Missoula Children’s Theatre Red Truck Tour Stops in Cambridge
The Missoula Children’s Theatre is in Cambridge all week directing a classic children’s tale, this time with a homespun twist.
“It’s a western cowboy version,” said Ellis Collier, who together with his colleague, Grace Nyguyen, are co-directing the show, Beauty Lou and the Country Beast. Collier joked that if children are expecting the Walt Disney version, this is not it.
“There is no teapot,” he said. “There is Beauty, there is a Beast, and I think that’s pretty much where the similarities end.”
Collier functions as a Teacher-Actor-Director or TAD for Missoula Children’s Theatre, a non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana. The Missoula Children’s Theatre brings the dramatic arts to children all over the country through their “Red Truck Tour.” Together with his TAD colleague Grace Nguyen, Collier will be in Cambridge all week producing the show, which is funded through a grant awarded to the local group Beyond the Bell.
Collier, originally from New York, studied theater education in college. In Beauty Lou and the Country Beast the emphasis is on the process of putting on a theatrical performance and not just on the final product. He explained that participating in children’s theater instills a sense of confidence and creativity in the young thespians.
“It’s about what theater does for the people who are doing it as much as what it does for the people who are coming to see it,” he said.
This week, Collier and Nguyen will work together as a team, with Collier playing the character of Buck, who narrates the show. Nguyen will work backstage, as a behind-the-scenes player.
The children who are cast in the show will learn communication skills that can be used in many settings. Vocal projection and expression are particularly important, and Collier lets the children know at the initial auditions the value of being seen and heard. He explained that he wants them to be “big and bold and loud” onstage.
Conversely, offstage, Collier expects cast members to follow directions and apply appropriate listening skills. According to Collier, it’s important that children act responsibly when they are not on stage.
Producing a complete audience-ready musical performance in one week is no small feat. There are seven songs that need to be learned and lines to be memorized. Every child has an important role, according to Collier. The songs are initially learned without music, but, later in the week, an accompanist joins the show.
“Everything has to be memorized by Friday,” said Collier.
The sets and costumes are all provided by the Montana-based organization.
“It’s all in the truck,” said Collier. “That’s the magic of Missoula Children’s Theatre.”
Collier travels around the country bringing a live theater experience to school-aged children.
‘“We are just really excited to get started,” he said. “ I am excited to see what this week holds.”
Rehearsals for Beauty Lou and the Country Beast will take place all week, The free one-hour performance is on Saturday night. During the school day, Collier and Nguyen will be holding acting workshops for students. The cast is composed of local children, ages kindergarten through high school. During rehearsals, initially shy children often blossom into self-confident performers.
“It’s nice to be able to give that gift to the kids,” said Collier.
The performance of Beauty Lou and the Country Beast is free to the public and takes place on Saturday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cambridge High School Auditorium. Everyone is welcome to attend.
