Entertainment : 'Stories of Our People:' VSMS students plan spring play

The Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School students will be performing a collection of plays called "Stories of Our People" this Friday and Saturday, March 18-19. Shows both nights will begin at 7:00 pm in the Tilford Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for students.
"Stories of Our People" will feature the well known tale of "Legend of Pocahontas." But before that, go on a journey with the "StoryTeller" (Raeganne Neilson) and the "Wordspinner" (Zena Aragon) as they share the folklore of their people- the early English Settlers and the Native Americans. Through their storytelling they will compare how different, yet how, surprisingly, the same they are.

The StoryTeller will tell tall tales of "The Three Bears" and "Jack and The Bean Stalk" (among others). Abbye Hendryx, Emma Dickenson and Kayla Griffith with play the three bears, while Lily Kerkman will play the conniving old woman who breaks into the bears house.

Jack, in "Jack and The Bean Stalk," will be played by Daniel Hughes. Caroline Erickson will be the Ogre's faithful servant that will help hide Jack when they hear the Ogre's signature entrance of... "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman..."

The Wordspinner will also spin many stories her ancestors gave her including the stories of "Pushing Up The Sky" and "Star Sisters." In "Pushing Up the Sky" the Native American's learn the importance of working together to accomplish a goal.
In "Star Sisters" the stars (played by Carly Williams and Claire Booth) come down to earth to grant two sisters' wishes. But in the end the the sisters realize dreams aren't always what they seem.
Finally,The StoryTeller and The Wordspinner will travel back in time and tell the story that they are most often asked to share- "Legend of Pocahontas." While "Legend of Pocahontas" is based on historical events, over time the story has taken on different versions and line between fact and fiction has been blurred.

In our story Pocahontas (Emily Levis) makes friends with the English Settlers (Taylor Shipley, Marjorie Davis and Jenna Pattee), talks to the animals (Kailey Lazenby, Lauren Murray, and Morgan Lang) and becomes mediator between the English Leader John Smith (Isaac Allsup) and Native American Chief Powhatan (Sage Holmes). In the end Pocahontas brings peace to the land.

What we know for sure is that Pocahontas, indeed, made place for her name in our history.

Some of our stories are silly, some are unbelievable, but all of them are ours! We would like to share them with you this Friday and Saturday! Come be our guest as we tell the "Stories of Our People."