Summer workshop offered for aspiring young actors

The Central Performing Arts Center (CPAC) in DeWitt, in cooperation with the Missoula Children's Theater (MCT), is sponsoring a children's theater workshop July 7-11 as well as two performances of "Treasure Island" at the CPAC Saturday, July 12.

Area youngsters in grades 1-12 are invited to sign up for the workshop Tuesday, April 1, through Thursday, May 1. Registration forms and permission slips are available at www.centralperformingartscenter.org. Completed registration forms, permission slips and payment may be mailed to or dropped off at the DeWitt Fitness Center, 900 14th St.

Organizers are looking for a maximum of 60 cast members plus four assistant directors. Any additional children will be placed on a waiting list. Participants will be placed in their appropriate age groups ? those entering first grade through age 7, ages 8-12 and 13-18.

Auditions will be held Monday, July 7, 10 a.m.-noon. Rehearsals tentatively are scheduled 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily throughout the week.  Performances are Saturday, July 12, at 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. at the CPAC.

Optional workshops will be available after the rehearsals, with time and topics yet to be determined.

Missoula Children's Theatre is the nation's largest touring children's theatre. For the past 40 years, teams of tour actors/directors have visited up to 1,200 communities each year to produce adaptations of familiar children's classics and fairytales performed by local children. Creativity, social and communications skills, goal achievement and self esteem all are potential results of participation in the cultural/educational experience for youngsters.  In MCT's inaugural visit to CPAC last summer, more than 50 area children participated in the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Anyone who has questions may contact Vanessa McNeely, CPAC event coordinator, by calling 563-249-8541 or via e-mail at vanessa.mcneely@centralperformingartscenter.org.