The Missoula Children’s Theatre has taken center stage at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center this week. Children from kindergarten through 12th grade auditioned Monday for a role in the musical production of “Blackbeard the Pirate.”
With the cast selected, practice started immediately for a performance Saturday at 3 p.m. Two staff members with Missoula’s theater, Kirsten Kiwior and Quintin Lewis, are directing the kids. They tour the country for weeks at a time.
“This is my third month,” Lewis said. “We go through training and then tour the country and bring theater to these wonderful people.”
Lewis is a Jackson State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and theatre. Kiwior is a University of Virginia graduate with dual degrees in English and theater.
Lewis and Kiwior direct groups by sections. For example, Wednesday afternoon Lewis worked with “the parrots” and had them run through their lines and staging.
The cast practices from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a break in between.
A majority of the cast members are local children but Traci Plumlee, assistant project director, said some come from out of town.
“We have some kids who visit their grandparents or family in the summer and audition for the play,” Plumlee said.
The Chagaris family is on vacation from Delaware and heard about the production.
“We came to visit my mom and dad, Jay and Sharon Thyer, and we had people at the library tell us about it and suggested the kids try out,” Jennifer Chagaris said.
The Chagaris children Latina, fifth grade, Kylie, third grade, and Jay, first grade, tried out and are acting in the musical on Saturday.
Chagaris grew up in Iola and graduated from Iola High School in 1991. She also participated in theatre productions under Bowlus director Susan Raines.
“The Bowlus purchased one of my watercolors and it’s hanging there,” she said. “It was great to be able to show my kids the painting.”
The family has discussed planning their vacation around Missoula again next year.
The week-long fun comes at no cost to the children. They simply had to audition and come to practice. The Daniels Trust funded the event.
Plumlee said the musical is about 50 minutes long and doors will open at 2:30 p.m. Trish Brown will accompany on the piano.
Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for students. Children under five are admitted free.
‘It’s a pirate’s life for me’ Students prepare for musical
