10-year-old masters Little Red Riding Hood

Cast as Little Red Riding Hood on Monday, 10-year-old Ashley Ann Gerber was starring center stage by Friday.

"I'm a fast learner," she said. And she practiced a lot.

"I went in my bathroom and echoed like I was supposed to," she said. "But then my little sister got mad because I was so loud."

Nearly 56 Fremont Elementary School students were selected in Monday's audition to perform less than a week later, complete with song and dance routines.

"It's pretty amazing to be able to accomplish something like this," said school counselor Nanette Oleson. "This really is something that could be done at the community center. Once it's all done, it looks professional. It feels professional."

For three years, the school has worked with the Missoula Children's Theater to bring different productions to the students.

Actors from the children's theater travel in groups of two around the world to different schools where they spend a week auditioning, rehearsing and performing with the students.

"Every week is different because it's a whole new cast," said Hans Foy, of the children's theater. "At first, it's hard but there's a system to it. You just get it down. But it's still amazes us because we pull a show off every week with 60 kids."

Foy played the Big Bad Wolf, who, in this production, is not very bad at all.

"I don't know what my mom and dad were thinking when they named me," he proclaimed to the audience. "I would have settled for Big Wolf; they didn't have to throw in 'Bad.'"

His partner, Tory Seiter, played Little Red Riding Hood's mom, grandmother and the forest ranger. The version of the production emphasizes Red Riding Hood's need to "stay on the path" -- to make correct choices.

Hunter Tyzbir, 11, was cast as the woodsman, the heartthrob of Red Riding Hood and her girlfriends.

"It's my last year so I decided I might as well join the play," he said. "I think it's really fun -- all the girls like me."

Jacob McClelland, a first-grader, was one of the raccoons.

"I liked it," he said. "I like being active. And I like my costume, it's all fuzzy and soft and comfortable."

Brittany Shirey, 11, was in last year's "Treasure Island" and returned this year as a girlfriend.

"I like being crazy and acting in front of people," she said. "It's fun."

Foy and Seiter, both 22, are leaving the company in May after two years. Foy hopes to join a company in Chicago and Seiter plans to "pound the pavement" in Los Angeles looking for a role in films.

"This has definitely prepared me," she said. "It's made me more personable and better able to talk to people and be comfortable."

The students performed for their schoolmates during the day and for their parents at 7 p.m. Friday.