Just as all seems hopeless, a clever young man comes to the rescue. That is the story told by the Great Bend Recreation Commission’s 17th-annual youth summer theater production “Aladdin.”
The curtain goes up on the performance at 7 p.m. Friday at the Crest Theater, 1905 Lakin. The play is open to the public and admission is free.
Just when it seems all is lost, Aladdin, played by Andrew Curtright, uses his guile to trick the evil magician and save the sultan’s mythical Middle Eastern kingdom. At last the sultan, played by Matthew Zorn, joins Aladdin and his daughter princess Ginger, played by Ragan Nickless, in a marriage.
For his final wish Aladdin grants the genie his freedom and the kingdom celebrates his victory.
The cast of 43 children, ages 6–15, has been practicing for five weeks under the direction of Paul Martin and assistants Tammy Bell and Carolyn Spracklin, said Garet Fitzpatrick, GBRC program coordinator. Many of the children are veterans of past GBRC productions.
Other cast members include: BrayLynn Anshutz, BreAnn Anshutz, Isaac Avila, Aaron Clark, Malia Clark,  Ashley Durland, Megan Durland, Gracie Eckels, Hayden Ensley, Jacenda Gilbert, Madelynn Gregg, Alyssa Habash, Aubrey Habash, Ashtin Heath, Patrick Heath, Karson Higgins, Marlow Hosler, Madison Jones, Alyssa Keller, Sarah Keller, Emma Loomis, Hannah Loomis, Marcos Martinez, Matthew Mattocks, Cailee McMullen, Sarah Mehlhaff, Abigail Miller, Lauren Miller, Colby Nickless, Taylar Nickless, Jasmine Schoenhals, Alex Smith, Shanaeia Smith-Mehlhaff, Elly Somers, Nicole Strecker, Aleah Urban, Olivia Urban, Ryen Wilkens, Elijah Witte and Gabe Zorn.
For more information on this production contact the Recreation Commission office at 620-793-3755 ext. 2.