Lyndonville elementary students performing Moana Jr.

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville elementary students are performing Moana Jr., a musical based on the 2016 Disney film Moana.

The first show was Friday night with another today at 1 p.m. at the school’s Stroyan Auditorium, 25 Housel Ave. Admission is free with donations accepted.

The top photo shows Moana (right) played by Madelyn Ingersol and Maui, played by Fatima Lieberman. In this scene Maui receives his hook as a gift from the goddess Te Fiti. Moana, right, sails the ocean looking for Te Ka.

There are 33 students in the hour-long production. The fifth- and sixth-graders have been rehearsing for about seven weeks.

“They are a great group of kids,” said Jennifer Trupo, director. “They have worked very hard.”

“Right Claw” Landon Buffin, Tomatoa as Adrianna Vanderbilt and “Left Claw” Thalia Heinsler perform in Moana. Tamatoa sings all about themselves “in song form.”

Maui (Fatima Lieberman) and Moana (Madilyn Ingersoll) to fight Te Ka.

Moana is an adventurous young Pacific Island girl who embarks on a daring mission across the Pacific Ocean to save her people. Moana, a princess, has always felt connected to the ocean. Despite her parents’ wishes, she follows her calling and sails out to sea in order to return the long lost heart of the goddess Te Fiti, the mother island.

Along the way she meets Maui, a fallen demigod with an ego problem. Despite his attitude, Maui agrees to accompany Moana on her journey. They sail far across the waters together and work through many tough situations, from the Realm of Monsters to the Demon of Fire, Te Ka. Through all of this they finally are able to complete their journey and return the Heart.

Harli Crawford, in green, portrays the The Goddess Te Fiti. In this scene Moana restores the heart of Te Fiti and Te Ka transforms into Te Fiti.

Villagers and Ancestors sing about setting a course, knowing the way and being wayfinders at the end of the production. Form left include Janelly Garcia Cruz, Liliana Nye, Harli Crawford, Robin Botsford and Emily Kroll.

Moana and her parents sing about being wayfinders. From left include Chief Tui (Leah Casanova), Moana (Madilyn Ingersoll) and Sina (Karalyn Klotzbach).