When it comes to red carpet events, most people probably think of Hollywood.

But recently, the city of Rugby played host to its own crimson rug premiere and residents got their first glimpse at some local movie stars.

Dan Erdmann reports...

(Dan Erdmann, KX News) You could feel the excitement in the air as the crowd anxiously awaited their arrival. When the stretch limousine approached, it was obvious these were some pretty important people...Minor celebrities, or in this case, celebrity minors. They were all part of this summer's children's' theater, but for the first time, their annual production was done in the form a movie.

(Glory Monson, Director & Playwright) "We've had children's' theater for 40 years, but we've never done anything like this, and we thought, my daughter teaches that sort of Filming in Minnesota in the high school, and she said she'd come and film for us, so we did it!"


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) Glory Monson wrote the screen play, entitled "Wishes in the Wind", and she thought it would be a good idea to premiere it the same way Hollywood does. And that's exactly what they did! As the 26 young actors rolled up to the Rugby School, for the first time ever, I felt like the papparazzi.

(Bite) "I'm gonna need you to get out of the way."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) None of the actors or crowd members were able to see the film in advance, so tickets sold like hot cakes. The movie was shot over a three week period at Rugby's Pioneer Village Museum and Monson says the set was perfect for the plot.

(Glory Monson, Director & Playwright) "The story itself is about the orphans that came on the orphan train way back in the 1880s to North Dakota. 978 orphans actually came to North Dakota, were dropped off and this is not an historical story, but it's based on history."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) But of course, for a group of 2nd through 6th graders, making a movie can be quite an undertaking.

(Zach Miller, Actor) "We practiced a lot. We really didn't do much, but it was a lot of fun." (ReeAnn Christianson, Actress) "We went to the prairie museum and Glory, she made the script, so we practiced the lines and then we filmed and it's just been really anxious before we could come and see it."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) So after months of waiting, the doors were opened, the seats filled, and the lights, finally dimmed.

(SHHH!!!)


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) And people got their first look at the Rugby childrens' theater's silver screen debut.

(Movie NAT Sound)


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) And I'm pretty sure this crowd agreed, this film deserved 2 thumbs up. It might not receive any Oscar Nominations, but for Glory Monson and her young stars, this is one day they'll never forget.

(Glory Monson, Director & Playwright) "You hardly ever see them dressed up like they are tonight, like movie stars, you know. So, they were very excited."


(Dan Erdmann, KX News) And who knows, maybe some day we'll see a few of these faces back on the big screen. In Rugby, Dan Erdmann, KX News.

This was Monson's 40th year directing the Childrens' Theater, and she says this is something they're definitely hoping to continue. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list