About The Program
The Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT), the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 40 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 44 teams of Tour Actor/Directors. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play...except the cast.
The team holds an open audition and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented on Friday and Saturday. All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales . . . a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. Also included in the residency are three enrichment workshops presented by the Tour Actor/Directors.
Creativity, language arts, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills, and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through participation in this unique, educational project. MCT's mission is the development of lifeskills in children through participation in the performing arts.
All students who register for the play will be cast in it until it is full. At that point, registration will close.
The auditions are on Monday, January 19th and is not a traditional style audtion. Instead the MCT Tour Actor/Directors will offer open auditions in which they play a series of fun games and activities with the students and from there, they will cast each child into their role in the play.
Each child who registers will be cast with an on stage role unless they request to be backstage only.
Rehearsals:
Rehearsal times will be dependent on your child's role, and a schedule will be issued to you the first night following auditions. Typically younger students have the earlier rehearsal time, from 3:00-5:00 pm and older students have rehearsals from 5:15-7:15. Some students may be required to attend both rehearsals on some days or all days, depending on their role. This information will be given to you on Monday, January 19th at 5:00 pm. Monday through Wednesday rehearsals are at Thrive at 1361 Hawthorne Ave, Chico 95926. Thursday rehearsal and both performances are at the Center for the Arts at PV high school, 1475 East Ave, Chico 95926.
Transportation and Commitment:
Parents are responsible for getting participants to and from rehearsals and performances. This is only a one-week commitment so choosing this may mean missing a week of their other activities. We ask that you are prepared to help your child make it to all rehearsals and performances. Missing rehearsals and/or performances affects other performers and the play negatively.
Cancellations: There will be a $30 fee to cover administrative costs if the registration is canceled before January 1st, 2026. After January 1st, 2026 there are no refunds.
Thrivers:
Thrivers who participate in afternoon programming (2:30-5:30 pm) may miss some of their Thrive activities that week to participate in the play. We are happy to help them transition between activities that are at our site.