Missoula Children's Theatre

While the summer program is punctuated by visits from established professional performers such as the Tony Award-winning playwright Jason Robert Brown, Broadway actor Alex Gemignani, Bowers, and comedian Seth Rudetsky, it’s also a fully accredited high-school program, giving students credit toward graduation.

The Montana based Missoula Children’s Theatre has been touring for 35 years and annually visits nearly 1,300 communities in all 50 states as well as internationally.

"Anyone coming with the expectation to see children performing will be pretty much amazed at the level these kids are giving," said Caron, noting that the band of accompanying musicians and the stage crew are also made up almost entirely of high school students. "It’s a real testament to the phenomenal quality of the high school drama programs that exist around Missoula, so if you come to our show and like what you see, you’ll like what’s going on in the local high schools as well."

By embracing dialogue and action regarding children’s health and healthy lifestyle choices, MCT is seizing the opportunity to further realize its mission – The development of life-skills in children through participation in the performing arts. It’s all connected.

“I will be forever grateful for the experiences I had to be in the Missoula Children’s Theatre here in Shelby and in the School plays.”

Building on that success, "Next Step Prep" will be in full operation the next two summers, foreshadowing the opening of Missoula’s only performing arts high school in the fall of 2011.

Your vision has helped so many young
people discover themselves. Having been
in drama during my college years, I know
the dedication and determination needed.
Watching my “cool” teenagers perform has
been a thrill.
Junann
Basehor, Kansas

“What we can do for them is do what MCT does,” said CEO Jim Caron. “Which is, frankly, to cheer them up.”

Missoula Children’s Theatre teams travel the country to host plays starring local children. This week, the pair of actor-directors is in Twin Falls to put on “ThePrincess and the Pea,” starring 58 local children.

MCT, founded 35 years ago, is the nation’s largest touring children’s theater visiting nearly 1,300 communities this year. The touring team brings set lights, costumes, props and makeup to each town, and the cast is selected at each venue.