Southern Theatre to perform "Bear Prince" April 26-27

(From Southern News Service)

Southern Theatre and the Show-Me Celebration Company will present “The Bear Prince” at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, in Taylor Performing Arts Center.

Based on a Mexican folk tale, Daniel Williams’ play is the story of a young girl named Ninfa who marries a bear to save her poor father. The bear has a secret and warns her not to reveal it. But this proves to be too much for Ninfa, who reveals the bear’s secret to her sisters. She must then embark on a journey to the homes of the Sun, the Moon and the Wind in order to right the wrong she has caused. In turn, they aid her in battling a treacherous witch to free the bear from his twisted fate. 

“I like that it has Hispanic themes and motifs – it’s a neat sort of tune we haven’t played in a while,” said Dr. Jim Lile, who is directing the production. “It has marvelous, eccentric characters and some things to say about the nature of friendship and what it means.”

Admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children 12 and under.

The Southern Theatre box office will be open Monday, April 21, through Friday, April 25. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For reservations, call the box office at 417-625-3190.

To purchase tickets online starting April 21, go to http://www.mssu.edu/ticket-office.

For production information or requests for accommodations related to a disability, contact the Theatre Department at 417-625­9393.

(Photo information: Ross Bruns (left) and John Early rehearse a scene for the upcoming production of “The Bear Prince” at Missouri Southern State University.)

The cast for “The Bear Prince” features:

KANSAS

Baxter SpringsSean Botts – Freshman theater major

Fort ScottSavannah Schwab – Undeclared major

Independence 
Jackie Webb – Junior theater/music major

Neodesha 
Cameron Lopez – Freshman theater major
Abigail Railsback – Senior theater major

MISSOURI

Carthage 
Miranda Nealy – Sophomore theater major

Houston
Kyle Jacobs – Junior theater major

Joplin

John Early– Senior theater major

Mollie Sanders – Junior theater major

Lamar

Ariel Horton – Senior theater major

Pleasant HillRoss Bruns – Junior vocal music performance major

Pierce CityAmanda Jones – Junior vocal music performance major

Webb CitySamantha Green – Sophomore oral communication/broadcasting major