Kim Krueger stars as the Aviator and Zion Bilal as the Little Prince
The Whitefish Theatre Company is delighted to present an enchanting adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s treasured book, The Little Prince. This magical young-actors production opens with a sneak preview night on February 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Performances continue on February 26 and 27 and March 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are on February 28 and March 6 at 4:00 p.m.
“The Little Prince” is a timeless story of an unlikely friendship between an Aviator who crashes in the Sahara Desert and the innocent yet wise Little Prince who has fallen from the sky. The Little Prince tells the Aviator about his lonely asteroid B-612, the fantastic characters he meets on his adventures through the galaxy, and his strained relationship with a very special flower on his own tiny planet. The Little Prince’s deceptively simple storytelling fills this imaginative tale with rich and timeless poetic wisdom and magical charm for audiences of all ages. Chicago Plays has said the story “speaks, in breathtaking splendor, to the castaway in all of us: challenging our perspective, opening our eyes and bringing us back to the heart of what truly matters.”
“This is such a beautiful story, about seeing with the heart, past what is apparent,” says Director Rebecca Schaffer. “To that end, this great cast and I have been working with physical theatre techniques to create this world. The ensemble has become the sky, the stars, the desert, the mountains and the kids are operating puppets, masks, and engaging in rigorous physical forms throughout the show.” Schaffer adds, “Lonnie Porro’s costumes are so imaginative and beautiful. The universe truly comes to life with fabric and these one-of-a-kind designs.”
WTC has 23 talented young actors in the cast from all over the Flathead Valley, plus local actor and Children’s Theatre expert Kim Krueger as the Aviator. Schaffer is delighted to reunite with WTC for this show after directing “The King and I” and “Oliver”. “The O’Shaughnessy is one of the best spaces I’ve worked with in my career and I am glad to be back,” says Schaffer. “I love finding new ways to use the incredibly intimate amphitheater layout.”
The Little Prince was first published in 1943 and gained global recognition for the author and illustrator as the book was embraced by readers of all ages around the world. A year after the book was published, Saint Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying a reconnaissance mission for Allied Forces. It is generally assumed that the Aviator is an autobiographical character based on Saint Exupéry’s experiences piloting planes, adding poignancy and relevance for adult readers and audiences of this beloved tale.
The sneak preview on February 25 is $10 for adults and $8 for students. Tickets are available only at the door with general seating. Tickets for other performances are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $8 for students with reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office at 1 Central Avenue in Whitefish or by calling 406-862-5371. Box Office Hours are 10am to 4pm Monday through Friday and one hour before a performance. Individual tickets can also be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.
This show is sponsored by NXGEN. Flathead Electric and Plum Creek Timber Company are sponsoring the education outreach for this show.