Hey kids, let's put on a show

By KELLY WEHRLE Bulletin Contributing Writer

Published on March 05, 2010

Sixty kids, one week, and their own little red truck full of supplies - that's all the Missoula Children's Theater needs to mount a full theatrical production of "Sleeping Beauty," a rock-and-roll musical adaptation of the fairy tale, when the company visits Amherst next week.

Two company members will hold auditions for local youth on Monday, March 8, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Amherst Regional High School cafeteria. They have 50 to 60 roles to cast, with parts for kindergartners to 12th-graders. Once the show is cast, rehearsals begin that very day, running Monday through Friday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, March 13, "Sleeping Beauty" hits the stage of Amherst Regional High School with performances at 3 and 5:30 p.m.

The Montana-based Missoula Children's Theater, with a 35-year touring record, has the art of whirlwind children's theater down to a science. "We do it every single week," said Scott Reilly, a tour and market associate at the theater. "We have a very structured rehearsal schedule - we start on Monday with the leads and bigger roles, and then [bring in] other groups."

Younger cast members and those with smaller parts attend fewer hours of rehearsal, accommodating the variety of ages, abilities and attention spans in the cast.

In a typical week, the musical accompanist joins rehearsals on Wednesday. By Thursday, the cast begins doing full runs. And right before the first Saturday performance, they squeeze in a final dress rehearsal.

"It's intense," said Dave Grout, the performing arts and education coordinator at Amherst Leisure Services. "They're treated like professionals, with respect and dignity. And [Missoula] brings elaborate costumes and sets so you feel like you're in this really professional production you've been rehearsing for months when you've really only been rehearsing for a week."

Grout, who participated in Missoula Children's Theater productions three times when he was in high school, organized their visit to Amherst. He knows through experience how inspiring and exciting the process can be for kids.

"Everyone gets their shiny moment on stage," he said. "They enter on Monday as a child and leave Saturday with a spark."

Lighting that spark is a major mission of the Missoula Children's Theater.

"The kids are setting a pretty big goal for themselves," said Reilly. "Working together and teamwork is a huge part of that & It makes them think, 'if I can do this in a week, what can't I do?' And the kids themselves are having fun the entire time."

Grout also hopes the production will benefit the Amherst Leisure Services Community Theater. "We are in dire financial times," he said. "This is meant to be a fundraiser to guarantee the continuation of our theater."

While the children in the cast don't have to pay to participate, all proceeds from ticket sales will go to the theater.

The community theater has staged one show per year for the past 17 years. Though locals do all the acting, Grout said that the theater has a reputation for producing affordable productions of professional quality.

So a lot of potential rests on "Sleeping Beauty" - the potential to inspire and challenge local kids, to preserve the community theater and to offer local families a fun afternoon of fairy tales and rock-n-roll.

"This isn't just a show that we expect the parents to come see," said Grout. "It's a chance for families to see a great, low-cost children's theater show. It's really geared for children to be in and for children in the audience as well."

Auditions for "Sleeping Beauty," at the high school at 21 Mattoon St., are open to all students K-12 and require no advance preparation. Tickets for the performances are $12 adults; $10 students and seniors and can be purchased by calling 259-3065 or visiting www.lsse.org.