August 15, 2001
Young actors play the part
91 youth audition for Missoula Children's Theater musical
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Projecting perk on demand and transforming megawatts of excitement into depths of despair in a second, a roomful of aspiring actors rocketed through the open audition.
Hoping for a piece of the action in the upcoming production of Tales of Hans Christian Anderson, 91 youth ages 6-16 filled the cafeteria of Traverse City St. Francis High School Monday morning, mixing butterflies with starry eyes for two hours.
The open audition held by Missoula Children's Theater, was a first step of putting on a play in a week from scratch.
Despite being a fun and learning experience, the audition is no cakewalk, said Shanna Scheele, whose previous acting credits include three plays at Traverse City West Senior High School.
"This was difficult because before I've auditioned for a specific role and read from a script," said Scheele, 16, who won the role of Anna in the play. "This was different."
Even veteran actors got clammy palms when it came time for the role assignments.
"The toughest thing was watching them go around and pick people and not knowing if you would be chosen," said Maggie McGurn, 14, who will be a villager in the play as well as an assistant director.
The 'them' was Robert and Amy DeLong, professional actors employed by Missoula Children's Theater to give children around the country a taste of a musical production.
In their first year with the company, the DeLongs won their roles at an audition of their own during a theater festival in Fresno, Calif. Now married, they were engaged during their audition and the Missoula Children's Theater teamed them up for their 42-city tour this year.
For Traverse City, the Missoula magic began when the DeLongs blew into town Sunday, with a complete play in a truck: costumes, scenery, scripts and make-up. The missing ingredient in Missoula's unique formula was the actors, which the DeLongs select from the town - or residency, as they call it - they are in for the week.
Hence the fast-paced audition Monday, complete with emoting, dancing, gestures and singing guaranteed to sift out talent. In those short two hours, the DeLongs select their cast of leading characters, misers, villagers, players and flowers as well as a crew of assistant directors who will help them produce the play.
As the clock hands moved toward noon, the DeLongs faced the hardest part of their job: sending some kids away empty handed.
"It is a tough decision, some kids do stand out but you want everyone to be involved because it is such an awesome experience," said Amy DeLong, a native of Reno, Nev.
Perfecting their formula of insta-play over the past 30 years, Missoula Children's Theater tours in 19 countries and estimates that it puts 500,000 youth on stage every year. The DeLongs are one of 24 touring teams this season that will stop in 900 cities.
The Traverse City Children's/Teen Theater invited Missoula back for the fifth year, relishing the experience it gives a wide variety of youth. Even those who do not land a role gain invaluable acting skills and have a lot of fun doing it, said theater director June Neal. While many kids are new every year, others come back year after year, whether they won a role the previous time or not.
"Missoula's visit is a shot in the arm to this town," Neal said. "Everybody comes and I barely advertise the audition anymore."
"Missoula is such an inspirational group and they just get kids all charged up."
Performances of Tales of Hans Christian Anderson will be held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets are available at the Playhouse all week and cost $5 for adults and $3 for children.