Students to Hit the Stage in ‘The Tortoise Versus the Hare’

A childhood fable will soon come to life in The Tortoise Versus the Hare: The Greatest Race on Saturday, March 10 at the . 

Local students, ages 5 to 16, will perform in the musical show for the Missoula Children's Theatre Tour Project, a program in which tour actors and directors travel across the United States to train children for productions.

After 66 kids auditioned on March 5, 53 were chosen and they have five days to prepare for two shows in one night.

“The kids have rehearsals Monday through Friday, 4 to 8:30 p.m,” Director Libby Hollinger said. “They learn all of their parts, all of their songs and all of their dances in one week.”

The show features various animal characters participating in a desert race between reptiles and mammals. 

“The songs are addictive," Hollinger said. "You will leave singing them. The costumes are some of the coolest things you’ve ever seen and the kids just have a blast, which is probably the most fun the audience could have in just watching the kids go crazy on stage."

Hollinger said that they are usually working with regular kids, not child actors.

“[A challenge] would be trying to get kids to come out of their shells and really shine on stage,” Hollinger said. “A lot of the kids who are artistic are also quiet, sensitive types. So getting them to be that wild, bright character can sometimes take a little encouragement. 

Hollinger said her favorite scene is one in which the child breaks out of his or her shell—no pun intended for the tortoise character.

“My favorite scene is when it has the kid in it who you could tell worked the hardest and is also the most nervous,” Hollinger said. “They’re giving you a look right before they go on, like 'I can’t do this,' and suddenly they walk on stage, all that disappears and they are a rockstar.” 

Along with co-director Dana Szarzynski, Hollinger runs rehearsals to prepare for the full-scale production. In addition, the two also teach theatre workshops for students in kindergarten, first and second grade. They are visiting Rolling Hills Elementary and Sundance Elementary March 6 to 8 to conduct workshops such as “The Actor’s Tool” and “If Forests Could Talk.” 

The community event is arranged by the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, which often works with Missoula’s Children Theatre.

“I really get a kick of out seeing the kids develop over the course of a week,” PCPA Marketing Manager Yvonne Dows said. “They take on this endeavor and become their characters. You watch them rehearse, then they get into their costume and it’s really great transformation. It’s a great learning experience.” 

General admission is $17. To purchase tickets online, go here. There is a $3 Internet fee. Showtimes are 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

On the same day, the San Diego Folk Heritage will host a concert by songwriter with bassist T.R. Ritchie at 7 p.m. at . Sheridan is a winner of  the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Showcase and the Telluride Troubadour Contest. Cost is $10. For more information, visit Sheridan’s site here. 

There will be an workshop from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at Templar's Hall of Old Poway Park. Phil Boroff, a guitar player for 52 years, will teach steady-bass thumb-and-finger styles used by blues and country pickers.  Pre-registration required is for the workshop, which is limited to 17 people and costs $25 per person. To reserve a place, email to Boroff at boroffblues@yahoo.com.