Missolua Magic

By Joanne Bausman

Missoula Magic Picture

Have you ever dreamed of performing on stage? Have you pictured yourself starring in a movie? Have you imagined yourself with your own TV series? If so, then you've probably also wondered where those who have achieved these heights started. It's a long road, but every road has a starting point. That starting point for many boys and girls from remote areas is their own elementary school and the Missoula Children's Theatre.

The Missoula Children's Theatre, from Missoula, Montana, is the largest touring children's theatre in the United States. It was founded in 1970 by Jim Caron on the simple yet clever concept of bringing theatre to children in remote areas, who would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience the thrill of performing in front of an audience.

The Missoula Children's Theatre travels to remote communities in all fifty states, four Canadian provinces, and South America, as well as overseas to Europe, Japan, Iceland, Bermuda and Turkey. Each tour group consists of two actor/directors who travel with costumes, scenery, makeup, music and scripts. In the one week that they spend in each community, local children audition, rehearse and perform a full-scale musical version of a classic fairy tale in front of their family, friends and community.

My first experience with the Missoula Children's Theatre was several months ago when the company toured my community in northern Canada. I attended the audition, most of the rehearsals and both performances.

Auditions began early Monday morning. One hundred twenty kids aged five to twelve years participated. Briteny and Sasha, the two actor/directors traveling with this production of Jack and the Bean Stalk, organized every one into a big circle around the gym. At the end of two hours they had the fifty-six member cast picked. They began by having everyone sing short songs and verses, recite various lines and perform different actions, as they walked around the circle listening to voices and watching for those most likely to be ready for the stage in less than a week. I asked them what were the main qualities they looked for. Surprisingly it was not obvious acting talent or great singing voices, although talent is also a consideration, especially for the singing roles.

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