At the end of February, our school underwent a magical transformation. In just five short days, our students went from auditioning for roles to performing a full-scale musical production of "Hercules." The residency with the Missoula Children’s Theatre is a whirlwind of creativity and discipline. The journey began on Monday with casting, where students waited with bated breath to find out their roles. From there, they "hit the ground running," balancing their school day with intensive rehearsals that stretched late into the evening.
The dedication of these young performers was on full display as they mastered lines, songs, and choreography in record time. By Friday afternoon, they were ready for their first performance in front of their peers, followed by two spectacular shows for the community on Saturday.
A Tale of Strength and Teamwork
This year’s production of Hercules brought ancient Greece to life with a modern twist. The story followed Hercules on his quest to prove himself, but with important lessons about what "true strength" really means.
The Journey Begins: The show opened with philosophers Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato setting the stage for a "storytelling forum" [00:35].
The Olympic Spirit: We saw the "Mighty Titans" preparing for the games with strength and courage [08:00], while the "Cyclops" provided some mischievous competition [21:00].
A Lesson in Character: In a touching moment, the character Androcles showed that kindness—like pulling a thorn from a lion’s paw—is just as heroic as physical strength [12:40].
The Grand Finale: The cast closed the show with a powerful message: true strength isn't just about muscles; it’s about resilience, confidence, and doing the right thing [36:00].
Special Thanks
A production of this magnitude is a true community effort. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Jon Kirk for his generous sponsorship, which makes this incredible experience possible for our students year after year. We also want to thank our amazing parent volunteers who assisted with everything from rehearsals to costumes, ensuring the week ran smoothly.
Congratulations to all the students who participated—you truly went the distance!
Watch the Performance: You can relive the magic and watch the full performance of Hercules on YouTube here.