By Melissa Smalley
Auditions are just around the corner for the latest Missoula Children’s Theatre production, which will be making a stop in 100 Mile House later this month.
This year’s play will feature some familiar characters – and plenty of nonsense – according to Karen Smith, who is the local director for Missoula’s production of Alice in Wonderland, which is set to hit the stage at Martin Exeter Hall on Sept. 24.
Children and teens from kindergarten to Grade 12 are invited to try out for roles in the production Sept. 19 at 3:30 at the hall, where Missoula directors will lead the group through a two-hour audition process.
Following auditions, casting will take place, and after a short dinner break the cast will dive right into rehearsals for the one-hour production.
Rehearsals will take place throughout the week leading up to the two performances on Saturday, at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
“It’s really an amazing process, and they’re very good with the kids,” Smith says of the Missoula team. “And it gives a lot of local kids the opportunity to do something they might not normally do.”
Smith says there are roles for 60 children up for grabs, noting this particular production of Alice in Wonderland calls for multiple actors of various ages to fill the role of Alice.
Other well-known characters from the Lewis Carroll books to be featured in the stage production include the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Humpty Dumpty and more.
Smith says no experience is necessary, and participants don’t need to prepare anything in advance of auditions – “just come with a smile!”
The format of the Missoula Children’s Theatre productions is one that has been well-received in the community, Smith says, adding the inclusion of so many local youth is a positive for those who have never been on stage before.
“It’s a big group, so they feel more comfortable. They get used to being on stage and being in front of an audience by doing something like this. It’s a great opportunity.”
