'The Hobbit' performances are Aug. 5 and 6

Sugar Loaf, N.Y. — The Kings Youth Theater summer workshop is presenting its own production of J. R. R. Tolkien’s, The Hobbit on Aug. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. at the Lycian Centre in Sugar Loaf. The Hobbit is the first of the Middle Earth stories penned by Tolkien and follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Bilbo’s journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into darker, deeper territory. The story is told in the form of an episodic quest, and includes wizards, dwarves, elves, wolves, spiders, eagles and a dragon. By accepting the disreputable, romantic, and adventurous side of his nature and applying his wits and common sense, Bilbo develops a new level of maturity, and wisdom. Bilbo faces trials which again and again force him to look deep inside himself for the strength and resourcefulness he needs to complete the task expected of him. The Kings Youth Theater Summer Production Workshop has been working in movement, vocals technique, rhythm and text to develop this version of The Hobbit. Paul Ellis, director of the Kings Youth Theatre conducts the Summer Workshop and is directing The Hobbit. The cast includes: Siobhan Hill, Sarah Wilson, Isaac Kiernan, Anna Salas, Sean O’Brien, Maylin Morales, Chris Jones, Kawani Waynick, Nikki Alessandrino, Mackenzie Martin, Marcella Martinez, Erica Pikul, Morgan Gray, Paige Dillon, Austin Brock, Thomas Driscoll, Kevin Raleigh, Marissa Reuter, Georgia Mottola, Karina Volk and Andrew Tejedor. This production is the culmination of a year long project produced during several workshops. The project began last winter with a group of eight students and director Paul Ellis. The group spent the winter and early spring assembling pieces for inclusion in a script. That resulted in a finished draft which was used this summer as a guide for the twenty student actors that will be performing the finished piece. Performances are at Aug. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. “on the Wharf” Theatre by the Lake at the Lycian Centre. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased by calling 845-469-2287.