Middle school students will bring a classic to life on stage
Published 10:45 am Friday, March 11, 2016
Cole Janssen, right, playing Robin Hood, rehearses a scene Tuesday with Adam Semple, playing Sheriff, at Southwest Middle School. Students will perform “Robin Hood” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Little Theater of the school. – Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Sixth- and seventh-graders at Southwest Middle School will bring a classic to life tonight with the production of “Robin Hood” in the school’s Little Theatre.
Director Laura Kuisle, a seventh-grade math teacher at the school, said the play will be a culmination of almost two months of work. Auditions were Jan. 11, and students started the week after learning lines and practicing parts.
“It’s going to be a great time,” Kuisle said.
The play runs a little more than an hour with an intermission and features Cole Janssen as Robin Hood, Adam Semple as Sheriff and Jaiden Venem as Lady Merle, among others.
Kuisle said she thinks a highlight of the play will be a scene with an archery contest.
Southwest Middle School students practice “Robin Hood” Tuesday at the school. -Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
“I think they’ll be surprised we are actually shooting real arrows with a safety at the end,” she said.
There are four or five scenes with sword fights, which she said are also entertaining.
“I think they will be engaged the whole time,” she said.
Kuisle worked closely with her parents, Dale and Karen Kuisle, who live near Rochester, to make the backdrops and costumes.
Some of the costumes for the female parts also came from Albert Lea Community Theatre.
Kuisle said this is her second time as the middle school play director. She has been involved with other plays in the past.
Cast list
Beth: Aaliyah Van Diver
Mother Meg: Kendal Habana
Little John: Connor Ravlin
Old Widow: Madison Doyle
Will Scarlet: Brennan McCalla
Robin Hood: Cole Janssen
Friar Tuck: Colin Farr
Soldier No. 1: Kali Benson
Sheriff: Adam Semple
Lady Merle: Jaiden Venem
Annabel: Brooke Hanson
Maid Marian: Wendy Lazaro
Soldier No. 2: Riley Johnston
Sheriff’s Wife: Grace Dawson
Salome: Samantha Brumbaugh
Stranger: Johnny Lopez
Robin’s Band: Anna Grossklaus, Victoria Wildeman and Noah Thesis
Director: Laura Kuisle
Assistant directors: Taylor Palmer, Annabell Lundell, Kenzie Monson
Backstage: Anna Birch, Alex Nelson, Fawn Deitz, Adriana Brumbaugh, Mia Kenison, Abby Chalmers
Tickets, please
What: “Robin Hood”
Where: Southwest Middle School Little Theater
When: 7 p.m. today
Cost: $5
