Missoula Children Theatre returns to Wallowa County

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

WALLOWA COUNTY – (Release provided by The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture ) The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture is thrilled to announce the return of Missoula Children’s Theatre to Wallowa County with the production of Hansel and Gretel, adapted by Jim Caron and Music and Lyrics by Michael McGill and Jim Caron. The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT), the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 40 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 44 teams of Tour Actor/Directors. A tour team will arrive in Wallowa County on May 1 with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on Hansel and Gretel …except the cast. The team will hold an open audition on Monday, May 2 from 4pm-6pm. At that audition they will cast 50-60 local students (K-12) to perform in the production (several cast members selected will remain until 8:15pm for the first rehearsal- bring a snack). The show is rehearsed throughout the week (Mon-Thurs., 4pm-8:15pm with break) and two public performances will be presented on Friday, May 6 at 7pm and Saturday, May 7 at 1pm. All Missoula Children’s Theatre performances will be at the Enterprise High School-Multi-Purpose Room. Tickets will be for sale online: https://josephy.org/event/hansel-gretel/2022-05-02, at the Josephy Center and at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults; $7 for Seniors and $5 for students over 12; Kids under 12, free entry. Hansel & Gretel T-Shirts and Live Performances recorded on DVD/downloadable file will be for sale at the event. More details to come.

The Josephy Center is bringing back the Missoula Children’s Theatre after the merge with the Wallowa Valley Arts Council who sponsored the program in years past. Executive Director Cheryl Coughlan says “we’ve been trying to bring MCT back since 2019, but COVID-19 restrictions have prevented us and now that things are getting back to a new normal, we are excited to present this popular program back to our kids.”

For more information, call Dawn Norman at 541-432-0505 ext. 1111 or email exhibits@josephy.org