Summer Theatre Fun for Kids

The Missoula Children's Theatre provides a week-long residency "starring" 50-60 of your local students in a full-scale musical.   This week-long residency begins with an open group audition and culminates in two public performances.  Fifty to sixty students grades 1-12, or a combination of these ages, are cast and well rehearsed throughout the week, learning lines, songs and choreography to perform as an ensemble in producing a full-length musical. All of the shows are original adaptations of children's stories and fairytales—a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. Auditions will be held for the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) original adaptation of Robin Hood on July 7 from 10 am to 12 noon at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook. Those auditioning should arrive at 10 am and plan to stay for the full two hours. Some of the cast members will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the audition.

All students, entering 1st grade through 12th grade are encouraged to audition. No advance preparation is necessary. Assistant Directors will also be cast to aid in rehearsals throughout the week and to take on essential backstage responsibilities.
MCT has been touring for 39 years. Annually, MCT visits nearly 1,300 communities in all 50 states, 3 Canadian Territories and 5 provinces and 16 countries. Our mission is the development of lifeskills in children through participation in the performing arts. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through participation in this unique and educational project. A team of two professional tour actor/directors arrive in your town with scenery, costumes, props, make-up and basic lighting—everything it takes to put on a play . . . except the cast.
The time is simply long ago and the place is the magical, mythical Sherwood Forest. Our hero, 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 Marion’s Maid. Prince John tries to stay calm as his Sheriff, guards and horsemen botch Robin’s arrest thanks to the aromatic Skunks. Wacky humor and an original score add to this fresh new look at a legendary outlaw in a legendary time.

Shoreline Arts Alliance will offer a theater performing arts program to children in the community.  Session 1, Cinderella Shakesperience is July 21- July 25 and Session 2, King Lear Shakesperience is July 28 – August 1, from 9am-3pm on the Guilford Town Green.  Tents and rain location will be provided.  Rising Star is an outreach program for ages 7 – 17.  Tuition is $250.00 per week.   Need based scholarships are available.  These one-week energy-filled, fun, entertaining theater experiences will encourage creativity, reading and interpretation, and engagement in an artistic endeavor.  Rising Star embraces the theater arts and will speak to the child’s desire and need to be recognized, to have their own voice and yet be nurtured as a successful individual as well as a contributing member of a team.  The theater workshops will illustrate and educate participants on the issues and values that shed light on the human condition and are relevant to today’s world.  Alongside the goals of promoting creativity, critical thinking, cooperation, literacy enrichment, and self-confidence, this week-long program is designed to offer an educational experience for participants.  All participants will receive training from professional instructors in script analysis, interpretation and performance, and will briefly touch on set design, sound and lighting, costume design, and stage management.  Older participants will also benefit from training in work/life skills (i.e. proper dress, inter-personal development, work ethic, public speaking, communication, etc.) to develop and strengthen crucial skills aiding in admission to college or entrance into the work force.  Shoreline Arts Alliance is again working with Shakesperience Productions, Inc. for the operation of Rising Star summer theater experience.

For Ages 5 to 10

This state-licensed camp brings together professional teaching artists from two of the area’s leading providers of arts education – Community Music School and Tracy Art Center – at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. This summer arts day camp for boys and girls ages 5 to 10 years old is filled with music, dance, art, and theater and each week culminates in a performance for family and friends! The Camp has four one-week sessions, offering a diverse range of activities on a rotating basis that ensure a fresh experience for even the most frequent camper.

Hours: Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm and Friday from 9 am through the conclusion of the performance (approximately 2:30 pm).
Tuition: $250 per session (includes a camp t-shirt); 10% household discount for sibling registered for the same session, or for 2nd or 3rd session enrollment (discount not applied through online registration, please call).

Session II: July 21 – 25
Cool Cats! Jazz and All That

We are all about jazz this week!  Jazzy kids will play violin, dulcimer, recorder and various rhythm instruments,
as well as using their scat singing voices! Jazzy stories and fun games indoors and out will make this week so much fun. Music, art and dance will be included in our final performance along with a piece called, “El Gato Pizzicato”! Violin students must have at least one year of study and read music.  Performance 7/25

Session III: July 28 – Aug. 1
BROADWAY BEGINNERS – Go Fish

Musical theater for the youngest thespians!  A Tuna Fish who can’t carry a tune? A Star Fish who can’t get an acting job? A seven-legged Octopus? A Zebra Fish with spots? A Tiger Shark who wants to be friends with everyone? Join  in the aquatic fun as little Tiger Shark and his unique collection of friends discover how their differences make them each special. Performance 8/1

Session IV: Aug. 4 – 8
Tell Me A Tale: The Art of Storytelling 

We’ll bring storytelling and literature to life through music, art and dance! We will discover folk tales of diverse cultures and create a tale of our own. Bring your imagination and creativity to spin a golden tale to be told to family and friends! Performance 8/8