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The Wizard of Oz comes to Mountain Home
They got excited. They got sad. They stomped their feet as they marched in rhythm. In some cases, they strayed from their cues and improvised.
For many of the nearly 75 children and teens that gathered at Mountain Home High School on Monday, it was their first step into the limelight. It was a chance to shine as they took their first steps into the world of theater.
During the afternoon, representatives from the Missoula Children's Theater listened and watched as these youngsters played the roles of legendary heroes and sinister villains.
By the end of the day, the theater group selected many of these children to join their production of "The Wizard of Oz," which takes to the stage here in just three days.
Once every two years, the traveling theater company comes to communities like Mountain Home to produce a play as they introduce youngsters to the world of theater.
"They do just a phenomenal job teaching the basics of theater," said Sally Cruser, executive director of the Mountain Home Arts Council, which hosts the event. "The fact that anyone from kindergarten to high school can perform with the group is just awesome."
The auditions actually started out very simple. Expressing themselves with unbridled excitement in their voices, the children shouted out their names and ages. Those with prior theatrics's experience exaggerated the look on their faces and exaggerated their body language for added emphasis.
With some of the initial jitters out of their system, each student was again asked to state their name and age, this time using sad expressions. Taking their cue from the theater representatives, several of the older children and teens tried to their best to cry.
It's these reactions that the theater group seeks when selecting its cast, said Jessica Rigsby, one of the representatives conducting Monday's casting call.
"We look for loud and clear voices, big and expressive body language and facial expressions" in addition to their vocal range and ability to follow directions, she said.
Those selected to join the team accept a heavy commitment they can't simply relinquish, said theater representative Adam Ferguson. To put on a play in just five days requires a minimum of four hours of rehearsals each night leading up to Saturday's curtain call.
It's a piece of cake, according to Rigsby.
"They're not giving us their minimum; they're giving us their maximum," she said. "If you tell a child they can do something, they can do it. (This play) shows what they can reach when they test their potential."
In addition, the world of theater often brings out untapped talents in children that even their parents didn't see, according to Ferguson. It also emphasizes personal responsibility while giving the children the skills to express themselves.
"After just one week, it shows they can do anything in life," he added.
Based in Montana, the Missoula Children's Theater started out in the 1970s as a small-scale traveling group with shows in cities across Montana. Today, the team reaches out to communities in all 50 states with additional tours each year in 17 countries.
Each student had their own reasons for auditioning.
Mariom Devore, a freshman at Mountain Home High School, got started with the Missoula Children's Theater by the time she was in second grade. She still remembers performing during the group's production of "Hansel and Gretel."
"My dad and mom grew up in theatrics," she said. "That's actually how they first met."
The teen auditioned for the Wizard of Oz in hopes of returning to the stage after the high school drama department was forced to cancel its planned production of "Grease."
Not enough boys auditioned for the play, Devore said.
Others with some basic acting experience auditioning that afternoon included Logan Potter. The eighth grader was a vocalist during the junior high school's production of Bugsy Malone earlier this year.
"I really like acting, and when we did the school musical, I thought it would be a good experience," Potter said.
Many students had no reservations on the parts they were pursuing. A few felt they had what it took to be Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion or the Wizard of Oz himself.
Potter was hoping to land the role of Glinda the Good Witch of the North.
"I feel that I can relate to her character the most," Potter said.
Others were just delighted to have a chance to audition.
"I'll just be happy if I can get into the play," Devore said.