Caldwell Fine Arts 2006-2007 Season

February 23-24
Friday, 7:30 pm; Saturday at 3:00 pm

$8 adult; $4 general
Open seating. Includes all fees.

Synopsis: The story takes place long ago in the magical, mythical Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood and his Merry Band of colorful characters seek the help of the Foresters, manage to waylay the Aristocrats, and set out to rescue Maid Marion and her Maid. Prince John tries to stay calm as his Sheriff, Guards and Horsemen botch Robin’s arrest. The aromatic Skunks have something to do with that. Wacky humor and an original musical score add a fresh new look at this legendary outlaw in a legendary time.

MCT performances have delighted and amazed audiences for nearly four decades. From worldwide tours to extensive residency camps to eclectic local activities for kids and adults, MCT performing programs are designed to develop the personal and professional skills and goals of the participants. When combined with the excellence of their productions, MCT’s unique and acclaimed teaching and producing methods and philosophies have resulted in the successful fulfillment of its mission: The development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.

Many local children have the opportunity to try out for a spot in the show. Fifty to sixty students are chosen. Open auditions for K-12 youth are on President’s Day, February 19, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in Wilson School at the corner of Linden and 10th Street. After registration, the parents are asked to return at 3:00 p.m. to pick up their children. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and a matinee is presented for 3rd grade children on Friday followed by an evening show at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 3:00. All rehearsals are after school.

Students not selected for the MCT production are encouraged to participate in a pre-show dance program which also provides a challenging and satisfying experience for all who try out. Local teacher Judy Bush is the leader for those youth. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through participation in this educational project.

Some history of the Missoula Children’s Theatre . . .

Missoula Children’s Theatre began in the summer of 1970. Jim Caron, unemployed and searching for a mission in life, was on his way from Chicago to a friend's wedding in Oregon when his aging Volkswagen van broke down. The nearest service station was - fortunately and fatefully - in Missoula, Montana. While waiting for the van to be patched together, Jim noticed an audition poster for Man of La Mancha. Just for fun, he auditioned and was cast in the role of Sancho. An instant and lasting friendship was developed with Don Collins, the actor playing Don Quixote. Along with Don, who is currently director of development for MCT, Jim organized a company of adults who did plays for children on a make-shift stage in a local movie theatre. The plays - as well as the idea of developing live theatre for kids - were well received in Missoula, and soon nearby Montana and Idaho communities requested performances of their own.

During the early 70's, the company began to use kids as cast members when it seemed appropriate such as for Hansel and Gretel, the dwarfs in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and others. In 1972, when February performances of Snow White were booked into Miles City, a small Montana community located an icy 500 miles from Missoula, Jim and the other directors were not excited about the responsibility of traveling with seven children across the state, so they decided to take a radical step: they would attempt to cast the dwarfs from children in Miles City. The directors traveled across the state a week before the rest of the company, a bit skeptical about finding seven kids who might be interested in being in the play. When 450 children arrived at the tryout, the astonished team auditioned the huge group and cast the seven roles. The success of that week - obvious major interest among kids, parents, teachers, and even the press as well as an excellent production and sold out audiences - opened the eyes of the MCT staff and opened the doors to the MCT future.

The lessons learned in those early days, especially the rewards of involving children as cast members, set the stage for today's International Tour, MCT's Performing Arts Camps, a strong local children's season, the acclaimed MCT Community Theatre and the magnificent home base facility which opened its doors in 1998.

(www.mctinc.org)
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