HERMISTON – Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house she goes. Red Riding Hood, Clarissa Gray, isn’t so little any more.

Red and her preteen pals, Liberty Wambeke, Tenniell Ottmar and Lana Ngo, try to stay on the straight and narrow but encounter a few obstacles along the way in the latest adventure from Missoula Children’s Theatre’s “Red Riding Hood.”

The Big Bad Wolf isn’t so bad after all and a friendly neighborhood Forest Ranger urges the heroes to stick to the trail. But on her way to finding her grandma Red finds a whole lot more.

Missoula Children’s Theatre tour actors and directors, Josh Laird and Jill Franklin are rehearsing with 53 area aspiring thespians every afternoon and evening this week to perfect their roles in time for the Saturday matinee and evening performances.

Franklin worked with the “Hoods,” on their song and dance routines Tuesday at the Hermiston Community Center.

“This is a rock, jazzy, blues number with really cool music,” Franklin said. “Make your ‘t’s’ really strong. Use you mouth muscles a lot. If you forget the words your mouth muscles will remember what to do.”

Franklin and Laird worked from 4-8:30 p.m. with the local actors and five student directors. They went over dance numbers until the moves flowed instinctively. They went over scenes many, many times until the actors were spontaneous and play books were almost completely forgotten.

One hundred eighteen would-be thespians turned up to audition for the show on Monday afternoon. Franklin and Laird had the hard task of narrowing the list down to a cast of 53 student actors and five student assistant directors.

The character cast members are: Clarissa Gray, Red Riding Hood; Samantha Raleigh, Sister Hood; Devin Daubenspeck, Brother Hood; Siena McKinney, Baby Hood; Brennan McKinney, Robin Hood; Brian Savard, the locksmith; Tyler Nielsen, woodsman; Been Booher, the boy who cries wolf; Spencer Wambeke, little lovable wolf; Liberty Wambeke, Tenniell Ottmar and Lana Ngo, the girlfriends; Destynee Morris, Brianne Smith and Danielle Hall, the three pigs; Maynard Scott, Lauren Winfree, Alexis Tricker, Tyler Zick, Andrew Douglass, Michael Tricker, Jacob Fox, Mitchell Leonard, Kathryn Raleigh and Jeri Hoffert, the wolf gang; Mackenzie Colgan, Cassandra Hansen, Kat McLoud, Emily Byran, Grayson Wallis, Ashley Partojan, Jennifer Nevil, Rebecca Walker, Tori Espinosa, Aislinn Rennison, Seleh McKinney and Daisha Hall, the forest shadows; and Megan Kane, Christal Hall, Breezi James, McKinley Rennison, Cara Hall, Madisen Ward, Chelsea Woolridge, Shay Kennison, Kelsi Davis, Bailey Gisesn, Tristan Mitchell, Emily Sexton, Brittiny Wolverton, Dallin McKinney, Sammie Colbray and Kimberly Nevil, raccoons. Student directors are Arilla Consoliver, Lora Johnson, Cearstin Taylor, Anthony Alberts and Levi Fox. Laird plays the Big Bad Wolf and Franklin plays Mother Hood, Ranger Rooney and Grandma.

Contact Carol Marcum at (800) 522-0255 ext. 306 or by e-mail at cmarcum@eastoregonian.com.

Desert Arts Council Presents

What: The Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “Red Riding Hood”

When: 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18

Where: Hermiston Community Center, 415 S. Highway 395, Hermiston

Tickets: Available at the Hermiston Chamber Office, 567-6151, Blue Mountain Community College West Campus, 567-1800 or at the door. Ticket prices, $8 adults, $6 DAC members and $5 students.