Well, imagine that
Young actors bring “Wildly (re)Told: Stories for the Ages” to life in Ocala.
Cast Members rehearse a roller coaster scene from “Wildly (re)Told: Stories for the Ages” during a Community Stages Trunk & Trek Troupe – ODDBITS rehearsal at the Chelsea Art Center in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, March 26, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.
Can you recall a time when someone told you to “use your imagination.”
Our brains are geared to explore new things, including using our imaginations to take us to lands far away or experiences completely new to us.
Beginning April 11, the Community Stages performing group invites you to join them on such a journey of exploration.
The group’s Trunk & Trek Troupe – ODDBITS will present “Wildly (re)Told: Stories for the Ages,” described as a lively, family-friendly performance of global folktales.
In partnership with the Marion County Public Library System, First Presbyterian Church of Ocala and the city of Ocala’s Art Park Literary & Poetry Festival, the performances will continue through April 19 at three locations.
This traveling production features actors ages 8 to 18 bringing folktales from Russia, the Seminole Nation, Ghana and Iceland to life using movement, voice and ensemble storytelling. With minimal tech and maximum creativity, the young actors transform into the people, places and things of each story — inviting audiences to “lean into imagination.”
Each story is “wildly retold” through a fresh, youth-driven lens that highlights humor, heart and connection across cultures, according to Community Stages founder and director Terry LeCompte.
“We believe theatre builds expressive humans — people who listen deeply, speak boldly and show up for one another with creativity at every stage of life. ‘Wildly (re)Told’ is a chance to see that in action —and to feel how these stories land, linger and connect onstage and off,” LeCompte noted.
“This year’s stories are a mix of classic folklore, centuries old, with well-known, and sometimes feared, central characters, like Baba Yaga, the infamous Russian witch, alongside more contemporary tales such as the Icelandic story ‘Half a Kingdom.’ Across the collection, themes of unlikely heroes, cleverness, teamwork and small life lessons emerge,” LeCompte explained.
“The stories are adapted for the stage by me, the cast and playwright Joe Hart. In selecting them, I look for strong story arcs, opportunities for comedy and vivid imagery — since our actors create everything onstage, including the environments themselves. For example, in ‘Baba Yaga,’ the cast becomes her rickety house on chicken legs,” LeCompte shared.
The performance times and locations for “Wildly (re)Told: Stories for the Ages” are:
- April 11, 12:20 p.m., Art Park Literary & Poetry Festival (excerpts), Tuscawilla Art Park, 215 NE 5th St., Ocala, outdoor performance, free to attend
- April 18, 2 p.m., Marion County Public Library Headquarters, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, free, reservations encouraged for preferred seating
- April 19, 2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Ocala, 511 SE 3rd St., Ocala, free, reservations encouraged for preferred seating
To RSVP or learn more, visit communitystages.org or follow @communitystages on social media.
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