CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston's Youth Program Center held auditions Monday for 5- to 17-year-olds to star in a Missoula Children's Theater Jack and the Beanstalk play.
The play will be showing in the YPC's gym at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Rehearsals for those selected were every day this week from 4 to 8:15 p.m.
MCT is a traveling performing program that is designed to help youth develop self confidence, teamwork and bring out their creative side for everyone to see.
MCT has been traveling throughout the world to different locations for more than 30 years, putting on plays and bringing out a side of the youth that is rarely seen.
MCT is a week-long program held at the request of the YPC. Two professional MCT actors and directors were then sent out to hold auditions Monday for all who were interested.
The play participants have rehearsed for about four-and-a-half hours Monday through Friday with the selected actors and actresses to help them remember their lines, staging, songs and movements.
"The MCT program is a great opportunity for our youth to interact with other kids and it gives them a chance to let their creativity blossom," said Shannon Norris, YPC director. "From the time the rehearsals begin to the time they end, the MCT staff and the young actors and actresses work very hard ... I think it will be an outstanding play."
The Jack and the Beanstalk play at Charleston AFB will consist of 28 youth program members of all ages. With characters ranging from Jack to circus performers, the kids take each role they have been assigned very seriously, said YPC members.
"I play a ring master of the circus in the play," said Gloria Gunther, 8, daughter of Chief Master Sgt. John Gunther and Master Sgt. Maria Gunther. "The MCT instructors are very nice; they help us a lot with remembering our lines and songs. This is the second play I've been in, I've had so much fun and I hope to be in the next one when MCT comes back."
MCT has been coming to Charleston AFB's YPC for several years; they have a contract with the Air Force and go to all AF bases throughout the year to put on plays for the youth programs.
The play is free to all who wish to attend. Members of the YPC encourage all to come out and see the work Charleston's youth has done.
For more information on the MCT program, go to http://www.mctinc.org/inmissoula/community.