Saco's Pippin, Fort Peck Summer Theatre, Performs in Malta

The Fort Peck Children's Theatre came to Malta on Wednesday, July 13, and among the crew was Saco's Chayten Pippin, a 2021 Graduate of Saco High School.

"It feels weird coming back from Missoula," Pippin said. "Coming from a big area to a fairly small town. It's very nice though, to see familiar faces again."

Pippin, who just finished his first year at the University of Montana's Bachelor of Fine Arts program, was joined by fellow actors Shy Iverson, Benjamin Wambeke, and Taylor Noll in their performance of The Country Mouse and The City Mouse. The production was a part of FPST's Popular Theatre for a Young Audience Tour (TYA) and was written by FPST's Artistic Director Andy Meyers.

"I hope they loved it," Noll said after the play. "It seems like they did. It is such a fun show that Andy Meyers wrote. It's so mesmerizing for the kids to see everything going on and the adults have fun and can keep up with the little jokes that he threw in there."

The play was witnessed by over 50 students from Malta Kids Club and around the county and was held in the backyard of the H.G. Robinson House at the Phillips County Museum.

"It takes a lot of energy to keep kids' attention and keep them engaged," Noll said. "It's a lot of work, but I think that they loved it."

Noll, who is from the state of Virginia, said that she had never experienced a place as rural as northeastern Montana.

"I came to Fort Peck for the first time and it was a complete culture shock," she said. "I was like, where am I? Where is the grocery store?"

She said that the TYA tour would be the most of Montana that she has ever seen.

"It is exciting, I love it," Noll said. "It is beautiful out here. I love the small town vibe."

Though he has acted with Fort Peck Theatre in the past, this was Pippin's year with TYA.

"I love Chayten," Noll said. "I met him last year when I was here but I didn't really get to know him and now we are living in the house together and he is my little bestie. I love him. Don't tell him... I hope he doesn't hear this. He is the best."

Pippin did not have any talking parts during this play, but his role was very valuable.

"In the script, it says Actor 4, but it's pretty much the puppeteer and sound engineer," Pippin said.

Throughout the play, he would hand out props to the other actors in a precise and hilarious fashion. He was asked how he thought that the play was received.

"I think they enjoyed it," Pippin said. "I heard lots of laughs out there and it put a smile on my face backstage whenever I heard a kid make noise."

Pippin was a part of Fort Peck Theatre's play Godspell last year. This year he has been a part of Bridges of Madison County. He was also the bassist for Fort Peck Theatre's Always...Patsy Cline, and he will be in Seussical for the next three weekends, starting this Friday, July 29.

In Seussical, Pippin will be a part of the ensemble, playing the part of a who from Whoville. But he will also be playing his favorite role of the summer, Vlad the Vulture.

"I would have to say (my favorite role) is Vlad because he is one of the villains in the story, and that has always been one of my dreams roles; to play a villain," Pippin said.

He was asked what he enjoyed most about working at Fort Peck Theatre.

"Just meeting the new community members that Andy hires," Pippin said. "We develop a relationship with them that is very nice and I love it a lot."

Pippin was asked if he had anything else to say to the Phillips County Community.

"Come check out the Fort Peck season," he said with a smile.