MCT back at SAF with ‘Jack’

Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) returns to the Shoreline Arts Festival June 25 with “Jack and the Beanstalk,” an original adaptation of the classic children’s story.

When a young boy named Jack plants magic beans in his own backyard, it is the beginning of a great adventure. With a little help from Magic and a vegetarian Giant, Jack learns a valuable lesson about true happiness.

Missoula Children’s Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 30 years, performing in communities from Montana to Japan. The company will visit more than 1,000 communities this year with 35 teams of tour actor/directors. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play — except the cast.

The team holds an open audition and casts 50 to 60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented on Saturday. All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales, offering a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. MCT’s mission is the development of lifeskills in children through participation in the performing arts.

MCT is based in Missoula, Mont. and also runs many local programs. These include musical theatre Day Camps and Performing Arts Classes for local children, a summer residency Performing Arts Camp for students from around the world and MCT Community Theatre which creates an arena for local talent of all ages to participate in large-scale productions and attracts audiences from throughout western Montana.

This musical production features characters including the Magic Harp, Jill, Mother, Milky White, the Farmers, the Merchants, the Circus Performers and the Magic Beans. This version of “Jack and the Beanstalk” was conceived and written by Jim Caron, with music by Michael McGill, original staging by Jim Caron, and arranged by Michael McGill.

There will be two shows during the Shoreline Arts Festival, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25. All seats are $5 and tickets may be purchased at the Arts Festival, or in advance at the Arts Council office at the Shoreline Center or on-line at www.shorelinearts.net.