Southern Theatre and the Show-Me Celebration Company present The Bear Prince in Taylor Auditorium on April 26 and 27, with performances at 2:30 p.m. The show is an original children’s play by Dan Williams, assistant professor of theater, based on the Mexican folktale, El Principe Oso.

“I just happened to notice last year the number of Hispanic kids that are in these groups and so I thought I’d write something … that they might be more familiar with,” said Dan Williams, designer and technical director for the theatre department. “So I started investigating Mexican folktales, fairytales and children’s stories, and I found The Bear Prince.”

The story revolves around a young girl named Ninfa, who marries a bear to save her father, but the bear has a secret. When Ninfa reveals the secret to her sister, she must set out on a quest to right the wrongs she has created and to save the bear from the evil Witch.

“It’s got a female heroine … and it’s her mistake that leads to the crisis which leads her then to go on the quest,” said James Lile, associate professor of theater. “It’s the idea of the effort that’s needed in relationships, but also the need for trust.”

Aside from the cast, many students are active behind the scenes as well. Devri Brock, senior theater major, is choreographer for the show.

“A lot of the choreography was storytelling, it was more movement, so that really helps to dictate what I have to do,” said Brock.

Brock said most of the dance and chorography she created was based upon what she already knew from ballroom dancing and from videos she had watched on Mexican folk-dancing.

“Each dance – we dedicated one night to learning it,” said Brock. “The cast was really great and they learned things really quickly.”

Tickets are $1 for adults and 50 cents for children 12 and younger. For more information contact (417) 625-9393.