Poway OnStage's Arts and Education Initiative Presents Missoula Children's Theatre's TREASURE ISLAND

For the 18th consecutive year Poway OnStage, through its Arts and Education Initiative, welcomes Missoula Children's Theatre's (MCT) Treasure Island and a free week-long theatre camp for children. Auditons are Monday, March 13th from 4:00-6:00pm. Rehearsals are Monday through Friday 4:00-8:30pm culminating with two performances on Saturday, March 18th at 3pm and 7pm.

The MCT tour team arrives in Poway with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play, except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week, and two public performances are presented on Saturday.

In addition to producing this free, all-youth musical theater experience for children in the community, the Poway OnStage's Arts in Education Initiative sponsors a variety of theater arts workshops taught by Missoula Children's Theatre Director/Actors. More than 350 Poway Unified School District elementary students are given the opportunity to participate in various in-classroom workshops. This year, workshops will be held March 14th, 15th and 16th at local Poway Unified School District elementary schools. Workshop topics range from improv acting, to stage make-up learning about what goes on "behind the scenes" during a theater production.

MCT is the nation's largest touring children's theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 40 years from Montana to Japanand will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 44 teams of Tour Actor/Directors. All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children's stories and fairytales. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through the participation in this unique, educational project. MCT's mission is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.

About Treasure Island

MCT's Treasure Island, is an original adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's epic novel. Young Jim Hawkins, a mischievous lad, lives with his mother and six sisters in a seaside village on the coast of Maine. The year is 1782 and the American War for Revolution is in its last days. Longing for adventure, Jim comes under the hypnotic spell of the legendary pirate, Long John Silver. While waiting tables in the family inn, Jim finds a treasure map and, befriended by the villainous Silver, sails uncharted seas with only the ragged map and a flock of seagulls as guides. Always up for adventure, Jim's ruffian friends say farewell to their village parents and serve as cabin boys for Silver and his band of hilarious pirates. Once on the island nights are sleepless as true colors are revealed in our hero's quest for the proverbial happy ending. Then the treasure is found and hand in hand we're homeward bound.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.PowayOnStage.org. For more information about auditions, visit www.powayonstage.org/MCT.