The Lincoln Theatre hosts two free summer camps this July for children entering first through 12th grade.
Beginning on July 14, Missoula Children’s Theatre holds its annual residency at the Lincoln Theatre. The first day consists of auditions where each child is given a role to play in L. Frank Baum’s classic story, “The Wizard of Oz.” Throughout the week, cast members learn their lines, songs and various dances. These rehearsals come together by the end of the week with a community performance Saturday, July 19.
Based in Missoula, Montana, MCT is the nation’s largest touring children’s theater. In addition to their many local programs in western Montana, they will be visiting nearly 1,000 communities in 2025 with their 44 teams of directors. Ready with their supplies of sets, props and even costumes, the group has nearly everything to put on a successful musical. The missing piece? The actors.
MCT’s mission is to “empower children and adults through theater education and performance to develop lifelong skills while enriching communities worldwide through live productions.”
The following week, the Lincoln Theatre holds its third annual Summer Creatives summer camp. This set of two-day programs highlights the backstage aspects of theater. Future thespians get the chance to design their own characters and stories from the ground up.
“The Lincoln Theatre is proud to provide free programs for kids during the summer,” says Executive Director Bob Watkins. “It’s not only about kids having fun with their peers outside of school, but also about giving them an educational look at the arts. These students are the next generation of artists who could be performing on The Lincoln Theatre’s stage.”
From writing and drawing to painting and sculpting, local youth understand the hard work and creativity that goes into putting on a play. The first two days, July 21 and 22, are for first through fifth graders, while the following two days focuses on children entering sixth through 12th grades.
MCT and Summer Creatives both require registration, which can be found on www.thelincoln.org or by contacting the box office at 276-783-6092.
