The spring Junior Bards production this year will feature two one act plays with actors aged 9 to 18.

Director Cody Boyer looked long and hard for a magical play that included young actors age 7 to 10 and found Em Frappier’s “An Empress, a Faun and . . . Olive Loaf?” that fit the bill. Cody was able to cast five nine-year olds in this play about a young girl who finds herself in a mysterious world of mystical animals and lost children, while writing a creative story for school. She must play cold-hearted games with a wicked Empress to be able to return home. 

Graysen Gable, the second director, began his involvement with the Bards in 2014 with a role in the Junior Bards’ production “10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse” by Don Zolidis. Since this will his last year with the Bards, Graysen picked its sequel “10 Ways to Survive the End of the World” to round out his career at Backus.

The Junior Bards is the youth component of the Borealis Bards, the inter-generational community theatre program of Backus Community Center. These productions will take place on the main stage of Backus at 900 Fifth Street in International Falls.

This theatre arts production featuring local children, is made possible in part by a generous donation from the International Falls Rotary Chapter. Both these plays are presented by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.

Performances will be at 7:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23; and 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 24. Tickets are available at City Drug and the Backus Office in International Falls, J&D Family Foods in Littlefork, Betty’s in Fort Frances, and at the door. Prices are $12 adult and $5 children.