HOULTON, Maine — The 50th anniversary of the Star Bright Children’s Theatre was celebrated in style Friday and Saturday as young actors took the stage of the Houlton Community Arts Center.
Directed by Gary Farnham, the production of “The Enchanted Bookshop,” featured a group of 20 young thespians bringing to life the story of a struggling bookstore trying to stay open in a challenging business world. At night, some of the book characters come to life worried that their world may be coming to an end. During the midst of the worry, some thieves break in. The book characters work together to help solve the crime and prevent the closing of the store.
Katilyn Kenney played the erstwhile shop owner “Margie,” who along with her faithful cat “Bombalurnia” played by Lily Bergeron, oversee the bookstore where magical things happen.
Popular characters Robin Hood (Colton Simoes), Tom Sawyer (Samuel Kafferlin), Sherlock Holmes (Elijah Fournier), Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” (Payton Collins), Heidi (Karyssa Kenney), and Pollyanna (Carissa Michaud) were among the main personalities brought to life each evening after the shop closes for the night.
Other young actors participating in the show were: Tia Burlock, Alexandra Collins, Laurel Foster, Angelica Goetsch, Sarah Howe, Sophie Lorom, Ella McCarthy, Travis Monteith, Calli Sylvia, Mylee Sylvia, Summer Violette and Gemma Wells.
The Houlton Star Bright Children’s Theatre, founded in 1969 by students at Ricker College, is one of the oldest community children’s theatres in the country and offers live theater for and by children in the Greater Houlton area. The theater is a non-profit organization supported by generous volunteer help and community donations.
For more information on the children’s theater contact, Sullivan at 538-9416 or via email at frank@rainbarrow.net.
