King Arthur, of legend and song, strode across Medieval England with courage and confidence, or did he? What if the troubles of his kingdom threatened to overwhelm him? Watch the Damsels in Distress sound the warning of trouble. Witness the Lady of the Lake as she produces the sword in the stone. Hide with the Camelotians when the Ghost of Arthur’s father visits the castle. See the Giant tower over the questing knights. Cheer for the King when he makes friends with the terrible dragon. Listen in as Morgan le Fey and Mordred propose a better plan. Join the Knights and Squires of the Round Table as they try to do the right thing. Hope for the best outcome as your favorite characters of Camelot – Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Taleisin, The Raven, and Lancelot wrestle with the challenges faced by their people. Follow the original twist on this familiar story as it weaves its way through a landscape full of surprises!
Meet the 2018 directors:
Jen Sinnen
Jen is excited to be touring again with the Missoula Children’s Theatre! Originally from Kenosha, WI, she is a recent graduate of Webster Conservatory in St. Louis, Mo., with a BFA in acting. Jen is a world champion baton twirler, trained in stage combat, and a stand-up comedian. She also recently wrote and performed a one-woman show titled things (un)said. One of Jen’s favorite things to do is travel and try all new kinds of food!
Hayley Procacci
Hayley is thrilled to be touring with Missoula Children’s Theatre for her second summer! Originally from Orlando, Florida, Hayley went to school at University of Alabama at Birmingham for acting and a minor in directing. Some of her favorite credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), The Miracle Worker (Helen Keller), Anything Goes, and Angels in America: Millennium Approaches. Hayley plans to move to Chicago this fall and pursue performing and directing. She looks forward for the chance to share the art of storytelling to all of the students she crosses paths with this summer.
Auditions Monday, July 9
Hear ye, hear ye! The Knights of the Round Table are calling for more loyal followers. The Mule Barn Theatre Guild, in partnership with the Missoula (Montana) Children’s Theatre, will present King Arthur’s Quest July 9-14, 2018, in the Tarkio High School Auditorium.
Boys and girls who have completed kindergarten through 12th grades are invited to audition for spots in the musical, which follows King Arthur on a journey through medieval England. It’s an original twist on a familiar story, but weaves its way through a landscape full of surprises. King Arthur, joined by Guinevere, Merlin and Lancelot, will face dragons, sorcerers and knights in an original production of the historical fairy tale. Auditions are not scary; everyone who auditions gets a part in the musical. The Missoula directors will arrive with all the costumes, scenery, props and makeup.
Auditions will take place Monday, July 9, at 1 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Interested children may pick up a registration form at the Flower Mill in Tarkio or at any elementary school in the area. Scholarships are also available. After a week of rehearsals taking place each day from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., two performances will be held on Saturday, July 14, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Lunch is provided for those who stay for both rehearsals. Not everyone will rehearse at the same time.
The guild, along with many local businesses, organizations and individuals, has sponsored the summer musical event for the past 16 years. The Missoula Children’s Theatre is the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre. The group has traveled around the world for nearly four decades, performing Broadway musicals, comedies and original children’s productions of classic fairy tales and stories.
