with the production. Debussy’s “The Children’s Hour” offers a magical backdrop for this expressionistic tale.

The cast is comprised of eleven actors and puppeteers, ages 11-16 years, from around the Flathead Valley including Tiegen Tremper, Katrina Funk, Sam Benkelman, Kess Nelson, Mason DeVries, Brendan Buls, Pickle Holdhusen, Sophia Skwarchuk, Hunter Cripe, Bohdi Venery, and Ryleigh Finn. Vogel describes the “Theatre For Kids By Kids” approach as one that “encourages expression and independent thought about the character each child is playing, allowing their creativity to overflow!”

Audience-goers will notice that the world looks a bit different when you’re only six inches tall, like Arrietty and the other Borrowers! The fun for Vogel and her production crew was to figure out a set that would portray both the Borrowers’ world and the human world. Vogel, Charity Flowers (set decorator & puppet/kite designer), and the crew were able to turn the Whitefish Theatre Co. stage into a beautiful, adventurous other world with stunning insect puppets, giant flowers and foliage, and a giant boot that serves as a house, to help the audience imagine the thrills of being a wee little Borrower. Victorian costume creations and design were provided by Kim Aldinger.

There is a sneak preview on February 9 at 7:30pm, for $8 general admission, at the door only. “The Borrowers” opens February 10 at 7:30pm, and continues Feb. 11, 17-18 at 7:30pm, Feb. 12 and 19 at 4pm, and Feb. 18 at 2pm. Tickets are $18/adult, $14/senior, and $8/student, all seats reserved. Appropriate for all ages.

Show sponsor is Glacier Bank of Whitefish. Outreach sponsors for a presentation to 325 local schoolchildren are Rayne and Randy Beach.

For further information on Whitefish Theatre Co. events or theatre education, or to purchase tickets please visit www.whitefishtheatreco.org or call or visit the O’Shaughnessy Center (1 Central Avenue, Whitefish) box office at 862-5371 Monday-Friday 10-4, and one hour before performances.

Tickets are $18/adult, $14/senior, and $8/student

Appropriate for all ages

Whitefish Theatre Co. at the O'Shaughnessy Center

1 Central Avenue
Whitefish, Montana 59937