Dyess children perform Pied Piper

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Fifty-seven children from Dyess Air Force Base performed the Pied Piper at the base theater here Aug. 7.

The children worked with Missoula Children's Theatre for less than a week to prepare for the production.

"The play was outstanding," said Zel McGhee, Dyess Community Center director. "It's amazing how two people can control 57 children and make an awesome production given only four days to rehearse."

"The rehearsals went very well," said Meagan Wiltshire, MCT production director. "The children were very excited about performing on stage in front of an audience, especially their families."

More than 80 people attended the play about a town suffering from a rat infestation when a man dressed in pied clothing appeared, claiming to be a rat-catcher. The mayor offered money to the Pied Piper for the removal of the rats. The piper accepted, and played a musical pipe to lure the rats away.

After the rats were gone, the mayor of Hamelin refused to pay the piper his money. He later returned and played his pipe yet again, this time attracting the children of Hamelin into a cave where they were held until the mayor learned his lesson.

"The play was great," said Megan Memery, who acted as a town council member in the production. "I can't wait until next year's event."

According to the MCT Web site, more than 65,000 children will participate as performers in the Missoula Children's Theatre International Tour Project this year. The production group will visit this year nearly 1,300 communities in all 50 states, three Canadian territories, five provinces and 16 countries.

"I will try my hardest to get Missoula Children's Theatre to return next year to put on another great performance," said Mr. McGhee.