Entertainment : In Depth: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return!

“Teenager Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” in 3D opened to an enthusiastic crowd at the Palace last night, Friday, July 1, and will run through Thursday, July 7 at 7 pm every night.

There is no Monday matinee on Monday, July 4.

Megan Fox, Laura Linney, and Will Arnett headline the cast. The turtles battle Stomach Tumor, Shredder, a lady ninja, two mutants – Bebop and Rocksteady – and and dartardly Baxter Stockman, played by Tyler Perry.

They also battle strife from within when Leonardo pulls rank on Raphael.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and runs 112 minutes.

Enjoy some amphibian fireworks at the Palace!

JULY

Following the Turtles – “Central Intelligence,” “Finding Dory,” Independence Day: Resurgence,” and “Secret Life of Pets.”

OVER THE MOON

Here’s how I’ve been spending my mornings this summer –

Little Vikes Theatre Company is gearing up for final rehearsals next week of their production, Over the Moon. Thirty-seven campers, age 5 – 12 are totally jazzed to share their interpretation of this fairytale musical written by best-selling author Jodi Picoult. This show presents a twist on such famous classics as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, and Shrek.

Luna, the Moon (Julia Johnson), comes down to earth to help humans find love. Along the way she meets the Hairy Godmother (Levi Lutz), Prince Jack (Destin Solberg), Felicity (Molly Haisman), Hugo the Giant (Tucker Mensen), the Three Bears (Levi Mensen, Annabelle Newton, Olivia McDaniel), and the evil Queen Ferocia (Maya Lapan-Islas) and her equally nasty daughters Gertrude (Addy Chvala and Sadie Burke).

Other characters include Newsgirls (Olivia Primrose, Patience Kies), Johnny Nova (Alex Funk), Jean-Claude (Jacoby Johnson), Pinocchio (Brady Whelan), Humpty Dumpty (Ali Lutz), the Talking Trees (Kalie Burke, Brylee Bruce, Zena Aragon, Rebekah Lindauer), Cinderella (Aspen Ahrenholz), Snow White (Sophia Vasquez), Grumpy (Will McKenna), Sneezy (Alliana Banks), Sleeping Beauty (McKenna Kingsbury), Goldilocks (Mieke Ternus), Rapunzel (Athena Aragon), Old Woman in the Shoe (Gracie Whelan), Lil Red in the Hood (Amaia Sloop), the Three Blind Mice (Gracyn Kingsbury, Wren Ahrenholz, Brynn Wilden), the Three Pigs (Luke Wilden, Aiden Andersen, Will Primrose) and Blitzer the Big Bad Wolf (Jackson McLaughlin).

Over the Moon is directed by Marcy Horst, with music direction by Jacob Bunge and accompanist April Ahrenholz. High School Student directors include Hannah Haisman, Celia Turner, Brittany Grendler, Lindsey Miller, David Steele, and Abby Scheel.

Little Vikes Theatre Camp is a 5-week cooperative summer project of the Vinton-Shellsburg High School Drama Department and ACT I of Benton County, with camp fees going to the high school program and show admission fees benefiting ACT I. All costumes, props, and sets are being supplied by ACT I. Show royalties were paid for with a generous grant from the Vinton Community Foundation.

Please give a standing ovation for the arts in Benton County! Join us on Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9 at 7 pm, and Sunday, July 10 at 2 pm at the VSHS Auditorium!

General admission tickets, $7 adults, $2 children and students, will be available at the door one hour before showtime.