Children's theater tryouts Monday

Missoula Children's Theatre

The time is simply long ago and the place is the magical, mythical Sherwood Forest.

The Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association and the McCook High School Thespian Society present a weeklong residency of The Missoula Children's Theater. A tour team of two professional theater directors, is set to arrive in McCook on Monday, bringing with them MCT's original stage musical adaptation of the age-old tale of "Robin Hood" to the local stage.

The story comes alive deep in the forest, as 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 will try to stay calm as his Sheriff, guards and horsemen botch Robin's arrest thanks to the aromatic Skunks. Wacky humor and an original musical score add to this fresh new look at a legendary outlaw in a legendary time.

Open auditions will be held at the McCook Junior High cafeteria at 4 p.m. Monday. The MCT team will cast 50-60 local students, ages kindergarten to 12th grade, to perform in the production. Prospective cast members will not need to prepare or bring anything to auditions, as everything will be provided there. If chosen to be in the show, cast members will be required to have a signed parental permission slip and pay a nominal fee of $10.

All interested kindergarten through 12th grade students are invited to audition. No previous stage or musical experience is required.

The show will be rehearsed throughout the week Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. -- 8:30 p.m. Rehearsal schedules have been developed so that not every child will be asked to be present for all rehearsals, and no children under 8 years of age will be kept later than 7 p.m.

After a week of fun and intense practice, two public performances will be presented on Saturday April 8 at 3 and 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium.

This presentation has been made possible through the financial contributions of SWNCTA, The McCook Arts Council, and The McCook Optimist Club.

This production will mark the fifth time that SWNCTA has brought MCT to McCook. Past residencies to our local stage have included: "Treasure Island," "Pinocchio," "Tales of Hans Christian Andersen," and "Alice in Wonderland". In all, more than 200 local children from McCook, and 20 other surrounding communities, have participated in these shows.

Missoula Children's Theatre, the nation's largest touring children's theater, has been touring extensively for more than 30 years, from Montana to Florida and from Europe to Japan. This year, MCT will visit more than 1,100 communities and more than 55,000 children will participate in their shows worldwide.

The MCT tour schedule comprises 30 traveling teams of professional tour actor/directors. The MCT team visiting McCook will arrive Monday with a truck loaded with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, and everything it takes to put on a play ... except the cast.

Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through the participation in this unique, educational project. MCT' states that their mission is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.

For more information please contact drama instructor and thespian sponsor, Dana Jueneman at McCook High School, or SWNCTA representative Trevor Premer at 345-7419. Also you can learn more about the MCT touring project at http:;//www.mctinc.org.