June 19-24, 2023
at Rhinelander High School
For youth entering grades 1-12
UP TO 50 YOUTH CAST MEMBERS NEEDED!!!
The Missoula Children’s Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre company, is coming BACK to Rhinelander – by Oneida County 4-H!
Two professional actor/directors will arrive in Rhinelander in their “little red truck” loaded with a set, lights, costumes, and props, everything it takes to put on a play…except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts up to 50 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented at the end of the week.
Why Should You Participate?
- Inclusive! ALL youth in grades 1-12 are welcome to audition – no experience necessary!
- An opportunity to try something new or to challenge yourself!
- An opportunity to gain life skills like creativity, communication, decision-making, problem solving, caring for others, and making healthy choices!
- A way to build self-esteem, confidence, and resiliency!
- A chance to meet two professional actor/directors!
- A chance to meet new friends!
- To be with other people who might share your interests!
Complete the online registration form above for EACH participant.
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The Missoula Children’s Theatre Summer Program: At a Glance
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Audition
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Up to 50 local students will be cast to appear in the show.
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Up to 4 students can be cast as Assistant Directors.
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The roles are for students entering 1st grade through 12th grade.
This is a group audition. No advance preparation is necessary! A smile never hurts, though! Just be ready to come and have a good time!
There is no limit to the number of children who may audition. Every child at the audition has an equal chance of being cast. If more than 50 children audition, not all of the children auditioning will receive a part.
The Group Audition is an experience on its own!
Everyone who participates in the group audition will receive an Audition Certificate! In addition, any youth who are not cast will have an opportunity to participate in other ways, such as handing out programs, serving as backstage helpers, etc. Casting the show will be at the sole discretion of the Missoula Children’s Theatre Actor/Directors and roles will be announced at the end of the audition. The Missoula Children’s Theatre Actor/Directors will make sure that no one is singled out while doing their best to ensure that everyone leaves with a positive feeling!
Students wishing to audition must arrive by the scheduled starting time and stay for the entire two-hour session. For some cast members, the first rehearsal begins approximately 15-minutes after the audition.
***There is no guarantee that everyone who auditions will be cast in the play.
HANDLING DISAPPOINTMENT
Please remember that the maximum cast size for this program is 50 youth. There are many talented children with interest in the performing arts here in our community; there may not be a role for everyone who auditions. If your child is not cast in the show, remember that auditions do not always seem fair. With many students auditioning for a limited number of roles the decisions of the MCT Tour Actor/Directors are always very difficult.
Should your child not receive a role this time, we encourage you to consider the following:
- Give your child some time. Things might not seem nearly so bad tomorrow.
- Talk about it – what was their favorite part of auditioning?
- Discuss what they could do even better next time.
- They may choose to work on their singing and acting skills so that the next time they audition they will be even better prepared.
- Or, maybe they will decide that even though they enjoy going to the theater, they don’t have a driving desire to be on stage themselves.
- Talk about all of the activities they enjoy and feel success doing, and go do one of these activities!
How one responds to disappointment is a tremendous test of character. Children will look to parents/guardians as an example of how to react. Compliment them for their efforts and for taking a risk by auditioning for the show!
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Rehearsals
Although not all cast members will be needed at every session, those selected after the audition must be able to attend all rehearsals required for their role and be available for all scheduled performances. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be distributed at the conclusion of the audition.
Cast members scheduled for the full 4 hours and 15 minutes will have access to a snack, provided by the Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods, to be eaten during the 15-minute break between sessions.
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Audition & Rehearsal Schedule:
Monday (Audition Day!):
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Audition: 1-3 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
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Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.
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Rehearsal #1: 3:15-5:15 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
Tuesday:
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Rehearsal #1: 1-3 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
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Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.
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Rehearsal #2: 3:15-5:15 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
Wednesday:
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Rehearsal #1: 1-3 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
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Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.
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Rehearsal #2: 3:15-5:15 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
Thursday:
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Rehearsal #1: 1-3 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
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Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.
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Rehearsal #2: 3:15-5:15 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
Friday:
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Dress Rehearsal #1: 1-4 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
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Snack: 4-4:15 p.m.
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Dress Rehearsal #2: 4:15-5:15 p.m. at Rhinelander High School
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The performance will last approximately 60-70 minutes. There is no intermission.
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Performance:
1 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at Rhinelander High School Auditorium
Suggested donation: $5/person to attend.
The students will have worked hard and will be very proud of their show!!!
Seats will be open starting 30 minutes before the performance.
Donations Welcome and Appreciated!
Donations are appreciated! We hope to offer this theater experience again in 2023. The total cost of offering this program is a minimum of $3,700. Please consider donating, as it helps us to sustain this program into the future, and allows the program to be offered at free or reduced rates for youth in our area. It also helps to provide stipends for the home stays for the MCT actor/directors, and a stipend for the piano accompanist.
All donations will go to the Oneida County 4-H Leaders’ Association to be used only for this program in the future. Checks may be written out to “Oneida County 4-H Leaders’ Association.”
Questions about donations? Please contact Anne Williams, Oneida County 4-H Educator, at apwilliams@wisc.edu or by calling 715-365-2750.
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**SNACKS**
1 snack per participant will be provided between week day rehearsal sessions by the Boys & Girls Club of the Northwoods in Rhinelander. ALL participants will have an opportunity to receive a snack, whether or not they are Boys & Girls Club members. Participants do not have to eat a snack. Participants are welcome to bring their own snack. Please be mindful there may be some participants with allergies to certain food items, such as peanuts, so snack-sharing is not encouraged, and providing snacks free of nuts is preferred.
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Transportation & Supervision
- SUMMER SCHOOL: School District of Rhinelander Summer School starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. If your child will be attending summer school in Rhinelander and needs transportation to the summer theater program, please contact your child’s school to see if there is already transportation being provided (walking or taking a bus) from the school to the summer theater program. If bus transportation is needed, you will need to notify your bus company and request an alternate location to Rhinelander High School. The bus company will not transport your child back home after rehearsals, so transportation is needed for all youth participants after rehearsals. No transportation is provided on Saturday, the day of the performances.
All other participants are responsible for being transported to and from Rhinelander High School for rehearsals and performances.
SUPERVISION:
- During Designated Rehearsal Times: Participants will be under the supervision of the Missoula Children’s Theatre Inc. Actor/Directors.
- Before or After Designated Rehearsal Times: Parents and guardians will be responsible for supervision of their child, unless arrangements are made between the family and the school or organization your child attends or belongs to before and after program designated rehearsal times.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!!!!
Questions?
Contact Anne Williams, Oneida County 4-H Educator, at 715-365-2750 or by email at apwilliams@wisc.edu.
