Pope children take center stage

Children participate in the Missoula Children’s Theater production of “Beauty Lou and the Country Beast.” The production tour is based out of Missoula, Mont., and travels worldwide giving children an opportunity to become involved with the performing arts. (U.S. Photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Margavich)

Pope children take center stage

Published Aug. 21, 2009
By Rhonda Griffin
43rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Pope children took center stage recently when the Missoula Children's Theater came to visit. The traveling theater production tour, based out of Missoula, Mont., visits all parts of the country and some locations overseas to get children involved with the performing arts.

Within one week's time, the play is cast, rehearsed and performed. This year's performance, "Beauty Lou and the Country Beast," was a rendition of the classic, "Beauty and the Beast." Thirty-eight Pope youth participated, taking six of the seven lead roles, said Armond Biggers, youth program director of the School Age Program.

"The two actors/directors who were working with the children probably gave us the biggest compliment we could get," Mr. Biggers said. "They said it was the best production they'd had all summer."

One budding young actor, 9-year-old Joshua Davis, son of Chief Master Sgt. Adrian Davis, 43rd Medical Group, and his wife, Tonya, was a shining star on the stage, being told by the performers with the theater that he was "born to be an actor," Mr. Biggers added.

Pope was fortunate to be included in the Missoula Children's Theater tour again this year, with all of the children working hard to make this the "best performance here at Pope in some time," said Mr. Biggers.

With so much young talent mingled into one production, the 143 families in attendance were treated to a performance to be remembered