Maureen Roy Photography **The Missoula Children’s Theatre is coming to Lincoln City this month holding tryouts for kids in grades 1-12 for a play it will perform twice on June 24.**

By Oregon Coast TODAY

The Missoula Children’s Theatre is calling all student actors for its annual visit to Lincoln City. The musical theater workshop will take place from Monday to Friday, June 19-23.

As the grounds of the Lincoln City Cultural Center are under heavy construction, the auditions, rehearsals and performance will all be taking place this year in the Taft High School auditorium, 3780 S.E. Spy Glass Ridge Drive, Lincoln City. .

Students from grades 1 to 12 are encouraged to audition. With only 50 to 60 spots available, there is no guarantee everyone will get a part. Be sure to show up 15 minutes early to fill out forms.

This year, the show will be a musical production of “The Princess and the Pea,” a story by Hans Christian Andersen. In this classic, a prince insists on marrying a real princess. When a woman comes to his door during a storm maintaining that she is a real princess, the prince’s mother tests her by burying a pea under a large stack of mattresses and then instructing the young woman to sleep on them, because only a princess could feel something as subtle. What ensues is a tale of misapprehension, intrigue and love.

There will be many parts available for all ages.

Not all actors will have to stay for the entire rehearsal, depending on casting. On Monday, the first two-hour session will be the audition and the second two-hour session will be the first rehearsal. On Friday, the dress rehearsal will take place for the first three hours, followed by a 15-minute break, after which the older cast members will stay for an additional one-hour rehearsal session.

Missoula Children’s Theatre is the nation’s largest touring children’s theater, and has been touring extensively for more than 40 years from Montana to Japan. They arrive in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play — except the cast.

All shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales. Also included in the residency are three enrichment workshops. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through participation in this unique, educational project.

Audition and rehearsals begin at 10 a.m, Monday, June 19, through Friday, June 23. Two public performances will take place at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24. The performances will last approximately one hour with no intermission. Admission is free.