Missoula Children’s Theatre Residency
July 6–11, 2026 | The Matthews Opera House & Arts Center
The Missoula Children’s Theatre returns to Spearfish with their beloved touring residency, bringing the magic of Aladdin to life in just one week! Local students will audition, rehearse, and perform a full-scale musical production. Complete with colorful costumes, lively music, and unforgettable characters.
Professional touring Actor/Directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre guide students through every step of the process, including auditions, rehearsals, staging, and performance. No experience or advance preparation is required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to jump into the adventure.
About The Show
Travel to the marketplace of Agrabah and beyond in this high-spirited adaptation of Aladdin! Follow Aladdin, a kind-hearted street urchin, as he discovers a magical lamp, outwits a scheming villain, and learns that true worth comes from within. Alongside a spirited princess, a hilarious genie, and a host of colorful characters, this story is filled with humor, heart, and timeless lessons about honesty, bravery, and being true to yourself.
Who Can Participate?
Students entering 1st through 12th grade (Fall 2026).
A cast of up to approximately 50–60 local students will be selected to perform in the production.
Schedule
- Monday, July 6: Auditions (10:00 AM) and first rehearsal
- Tuesday–Thursday, July 7–9: Daily rehearsals (times TBA)
- Friday, July 10: Dress rehearsal
- Saturday, July 11: Performance(s) – Times TBA
Cost
- Registration: $50 per child (payable at registration or at auditions)
- Performance Tickets: Available at the door (pricing TBA)
What to Know
- No experience or advance preparation needed
- Auditions are fun, welcoming, and designed for all skill levels
- Students should bring a snack for daily breaks
- A detailed rehearsal schedule will be provided after auditions
About Missoula Children’s Theatre
The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT), the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 50 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,000 communities this year with up to 44 teams of Tour Actor/Directors. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, and props, 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. All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales . . . a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. Also included in the residency are three enrichment workshops presented by the Tour Actor/Directors. 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 empowerment of children and adults through theatre education and performance to develop lifelong skills while enriching communities worldwide through live productions.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre is based in Missoula, Montana, and also runs many local programs. These include a Youth Series – musical theatre day camps, performing arts classes for local children, a sleep-away Performing Arts Camp for students from around the world as well as a Community Series which creates an arena for local talent of all ages to participate in large-scale productions and attracts audiences from across western Montana.
For more information regarding the Missoula Children’s Theatre, please contact us:
Missoula Children’s Theatre · 200 North Adams · Missoula, MT 59802
406.829.5202 · www.MCTinc.org · tour@MCTinc.org
Questions?
Contact Heath Johnson at (605) 642-7973 or director@matthewsopera.com
