Rehearsals are underway for Saturday’s Pied Piper performances in 100 Mile House.
Local students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 flocked to Martin Exeter Hall after school on Monday, Sept. 24, to audition with the Missoula Children’s Theatre tour.
The entire production, from auditions to showtime, is put together in six days.
The key to pulling a performance together under such a time constraint is “finding the balance between fun and focus,” said Alicia Batterson, tour actor and director for the travelling children’s theatre.
“We’ve got a really fun group and they’ve got a lot of energy,” she said.
Batterson will be on stage supporting the kids through their performance. She’ll be playing the role of mayor of Hamelin town.
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Her colleague, Billy Speed, will offer support from backstage, so everyone is prepared for their role.
Although it sounds as if the 100 Mile kids are doing well preparing themselves for the big show.
“They are very, very good at getting all this information and getting all the songs and dances and lines down a lot faster than even we’ve anticipated,” he said.
“I remember, you know, being like nine, 10 and 11 [years-old] and just bouncing off the walls. I had so much energy and we love all the energy. It’s so great to have a group with so much energy.”
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The kids are expected to be off-book by no-script-Thursday, but according to their directors, some have already memorized a lot of their lines.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre, based in Missoula, Montana, has toured to nearly 1,100 communities over the past 50 years.
“I think both of us fell in love with theatre by doing camps just like this, so it’s a real joy for us to get to go and do it for other people,” said Batterson.
The final Pied Piper performances are scheduled for 3 and 5:30 p.m. at Martin Exeter Hall on Saturday, Sept. 29, and are open to the public.
beth.audet@100milefreepress.net
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