Beijing and Missoula youth work together in cross-cultural project! – The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) 10/8-9 in Missoula

The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) and the Beijing-based China National Theatre for Children (CNTC) continue their collaboration with a cross-cultural production in Missoula, Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9!

Back in August 2015, MCT’s team of Tour Actor/Directors (Hannah Barudin and Allison Kauling) flew to Beijing to co-produce The Princess and the Pea in the 5th International China Children’s Theatre Festival. The cast was comprised entirely of Beijing-area children who studied, memorized and performed in English! CNTC provided directors and teachers who prepared the children in advance of MCT’s arrival. Among the audience members who attended the three sold-out performances were US Ambassador to China Max Baucus, his wife Melodee Hanes and a number of American and Chinese cultural officials.

On September 30th, ten of those Beijing cast members fly into Missoula, along with five adult chaperones, teachers and interpreters. During their stay in Missoula, the visitors will enjoy a number of Missoula’s unique offerings such as the Carousel, the Insectarium, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Dunrovin Ranch, SpectrUM, local shopping and the Big Dipper!

Ms. Feng Li, Vice President of CNTC will head up the delegation. The Ministry of Culture in China, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC and the Confucius Institute at UM have all played significant roles in the development of and support for this important partnership. These performances of The Princess and the Pea will be the first time that non-English-speaking children work together with native English speakers at MCT. The public is invited to celebrate this clever and endearing musical (written by MCT Executive Director Michael McGill). The show will, once again, be under the direction of Ms. Barudin and Ms. Kauling. Children coming together from our two nations is not far from the underlying theme in the production, as the two kingdoms of Riverdom and Glacierdom learn how to share their resources and become friends. There will be a talk-back session after each performance, along with an opportunity to personally welcome the delegation to Missoula!

(An excerpt from the script, translated by Ms. Li Zhuang):

Pea 豌豆

I LIKE YOU.

我喜欢你。

WE’RE TWO PEAS IN A POD.

我们是豆荚的两颗豆。

Princess 公主

THE SAME THOUGHTS,

同样的想法

LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD.

像豆荚里的两颗豆

Both 合唱

DON’T WORRY.

不必担心

BECAUSE WE’RE FRIENDS, WE SHARE!

因为我们是朋友，共享分享

Performances are Saturday, October 8 at 5PM and Sunday, October 9 at 3 & 5PM. Tickets are available at http://www.MCTinc.org

by phone at 728-7529 or at the MCT Box Office, M-F, 9AM-5PM. For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact [email protected]. The project is proudly sponsored by Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, Inc.

MCT, INC 200 North Adams Street Missoula, MT 59802 [email protected] http://www.MCTinc.org

SHOW SYNOPSIS
Missoula Children’s Theatre production of

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA

Conceived and Written by Michael McGill

Music and Lyrics by Michael McGill

Envision a kingdom of snow where the residents are Winter Wind Workers, Blizzard Bringers, Icicle Sharpeners and Snow Smoothers, ruled by the Storm King and the Snow Queen. Add to that a Prince looking for a proper Princess to share the throne. Now imagine the Princess and her friend the Pea living in a kingdom of green rolling hills and running rivers with her subjects, The Flower Gardeners, River Runners, Green Shoot Growers and Tree Barkers. Her parents, King Size and Queen Size, do all they can to keep things running smoothly. Who knows, maybe the dancing Dust Bunnies can help? Although the two kingdoms think they have nothing in common (except maybe a pesky Jack Frost that freezes anything and everything), the peace-loving Leprechauns prove otherwise. Throw in some Phony Princesses and you have a real fiasco! This ain’t your grandma’s PRINCESS AND THE PEA. We think you will enjoy its twists and turns.