Youth Theatre Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Epic Production of The Hobbit

The George Daily Auditorium will come to life with the production of “The Hobbit” starting tonight, August 1st. (photo courtesy George Daily Auditorium)

Oskaloosa, IA – The George Daily Auditorium is abuzz with excitement as it hosts a grand community-wide production of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved classic, The Hobbit. This performance marks a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years of the Youth Theatre program. Scheduled to run from August 1-3 at 7:00 PM and August 4 at 2:00 PM, this production promises to be a unique theatrical experience combining creativity, talent, and community spirit.

Andy McGuire, Executive Director at the George Daily Auditorium, expressed enthusiasm about the program’s evolution and the upcoming production. “It’s the 25th anniversary for the youth theater. Not only do we have our regular slate of eight weeks of youth theater education programming, but we are doing a big production of The Hobbit,” he said​.

The event will feature spectacular puppetry and original music, with involvement from local artists and students. The production is set to captivate audiences with its innovative approach to storytelling, featuring everything from massive puppets to intricate shadow puppetry​.

Bringing Tolkien’s World to Life

Brant Bollman, a master puppeteer involved in the production, shared his excitement about the show’s impressive puppetry elements. “Everybody knows there’s a large, scaly, large puppet at the end, and he won’t disappoint,” Bollman said, referring to Smaug, the dragon. “It’s a dream come true to be able to do this in small-town Iowa”.

Bollman explained that the production utilizes a combination of traditional and innovative puppetry techniques. “There are some, there’s some shadow puppetry in the show that I’m really excited about and happy with. And not all me. Katie Trainer and Kelly, some other local artists jumped in, have helped,” he added.

The show’s director, McGuire, emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. “It’s really fun to see how the art form should be leveraged and utilized, and see all these pieces be woven together to make one big thing,” he said. The production draws on the talents of a diverse design team, including professionals from local colleges and skilled community members​.

A Community Effort

The 25th-anniversary production not only showcases the talent of young actors but also involves participants of all ages from the community. “It’s about 60 people. I think our youngest is, I think about second grade, all the way up to people who love the story and who have definitely been done with school for a few years,” McGuire explained.

McGuire highlighted the inclusive nature of the production, which allows participants of different ages and sizes to play various roles. “We have characters that are four feet tall for Bilbo, all the way up to, I think the trolls stand about nine feet tall,” he noted.

As part of the anniversary celebration, student tickets are free, thanks to a grant from the Mahaska County Community Foundation. McGuire stated, “Adult tickets are 20 bucks, but every student can come and see it for free. It’s a classic tale. We want everyone to experience it”.

A Rich Legacy of Youth Theatre

Reflecting on the growth of the Youth Theatre program, McGuire remarked on its transformation over the years. “When I started as the education director here in 2012, my first camp had four kids from varying age groups… and now we have seven staff full time all summer, plus an administrative staff member part-time,” he recalled.

The program has expanded to include various creative camps, ranging from tech theater to radio drama, and has seen its alumni achieve remarkable success. McGuire shared that former students have returned as staff members or contributed to the production in other significant ways. “Alexandra Nagorno… is now the composer for The Hobbit. She has her master’s in composition and film scoring, and so to have someone who was a student come back with their master’s degree and be doing the music in this is incredible,” he said.

As the final preparations are underway, the excitement surrounding the production is palpable. “I hope people come to see this thing, because it’s real theater, and it’s magical puppetry,” Bollman enthused.

Tickets for The Hobbit are available at georgedaily.org, and the community is encouraged to attend this landmark event, which promises to be a memorable celebration of creativity, talent, and the enduring appeal of Tolkien’s classic tale.