Entertainment : Benton Theatre Summer Camp

It’s a race to the finish line for Benton Theatre Rising Stars summer campers, as they prepare to present “Aesop, Come Back!” at the Benton HS auditorium this Friday night. The show is great for all ages and runs about one hour. Showtime is at 7:00pm and no tickets are required, but donations are welcomed.

Forty-five young campers have spent the past two weeks rehearsing the full-length play, which includes the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare, along with several other well-known fables. All sorts of characters will take the stage to present a number of valuable moral lessons through storytelling, song and dance. Benton Theatre Rising Stars summer camp is in its 12th year. Several of the earliest and youngest campers in the program are now high school seniors and student leaders, working with campers throughout the two-week period and running tech operations and backstage management for the performance. Left to Right Back Row: Madison Knaack, Kaelyn Knaack, Gerik Jurgens, Carley McMains, Avery King, Madelynn Rodman, Kenna Kline, Taylor Bauer, Caitlin Atwood, Keira Carper, Reagan Gorkow, Alashia McMurdo and Matthew Voss Third Row: Gracie Jurgens, Alyson Brown, Grace Gilbaugh, Colton Johnson, Blake Soquet, Eli Martin, Jacob Bange, Derrek Campbell, Kaitlyn Kulbartz, Rileigh Norton, Sadie Blomberg, Keaton Kline, Talon Schneekloth Second Row: Ty Kulbartz, Hayden Bange, Rebecca Caldwell, Gracie Norton, Brady Burge, Delaney Seeck, Alannah McKibben, Mason Campbell, Sidny Miner, Bryton Grimm, Ian McMurdo Front Row: Evan Martin, Blaze Soquet, Cayden Short, Emma Bange, Derek Berger, Payton Armstrong, Shaelin Carper, Emily Kulbartz, Brianna Gahring, Katarina Wedeking, Haleigh Norton Not pictured: Sophia Pealer, Hailee Johnson, August Lankow