Rankin Inlet (Sep 10/03) - The curtain will rise on another children's theatrical performance in Rankin Inlet this coming week.

The Missoula Children's Theatre will arrive in the community this week to begin preparing upwards of 60 local students to perform in this year's production of Rumpelstiltskin.

This will be Missoula's (the largest touring children's theatre in the United States) third visit to Rankin.

The Montana theatrical troupe has been touring around the world for more than 30 years.

Two actor-directors will arrive in the hamlet this week to teach, act and direct the performance.

The troupe also brings all the costumes, props and stage sets required for the show.

The first two years in Rankin, Missoula trained more than 100 local stars and starlets to perform Sleeping Beauty (with a hip shakin' twist) and The Wiz of the West (a modern version of a classic tale).

Maani Ulujuk middle school (MUI) teacher Julie Millen says even though both Leo Ussak elementary (LUI) and MUI will be closed on Sept. 11 and 12 for an in-service workshop, open auditions will still be held at 2 p.m. at the MUI gym this Sept. 12.

"The students who took part during the first two years absolutely loved the experience and the kids are really looking forward to this year's performance," says Millen.

Those students selected for the performance will rehearse the following week and two shows will be performed on Sept. 18 at the MUI gym.

A matinee for local students will take place in the afternoon, before the curtain goes up for the community performance at 7 p.m.

Millen is hoping for a large turnout at the auditions this coming Friday.

She says the more participation the show receives from students in the hamlet's three schools, the more successful it's likely to be.

"The kids work hard, but they also have a lot of fun.

"And the people who come from the troupe enjoy their time here, as well.

"We get them out to see some of the sites, such as the elder's cabin, and they always enjoy being exposed to Northern culture.

"The actor-directors from the previous two years have all remarked that the audiences here are among the best they perform for."