Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Sep 21/05) - A large crowd was on hand this past Thursday evening, Sept. 15, as more than 50 students joined the Missoula Children's Theatre for a riveting production of the Wizard of Oz in Rankin Inlet.

Funding for the annual production has been obtained by the Kivalliq Inuit Association through the Urban Multi-Purpose Aboriginal Youth Centre since 2001.

Caitlin Newman of Butte, Montana, is a tour actor/director with the troupe.

Newman says she enjoys the excitement of working with a different group of kids every week.

She says it's rewarding to see kids put on a high-quality performance in less than a week.

"Our week in Rankin was actually supposed to be our week off, but when we were offered this tour we said yes right away," says Newman.

"It was too wonderful an opportunity to pass up.

"We weren't too sure how many kids would be interested, but we had 250 show up for auditions.

"The kids here are extremely talented, and we knew from day one we were going to have an amazing show."

Selected for the lead roles in Rankin were Kerri Tattuinee (Dorothy), Kelli McLarty (Tin Man), Kathleen Merritt (Lion), Laura Oingonn (Toto), Laurie Tagoona (Glinda), Tia Friesen (Wicked With) and Nelson Kablalik (the Wizard).

Actor/director Andy Copley of Missoula, MT, enjoyed his time in Rankin immensely.

He says getting a chance to put on a production in the Canadian Arctic is a memory he'll cherish forever.

"It's an incredibly different lifestyle than what we live in the States," says Copley.

Great show

"The people are wonderful. We couldn't have asked for a better trip."

Copley, a theatre education major at the University of Montana, started doing Missoula theatre at the age of six and got hooked on the stage during his senior school years.

He says Missoula is his first professional job to combine theatre with teaching.

"I love working with kids because unlike adults, who don't like to do anything new, kids will try anything.

"If you let them know they have the talent, they believe in themselves.

"The level of talent in Rankin is really quite amazing, considering how little exposure to the theatre they really have.

"This was one of our best shows of the year."