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HAY RIVER - The Montana-based Missoula Children's Theatre has travelled around the world – from Iceland to the Caribbean to Korea – bringing theatrical opportunity to children from all walks of life.

This month, the theatre company is set to travel to the NWT for the first time, hitting both Yellowknife and Hay River for week-long residencies.

Children in Missoula, Montana, hone their acting skills in a production of Robinson Crusoe. Missoula Children's Theatre will bring the same opportunity to children in Hay River and Yellowknife this month. - photo courtesy of Missoula Children's Theatre

The residencies include auditions, rehearsals and performances, and the theatre group brings along all the costumes and sets. Scott Reilly, of Missoula Children's Theatre, who helped organize the NWT tour, said the residencies provide more than just fun for the kids.

"For us, it's about the process as opposed to the production," he said. "It really is about the experience that those kids have during the week; the experience of auditioning, taking a risk, also communicating, listening, following directions, teamwork, setting goals."

About 50-60 kids get involved with every production. The enthusiasm in Hay River so far indicates the kids are very interested in taking part.

Jennifer Tweedie, a Grade 6 teacher at Princess Alexandra school in Hay River, which will host local auditions and rehearsals, said it is wonderful to see interest in performing arts growing amongst her students.

"We have some really expressive students," she said. "I've really been promoting the arts and promoting the possibilities of the dance and the singing and the theatre to them, and they're really excited about it."

Though Princess Alexandra will be the centre point for Hay River's events, Tweedie said kids from other schools are just as welcome to participate.

"This is a K-12 call for auditions, so it's going to bring the community and all the schools in Hay River together," she said. "Sometimes there's a lot of division, especially with Ecole Boreale being a separate school board."

Theatre revival

While Yellowknife students have ample opportunity already to perform onstage, theatre hasn't been as popular in Hay River in recent years.

Ben Nind, of Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, which is bringing the theatre group to the NWT as part of its community outreach program, said bringing Missoula Children's Theatre is akin to "planting a seed back in the community."

"It's not unfamiliar territory for the community, however, they haven't done a large production in a number of years," he said.

Princess Alexandra school's students have demonstrated a love of theatre that goes beyond a week-long residency. Recently, teacher Sarah Marie Power and educational assistant Joli Bauer have organized a drama group, which is currently practising for a spring performance.

The auditions begin in Yellowknife at Sir John Franklin high school's gymnasium at 6 p.m. on March 16. Hay River kids get a chance to audition at Princess Alexandra school at 6 p.m. on March 23.