Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) is returning to Vernon this summer and registration is now open for the theatrical experience of a lifetime.
North America’s largest touring children’s theatre will arrive once again on July 7 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre with all the ingredients for their new production of Alice in Wonderland, except the cast!
Registration is now open for local children ages six to 18 to be part of the 50-to-60 member cast.
The camp begins July 7 and runs to July 11 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
On Saturday, July 12, camp participants will take Alice in Wonderland to the stage.
“No preparation or prior experience is required,” said the Performing Arts Centre’s audience development coordinator Brian van Wensem. “Participants need only to arrive with a bagged lunch and the desire to join an on-stage adventure, learning a unique adaptation to the classic story of Alice in Wonderland. It’s an experience that develops creativity, social skills, goal achievement and self-esteem.
For those who aren’t interested in being in the spotlight, there are also four backstage spots available for ages 10 and over that will teach important fundamentals of running a production from behind the scenes.
North America’s largest touring children’s theatre, the Missoula 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 dozens of touring actor/director teams.
This year’s production of Alice in Wonderland is a unique adaptation of two classic stories by Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass and, of course, Alice in Wonderland.
The show follows Alice, who is curious about everything and goes on a fantastical adventure to Wonderland, where she meets a host of colourful characters including the King and Queen of Hearts, a giant caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and many more.
Through it all, Alice grows “curiouser and curiouser” as to where she is and even who she is. In the end, however, the answers she seeks are unimportant. Wonderland is all nonsense anyway, and as the White Rabbit explains, “Nonsense is fun!”
The production is more than memorizing lines.
Missoula Children’s Theatre’s mission statement is “the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.” While children are learning this theatrical production they will also have the opportunity to explore who they are as actors and individuals.
Registration forms for the camp can be obtained through the Ticket Seller box office, located at 3800 33rd St., Vernon.
Registration is first-come-first-served and there are a total of 60 casting spots available: 16 for ages six to seven, 26 for ages eight to 12, and 18 for ages 13 to 18.
An additional four spots are available for assistant directors (backstage) open to ages 10 to 18.
There will be two public performances of Alice in Wonderland July 12 at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the performances are $12 each and can be purchased through the Ticket Seller box office by calling 250-549-SHOW (7469), or online at www.ticketseller.ca.
