Missoula Childrens Theatre
“Red Riding Hood”
June 20 through June 21

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house she goes. Red Riding Hood, not so little anymore, and her pre-teen pals try to stay on the straight and narrow in the latest adventure from the Missoula Children’s Theatre, Red Riding Hood.

The Big Bad Wolf, who is not so bad after all, and a friendly neighborhood Forest Ranger urge our heroes to stay true to the path, for in the Shadows lurk diversions and a sinister surprise or two. A pack of woefully nasty young wolves and a handsome Woodsman, too good to be true, are a must for our story. And we can’t have a wolf tale without Three Little Pigs and even a Boy Who Cries ... you guessed it. With help from her family and a loyal young Locksmith (he carries the key), Red finds her Grandma and a whole lot more. Now, if only she could retrieve her picnic basket from those rascally Raccoons. Life is no picnic when you stray from the trail.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre tour project is the largest touring children’s program in the United States. The concept is based on a week-long residency during which a team of two staff Tour Actors/Directors develop and produce a full-scale musical. Auditions, intensive rehearsals, workshops and finished performances for the public are all part of the program. The cast will include sixty student performers between the ages of six and eighteen from the Marion County area.

Performances of this production of Red Riding Hood are scheduled for Friday, June 20, at 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June 21, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, May 19, at $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for full-time students. For additional information or to make reservations, call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274. Tickets for this production may also be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com

Inspired by and Featuring the Songs of Elvis Presley
Book by Joe DiPietro
Summer Teen Production
July 18 through July 27

It’s the summer of 1955. Natalie, a mechanic, is a young woman in a small town in the Midwest with dreams of hitting the road. Chad, a black-jacketed, guitar-playing, rock-and-roll-loving, motorcycle-riding rebel stops at the town’s garage because his bike needs repair. Natalie immediately falls for him. She overhears him saying that he knows “a lot” of women, but only travels with men. So, Natalie covers her hair with a hat and puts a motor-oil “beard” on her face, becoming “Ed”, Chad’s sidekick. Eventually, Chad falls in love with “Ed” and, during a 24-hour period, turns the town upside down, changing it forever with his hip-swivelin’ and lip-curlin’ song singin’.

All Shook Up is a jukebox musical which features twenty-four Elvis Presley classic hit songs, including “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Burning Love”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “It’s Now Or Never” and “Don’t Be Cruel”.

The show will open on Friday, July 18, at 7:00 p.m., with additional performances on July 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 2:00 p.m. and on July 19, 24, 25 and 26 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, June 16, at $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for full-time students. For additional information or to make reservations, call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274. Tickets for this production may also be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

Missoula Children’s Theatre
“The Amazing Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe”
August 1 through August 2

We arrive on Robinson’s Island years after he and his sole companion, a goat named Wilson, are shipwrecked. We find that the island has turned into a tourist destination centered around a lovable singing leopard, a tribe of natives known for their colorful coifs, Friday’s Seaside Resort and, of course, the legend of Robinson Crusoe. In flashback, his story comes to life, beginning with the shipwreck which marooned Wilson and him on the island. The entire population of the island, including a herd of goats, an all-animal band, Friday and his family, and the inevitable hula-dancing chameleons, discovers that our differences need not stand in the way of our friendships. All of the characters live happily and harmoniously ever after.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre tour project is the largest touring children’s program in the United States. The concept is based on a week-long residency during which a team of two staff Tour Actors/Directors develop and produce a full-scale musical. Auditions, intensive rehearsals, workshops and finished performances for the public are all part of the program. The cast will include sixty student performers between the ages of six and eighteen from the Marion County area.

Performances of this production of The Amazing Adventures Of Robinson Crosue are scheduled for Friday, August 1, at 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday, August 2, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, June 30, at $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for full-time students. For additional information or to make reservations, call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274. Tickets for this production may also be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

Theatre for Young Audiences
“Lion and Mouse Stories”
August 1 through August 2

This clever play is really four little plays tied together by a Mouse – a very clever Mouse – who tells a series of stories to a Lion – a very arrogant Lion – to avoid being eaten. “The Tiger, The Brahman and The Jackal” is the story of a clever jackal tricking a tiger into giving up his dinner. “The Better Mousetrap” is about a man who builds an elaborate mousetrap to catch the mouse who is frightening his wife. “The Lion’s New Tail” is a variation of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and “King Of The Jungle” is the story of a lion who, when elected king, eats one too many chicken feet at his coronation. Each tale is re-told with the unique wit of a Mouse on a dinner plate. In the end, of course, the Mouse prevails!

Performances of Lion And Mouse Stories are scheduled for Friday, August 8, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 9, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday August 10, at 3:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, July 7, at $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for full-time students. For additional information or to make reservations, call the Theatre box office at (352) 236-2274. Tickets for this production may also be purchased online at www.ocalacivictheatre.com.

Click here to get the 2008 Summer Class Schedule.