Join the Emperor, his friends and subjects, and the busy Silkworms this Saturday, June 11 when the Missoula Children’s Theatre and more than 30 local students present an original musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

Playing the title character of the Emperor is local student Liam Demorest. Other featured performers include Keller Ford as ManyPenny, Johanne Hansen as Royal Scholar Roxy and Abby Watkins as Royal Scholar Red. The Kings will be Chase Chavez and Kurt Kimble, and the Queens will be Rem Jaquez and Belen Padilla. The Money Council will be Owen County, Adam Cunningham, Zayn Hoke, Kara Kimble, Remington Ortiz, Jaxon O’Toole and Samantha Quezada. Gem, the Royal Jeweler, is Freya Hansen. Boots, the Royal Cobbler, is Jada Reid. The Royal Hatter, Lid, will be played by Sharidyn Cosentino. The Royal Tailor, Stitch, will be played by Lavelle Jacobs. The Royal Artisans are Kellen Demorest, Aria Jacobs, Afdab Noorstan, and Laila Noorstani. Finally, the Royal Silkworms will be played by Lydia Bowles, Nevaeh Chavez, Hannah Cosentino, Quinn County, Jesse Cunningham, Alejandra Esquivel, Madeline Jacobs, Ava Ortiz, Vedy Patidar and Laylah Rice. Gabriel Hiriart has served as assistant director throughout the week.

The Emperor’s New Clothes will be presented at 1 and 3 p.m. at the Macey Center. Tickets, which are $5 for adults and free for youth, will be available at the door.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre residency in Socorro, N.M., is supported by City of Socorro, Socorro Consolidated Schools, NMT Performing Arts Series, and the Betty Clark Memorial. For more information, call or email Dana Chavez at 575-835-5688, [email protected].

El Defensor Chieftain