“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Live!” at the Imperial opening Sept. 25.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Live!” at the Imperial opening Sept. 25.

It isn’t easy being green, especially when your job is to infiltrate the Foot Clan and bring down Shredder’s evil empire. Floyd Coonce, Golden Grotto and Dr. Hunt’s Vision Improvement Clinic present “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Live!”, directed by Shane Cummings at the Imperial Dinner Theatre in Pocahontas. The show opens September 25 and runs weekends through October 11.

Crime is running rampant outside Larry’s Pizza Parlor. Even sweet old ladies (Dorothy Rapert, Shirley Lamb) are being attacked! Waitresses Roxanne (Angee Jones, Desirea Grissom) and Babbie (Alyssa Jones, Jenni Muzzillo) are beside themselves with worry. All their dine-in restaurant customers won’t come. But delivery is doing great and no one can figure out why. Marty (AJ Tippitt), the delivery boy has a job to do, but his little sister Pepper (Madison Jones, Angel Grey) wants to tag along. As a karate student, she craves adventure and wants to protect him. When April O’Neal (Meaghan McCrossen) comes to do a TV segment on Larry’s (Eli Murray) problem, the lights go out, the bad guys are caught and the problem is solved. Could it be? Yep! Those good guys in green, Leo (Ariel Cummings), Mikey (John Cummings), Donny (Ashley Evers) and Raphael (Justin Tribble), have saved the day… But not solved the problem.

Later when they meet in their hideout under the streets of New York, their sensei, Splinter (Sydney Burris), warns them of impulsive acts, even if it is with good intention. He reminds them of what he taught them as baby turtles and as young boy turtles. That in order to make the best of the skills they have practiced, they must PLAN.

Meanwhile, Pepper is dejected but not for long. She spies Tommy(Jake Avery), the pizza cook from Larry’s exchanging a briefcase of money for a small bag of goods. But what’s in the bag? She follows Tommy and is surprised to find herself in Shredder’s Lair! The most evil bad guy on earth. Shredder (Jade Lowe) addresses his Foot Clan and shows them the mythical Staff of Enash which, when is united with the magical Eedna Diamond will give him the power to take over the world! Shredder is using pizza delivery to trade small diamonds to all of New York’s underground crime lords in exchange for their loyalty and to building up his army of darkness. Excited to share the news, Pepper tells her brother and even April O’Niel, but no one believes her.

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Until… April and the Turtles order pizza, get the wrong delivery and discover diamonds in what should have been their banana and pepperoni with whipped cream pizza! Pepper was right. She joins the Turtles in their battle with the Foot Clan. She gets captured by accident and even fights the terrible Shredder himself over the Eedna Diamond. Pepper learns that the most important thing in life is to do the right thing, “Even if it costs you friends or even family,” explains Leo.

Lots of fun, musical numbers, high energy fight scenes and plenty of good old fashioned good vs. evil lessons make this a Cowabunga winner for the whole family! Karate schools from the area will provide the Foot Clan and baby and boy turtles. Participating schools are Pocahontas’ own Kaibudo Shorin Ryu Dojo under the direction of Jeremy Turner and Allied Tang Soo Do Federation of Walnut Ridge under the direction of Fred Weeks.

Some of the other cast members seen throughout the run but not listed above include: Regan Thielemier, Carlee and Chole Clay, Lyndon Yang, Jace Shocklee, Marshall and TJ Melton, Spencer Kasinger, Abby Bradley, Ashton Holderbaugh, Allen Tanner, Braxton and Ryker Hogland, Brylee Thielemier, Elena Martinez, Keely Taylor, Melanie Jones, Raynee Carpenter, River Hill, Bella Brady, Ethan DeYoung, Stanley Boggs and more.

For the menu, all meals get a salad, buttered fiesta corn, fruit slice and a choice between three desserts selections. The kids entree and side is a huge slice of Larry’s Pizza from Larry’s in Pocahontas and mac n’ cheesy. Grown-ups entree and side is herbed chicken on a bed of wild rice, roll and deluxe bacon-y mac n’ cheese. On weekdays and Saturdays, dinner is served at 6:30 with show at 7:30. On Sundays, dinner is served at 1 with show at 2. Fundraiser prices are $26.95 for general public dinner and show, or $23.95 for students (older students must show ID). Show only tickets are $15.00 and $12.00. Half price discount tickets to the haunted house will be available with the purchase of any ticket. This special offer is sponsored by Sonic of Pocahontas. To make reservations, call 870-892-0030. Group rates available and busses welcome.

Richland Group