Socorro County children featured in Treasure Island production

Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) and over 35 local students present an original musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s epic novel Treasure Island.

Dana Chavez-Baca, NMTPAS director, described the MCT Summer Residency as a community institution, “For the last three decades, we have welcomed back this program for our kiddos in Socorro! Doing our best to make sure they have something fun, engaging and educational to occupy those lazy summer days.” 

The local cast features August Strong as Jim Hawkins and Aurelia Adkins, Michela Baca, Adam Cunningham, Jesse Cunningham, Kellen Demorest, Olive Lyons, Moses Tomallo, and Zach Whetten as the rollicking Pirate crew. Jim’s mother is played by Basil Hansen and his sisters are played by Anisa Behnampour, Aria Finch, Analie Montoya, Jada Reid, Abbie Whetten and Amelia White while Ariana Armijo, Madeline Jacobs, Marion Jones, Shianne Sanchez, Catie Whetten and Alana White are featured as his Ruffian friends with Jameson Grigg as the Stranger. The cuddly Gulls are played by Henry Acevedo, Ruby Chavez, Morgan Grigg Connor Huges, Raiden Montoya, Israel Ocampo, Mason O’Toole, Aariv Patridar and Aderyn Salas and the seacoast Mariners are Kaylee Atwood, Tazisha Corkern, Sonrina Esmaeilpour, Jameson Grigg, Lemuel Grigg, Vedy Patidar and Lily Whetton, with Johanne Hansen serving as our invaluable assistant director throughout the week.

Chavez-Baca exclaims, “MCT is an amazing program, like a weeklong acting boot-camp for kids. I don’t know how they do it?! Learning to perform an entire play in one week, songs, dances and all.”

TREASURE ISLAND was originally developed by the Missoula Children’s Theatre in partnership with NorthWestern Energy. The Missoula Children’s Theatre residency in Socorro is brought to you by the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series with support from the City of Socorro, Socorro Consolidated Schools and the Betty Clark Memorial Endowment.