Mulan to the rescue

Rising Star Theatreworks is starting off its fifth season with an action-packed stage adaptation of Disney's "Mulan."

The show will be performed this weekend by a cast of more than 50 children in grades four through nine at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

The memorable film retells an old Chinese folk tale about a Chinese girl who disguises herself and joins the army to fight the Huns in place of her injured father. Assisted by a pint-size dishonored dragon named Mushu, Mulan risks everything in order to save China.

"I've seen the movie a billion times," said 15-year-old Maddie Mueller, who is playing the lead, Mulan.

"The story, the basic plot, is the same," she said. There are more twists and turns, and additional songs from the publishers of the script."

Preparation is crucial, especially when playing a lead role with may lines.

"When friends come over, I say, 'Will you run lines with me, please?' Mostly, it's a lot of practice, and then listening to (the other performers) so you know what comes next," said Mueller.

Mueller, who is a freshman at Batavia High School, has performed in more than 20 plays, with the Children's Theatre of Elgin at Elgin Community College, and with Rising Star. Passionate about acting, Mueller said, "It's my most favorite thing in the world."

Joining Mueller is 11-year-old Abby Stombres, a sixth-grader at Thompson Middle School in St. Charles. Stombres will appear in the role of Mushu.

"I have about 42 (lines)," she said. "My brother (John) is helping me practice. He's been in a lot of other shows."

"I think Mushu is quite a character, that brings a lot to the show. This character is really full of itself; sassy," said Stombres, who said that although she has appeared in four previous Rising Star productions, this is the biggest part she's ever played.

Having seen the movie, Stombres said that her character is "very similar to the movie. He comes out looking big, but is really small. It is a fun character to play: I have to do weird stuff, like when I breathe fire, I have to spit. And I have to pretend to blow my nose in someone's costume, which was really weird."

Allison Slattery, a 14-year-old who attends St. Peter's School in Geneva, will play Grandma Fa in this production.

Slattery, who is best friends with Maddie Mueller, whom she met through Rising Star, also said this production is very similar to the movie.

In this production, Grandma Fa has "the same funny lines, and she's a really funny, outgoing, loving character. People said to me, 'Allison, this is just the part for you.' I get to be myself, and put a twist on things I do."

Slattery has appeared in seven or eight previous shows with Rising Star. Her introduction to theater came about when she was in kindergarten.

"My aunt directs at Nazareth in LaGrange, and asked me to be in a show with the kids," she said. Since then, "Rising Star has really gotten me into it. All the friends I've made has made me love it so much. The environment has really made me love everything about theater."

This upcoming performance is directed by Jen Prise. Although this is her first directing experience with Rising Star, Prise worked with CTE on their last four productions.

Rising Star "works like a professional theater," Prise said. "I had to call each of the kids individually, and see if they wanted to accept the role, and the responsibility, just like in a professional theater."

The set for this production features a backdrop which looks like a Chinese watercolor.

"The set is minimalist, Asian style," said Prise. "Rising Star performances are more about the actors than the spectacle."

Kids and parents who have seen the movie will recognize musical favorites like "Reflection," "Honor to Us All" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You," sung by members of the Rising Star cast.

If you go

What: "Mulan" performance by Rising Star Theatreworks

Where: Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

Tickets: $10 to $12. Visit www.RisingStarTickets.org, or call (630) 262-5027. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.