Missoula Children’s Theatre plans residency at Rylander Theatre
Special Illustration
By Carlton Fletcher
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AMERICUS — The Missoula Children’s Theatre is returning to the Rylander Theatre in June for its 20th Summer Residency. The familiar little red truck will soon roll into town carrying everything necessary to put on a show … except for the actors.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s theater, has been touring extensively for more than 40 years, from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 44 teams of tour actor/directors. The tour team — comprising two professional actor/directors with training in either education, theater, musical theater or a combination of these — arrives in town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything needed to put on a play … except the cast.
The team holds an audition and casts local students to perform in the production. Participants must be rising first graders through 12th graders. The show, which is “Jack and the Beanstalk’’ this year, is rehearsed throughout the week, and two public performances are presented on Saturday.
“This summer marks the 20th anniversary of the summer residency at the Rylander Theatre, a tradition that many families in this area have incorporated into their summer plans for years,” Theatre Managing Director Heather Stanley said.
All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales … a twist on the classic stories that children of all ages know and love.
Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through the participation in this unique, educational project. MCT’s mission is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre is based in Missoula, Montana, and also runs many local programs in western Montana. For students interested in a career in the performing arts, MCT has developed Next Step Prep — The Academy for Musical Theatre, providing high school students an affordable opportunity to train and study with well-known professionals in the field of music, dance and acting in preparation for college.
Past high school-aged participants in the Rylander residency have been offered this opportunity by the tour directors at the conclusion of camp.
Registration is required to participate, and the registration link and information can be found at rylander.org.
This opportunity is made possible by funding from the Mattie H. Marshall Foundation and the Friends of the Rylander Theatre.
Event Details
• Times: Auditions — 1 p.m. June 17; daily schedule to follow once roles are assigned
• Dates: June 17–22
• Ages: 6–18 (Must have completed kindergarten)
• Cost: $26 for the first child and $21 for each additional child
• Venue: Rylander Theatre, 310 W. Lamar St., Americus
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