It’s a jungle out there – and in The Cultural Center! Free theatre day camp presents “The Jungle Book” July 21-26
 

Lincoln City, OR – Do you want to be a star? All local students entering grades 1-12 are invited to join the fun at the Lincoln City Cultural Center July 21-26, as the nonprofit presents its annual theatre day camp and production with the traveling directors of Missoula Children’s Theatre. Auditions are set for 10 am on Monday, July 21. There are roles for up to 64 youth, with rehearsals for some beginning right after auditions end.

Thanks to support from the Behrens Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, participation in the MCT day camp experience is free. MCT directors arrive on Sunday with a truck filled with sets, costumes and music, ready to put on a show. It’s a dynamic experience for every community, which has been part of Lincoln City’s summer since 2005.

After auditions on July 21, the students will rehearse Monday through Friday. There will be two performances for friends and family at 3 pm and 5:30 pm on Saturday, July 26. All those who audition must be ready to commit to the full week.

“This is a fun and educational experience for all of us,” said Executive Director Niki Price. “It’s always one of our favorite weeks of the year. We encourage everyone to come a little early, with their adults or guardians, to fill out the registration forms before the 10 am start time. The auditions start promptly and things move fast!”

Among the roles to be cast are Mowgli (the man-cub), Bagheera (the panther) and Akela (the leader of the pack), the entire wolf pack, Shere Khan (the tiger) with his side-kick Tabaqui (the jackal), Nag and Nagaina (the cobras), Darzee (the bird), Hathi (the master elephant), Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (the mongoose), Kaa (the rock-python), Buck (a buck) and of course the Bander-log. All students entering grades 1-12 are encouraged to audition. No advance preparation is necessary. Assistant Directors will also be cast to assist with the technical aspects of the production.

All the roles will be cast at the end of the first day’s audition on July 21. Participants will be assigned their parts and provided with a rehearsal schedule. Rehearsals will take place from 12:30-2:30 Monday and from 10 am to 2:30 pm Tuesday through Friday. Volunteer Rita Warton will be serving as this year’s accompanist.

And, just in case that’s not enough drama for all these aspiring actors, the visiting directors will also be offering extra workshops from 2:45 to 3:30 pm for three days of the residence week. These workshops include topics like stage movement, stage design, improv and makeup. These experiences are also free.

The week will end with two performances of “The Jungle Book,” at 3 pm and 5:30 pm on Saturday, July 26. General admission tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students, $8 for youth ages 6-18 and free for kids ages 5 and younger.

This will be the 20^th summer that the Cultural Center has hosted the “Little Red Truck” and its touring directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre.

About Missoula Children’s Theatre

The Missoula Children's Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 40 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 44 teams of Tour Actor/Directors.

A tour team arrives in 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 50-60 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 . . . a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. Also included in the residency are three enrichment workshops presented by the Tour Actor/Directors.

This educational project offers youth the chance to expand their creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem. MCT's mission is the development of life skills in children, through participation in the performing arts.