SCHOOL PREPARES FOR PERFORMANCE

“Jack and the Beanstalk” to be put on by St. Mary School

The St. Mary School in Vermilion is putting on a rendition of “Jack and the Beanstalk” through the work of the Missoula Theatre Company.

The theater company will send staff to the school to help the children prepare for the production.

“Missoula, headquartered in Missoula, Mont., sends out groups of two directors to tour the country all year round,” said Morgan Summers, a director with Missoula. “We go to locations and put on full scale plays within five days time. We cover grades K-12 and the plays are for schools, but are also open to the community.”

Tierra Porter, another director with Missoula, said they provide all necessary materials for the production.

“We bring all the costumes, props and everything that will be needed on stage,” Porter said. “We load everything up in a van and that’s how we tour.

“The school, or community, only needs to provide the performers, the space and housing for the directors.”

Porter said it’s the same tour for Missoula year round.

“We travel around and have everything for the play with us,” she said.

“We set it up for every place we are contracted for the tour.

“The schools schedule with us around six months in advance and we drove to Vermilion straight from Montana because this is our first stop. In total, we go to all 50 states and 17 countries.”

Summers said they look to cast the students on the first day.

“We show up and meet all the kids who are willing to participate,” she said. “We then begin the auditions and try to cast everyone within two hours.

“We have the kids read

from various samples and give them simple instructions to gauge how well they will listen.

“That’s usually our best determiner of who will be the lead person, but we also look for someone who is enthusiastic and entertaining. We then work with the kids for four hours a day for the following days that lead to the eventual play itself.”

Angie Lyczkowski, a volunteer mother of the play, said the production is a highlight of the year for the youngsters.

“They really look forward to it,” Lyczkowski said. “The first year we

did this, the kids were a little hesitant, and some were not willing. That has changed completely in year three.

“The kids actively volunteer and the event has built up a lot of momentum. The production allows them learn a new skill and work together toward a common goal.

The play will take place at the Vermilion High School auditorium, 1250 Sanford St., at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 12, and 3 p.m., Jan. 13.

Tickets are $5 for ages four and older; those three years old and younger are free.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Actor-director Morgan Summers, 23, of Missoula Children’s Theatre Company, works with students of the St. Mary Catholic School Drama Club on Jan. 9. The first day of auditions and rehearsal was Jan. 9 for the group’s upcoming production of Joseph...

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Classmates Alexa Lyczkowski, 10, and Zane Lassen, 10, look on as St. Mary Catholic School fifth-grader Ava Lyczkowski, 10, auditions Jan. 9, for a part in the upcoming Missoula Children’s Theatre Company production of Joseph Jacobs’ fairy tale “Jack...