Missoula Children's Theater is a theater in Montana that sends out traveling actors/directors in pairs all over the country to help children put on plays from start to finish in just a week.  They are incredible!  Our youngest son first auditioned last year and was selected to be a chameleon in Robinson Crusoe.  He had a blast.  The next year he auditioned and was awarded the part of a pumpkin in Cinderella.  Missoula has helped him develop a love for theater that I never could have given him.  The directors are positive and playful, but they're all about business.  They only have a week to go from nothing to a full performance with about 60 kids - lights, make-up, costumes, singing and dancing, and memorized lines.  What they accomplish with the kids always amazes me. 

Our little man didn't know it, but I checked Missoula's website where the tour schedule is posted about 6 months in advance.  I looked for Missoula stops near places where we'd be for at least 2 weeks so that he'd have time to participate.  I found 2.  The first was near New York City and the second near St. Louis.  After a little more research I found that the show near NYC had been cancelled (bummer, how cool would that have been?)  so our only hope was St. Louis.  I called the person in charge of coordinating the tour and the show to ask permission for him to audition with the other children in the area.  She agreed, provided that we'd consider speaking about what we're doing!  Now our budding actor has an opportunity to do something on the road that he loved to do at home (and even if he doesn't get a part, it's still a great learning experience).  I love that!  {mos_fb_discuss:27}