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 at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre the week of July 4 with all the ingredients for its production of The Frog Prince... except the cast.
Up to 64 local camp participants, ages six to 18, will start working with Missoula Children’s Theatre actor/directors, and by July 9 will take The Frog Prince to the big stage at the Performing Arts Centre for two shows at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Set deep in the royal swamp, MCT’s The Frog Prince is about a selfish princess who makes a promise to befriend a lonely frog after he retrieves her golden ball from a well.
The play follows what happens when the princess tries every trick in the book to break her promise.
“Among the roles to be cast are three sisters, who also happen to be princesses, the lonely frog, who will be played by two participants, Ollie the Aspen Tree, bumbling knights, kindly swamp things, the well-read alligator, fancy flamingos, helpful ducks, a busy fly and the nasty Venus fly traps,” said Brian van Wensem, audience development officer at the Performing Arts Centre.
Missoula Children’s Theatre has been touring extensively for more than 40 years from Montana to Japan.
The theatre will visit approximately 1,200 communities this year with dozens of touring actor/director teams.
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.
No preparation or prior experience is required.
“Participants are asked to arrive with a bagged lunch and the desire to join an on-stage adventure, learning a unique adaptation to the classic story of The Frog Prince. It’s an experience that develops creativity, social skills, goal achievement and self-esteem,” said van Wensem.
For those who aren’t interested in being in the spotlight, there are four additional backstage spots available for ages 10 and up, which will teach important fundamentals of running a production from behind the scenes.
Registration forms for the camp are now available at the Ticket Seller box office, located inside the entrance to the Performing Arts Centre. Registration is first-come, first-serve and there are a limited number of spots remaining.
For information or tickets ($12 each) for the public performances, contact the Ticket Seller at 250-549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca.