A theatre company is coming to town.
The company is nearly complete—with directors, sets, costumes, props, make-up, everything to put on a show—except for the cast.
And who is needed to bring this show to life and fill out the cast? Children and teens currently in kindergarten to Grade 12.
This is the scenario when the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) comes to Greater Trail April 29 to May 4 to present Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.
Students from Rossland and surrounding area (including Castlegar, Trail and Fruitvale) are invited to participate in an open, two hour-long, group audition on Monday, April 29, 3:30 p.m. at the Webster School Gym in Warfield.
Students wishing to audition must arrive by 3:15 p.m. and stay for the entire two-hour audition. The first rehearsal begins approximately 30 minutes after the audition.
This is a group audition. No advance preparation is necessary. Please note that not all children that audition will be cast in the show. Up to 60 performers are selected and rehearsal begins immediately after the audition.
Children and teens work intensively with the show directors over five days to develop not only singing and acting, but also life skills such as self-discipline, and working effectively in a team.
Erica Charette, producer for this year’s children’s theatre show, is an alumni of the MCT program. “They are just awesome,” she said of MCT. “It was one of the pivotal experiences that has made me love theatre and gave me the confidence to move ahead in life.”
There is no cost to the students who participate.
All that is asked is a fierce commitment to create a magical theatre experience in just a few short days, said Charette.
Rehearsals will be conducted every day from 3:30-8 p.m. At the Charles Bailey Theatre in Trail. Although not all cast members will be needed at every session, those auditioning must have a clear schedule for the entire week and, if selected, be able to attend all rehearsals required for their role.
A detailed rehearsal schedule will be distributed at the conclusion of the audition. Cast members scheduled for the full 4-and-a-half hours of rehearsal (this will be mostly older children) will be asked to bring a sack lunch, dinner or snack.
The show will be an original musical production of a classic fairy tale, with an unexpected twist.
The community will have two chances to see the young performers on Saturday, May 4 at the Charles Bailey Theatre in Trail. There is a matinee at 2:30 p.m., and an early evening show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 each, available at the Charles Bailey Box Office.
The students in the cast will be called for dress rehearsal before the performance that day. All those cast must be available for all scheduled performances.
- For further information, go to www.rlop.ca.
Missoula Children's Theatre
This is the first time the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) has visited the area since the late 1990’s.
The MCT is the United States' largest touring children's theatre group which has been touring extensively for 40 years, traveling from Montana to Japan and everywhere in between.
A tour team arrives in town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make up, everything it takes to put on a play, except a cast.
The MCT is a non-profit organization based in Missoula, Mont. This year more than 65,000 cast members will be used across the globe.