The nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT), will be in Bellingham, WA this summer to present three kids’ camp opportunities culminating in two public performances on the Mount Baker Theatre Main Stage. The camps are Treasure Island: Monday-Friday, July 10-14 with performances on Saturday, July 15, Beauty Lou and the Country Beast: Monday-Friday, July 17-21 with performances on Saturday, July 22, and The Tortoise Vs. The Hare: Monday-Friday, July 31 – August 4, with performances on Saturday, August 5. All camps are 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. weekdays with 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances on Saturdays. The first week brings Treasure Island, an original adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s epic novel. The year is 1782, during the American Wear for revolution. Longing for adventure, Jim comes under the hypnotic spell of the legendary pirate, Long John Silver. This play presents a chance for children to shine onstage as pirates and live out the hero’s quest for the proverbial happy ending. Camp two performs Beauty Lou and the Country Beast, an original country adaptation of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. In this retelling, Beauty Lou and the Beast both learn to look beyond appearances and first impressions and to see the beauty that dwells inside. The story, set in the American West, also features Beauty Lou’s six sisters, her imaginary friend, her dog Fleabite Clyde, farmhands Slim and Dusty, the neighborly Country Folk and the Barnyard Critters. The final camp is The Tortoise Vs. The Hare. The inhabitants of West Sandy Bottoms are preparing for the highlight of their year – the annual race between the mammals and the reptiles. As the race starts, a tiny bunny is lost in the wilds of Tornado Gulch and, almost miraculously, the mammals and reptiles join in the search…together. The play reminds us all that it’s easy to get along, if you just try. Each camp will consist of 50-60 local students grades 1 – 12. Community members are invited to come along and cheer on the hard-working actors as they take the Main Stage and present these three engaging and family-friendly productions at the end of each week. It is the mission of MCT to promote creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem through the participation in this unique, educational project. A week of camp is $185 per camp or $170 each for multiple camps or campers. The tuition incudes a camp t-shirt and two complimentary tickets to one performance. Camp scholarships are offered through Blue Skies for Children and those interested in applying can contact Maya Green at 360-756-6710. Part of the mission of Mount Baker Theatre is to bring world-class entertainment to Bellingham as the local hub for live performing arts. Call 360-734-6080 for tickets or information or purchase online at: www.mountbakertheatre.com Camp registration can be purchased for $170-185 plus applicable fees and tickets to Summer Theatre Camps can be purchased for $6-10 plus applicable fees.
