16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 1, 2015 Polk County News LEFT: The cast of “King Arthur’s Quest” sing a musi- cal number during rehearsal on Thurs- day. Missoula Chil- dren’s Theatre led a five-day camp be- ginning June 22 to produce the musical in Falls City, coordi- nated through the school district’s after school program FACES. BELOW: Jonathon Creekmore, as Arthur, listens to one of the many warnings of the “damsels in distress” during Thursday’s run through of the production. The cast and crew put on two performances on Friday night to cap the camp. PHOTOS BY JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Theater camp stages drama in Falls City Missoula Children’s Theatre camp produces ‘King Arthur’s Quest’ in five days By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FA L L S C I T Y — K i n g Arthur has problems. In his kingdom, he has a giant with insomnia, a drag- on with a toothache and his castle is haunted by a forget- ful ghost. His subjects are looking to him for answers. Will he save the day? Students in Falls City’s FACES program worked all last week to give the story a happy ending, taking part in a Missoula Children’s The- atre (MCT) drama camp. The camp, led by two MCT drama coaches, staged the show, “King Arthur’s Quest” in just five days — from auditions to perform- ances. “It’s been hectic,” said Hope Johnson, who plays King Arthur’s wife, Guine- vere, in the musical, during Thursdays rehearsal. “A show can always use more work, but I think we are doing pretty good.” MCT drama teachers Kiona Reese and Nicole Baker work as a team to get the cast and crew of the show ready for two perform- ances on Friday night. They were impressed with the progress the students made in such a short time. “They are doing really well,” Reese said. Baker noted that the cast was pretty much “off book,” or working without a script, in just the second day of re- hearsals. “They are ready to be in front of the audience,” Baker said. “They really are.” The musical takes the classic tale and puts a hu- morous spin on it — with “damsels in distress” always warning of danger and fea- turing a not-so-magical Merlin. But, in the end, the show demonstrates the power of working together to solve problems and that everyone can contribute. That lesson matches well with MCT’s mission: “Devel- opment of life skills in chil- dren through participation in the performing arts.” MCT, based in Missoula, Mont., has 43 teaching pairs on the road throughout the summer in all 50 states and in 15 countries offering weeklong drama camps. Reese and Baker will travel throughout Oregon and Cal- ifornia over three months. “It’s really special to work with different groups of kids every single week and see that you are not only making a change in their week, in their day, but potentially in their lives,” Reese said. She said using theater to explore creativity is powerful and “you can bring that into other people’s lives and show them they can create too.” Often, as is the case in Falls City, MCT provides one of few opportunities stu- dents have with performing arts, something Jonathon Cre e k m o re, w h o p l a y s Arthur, believes is some- thing students should be able to experience. “I like the ability to change who you are. You are able to jump into a new world. It’s like reading a book, but you are that book,” he said, de- scribing what he likes about acting. “It builds character. They (students) learn struc- ture, obedience … and work ethic.” Acting isn’t the only op- portunity the show provides. Two assistant directors are part of the crew for “King Arthur’s Quest”. They help with lighting and make sure actors make their cues and remember lines. Amber Houghtaling, one of the assistant directors, said she occasionally has a case of stage fright, but likes working back stage. Watch- ing the play unfold from be- hind the scenes is fun, she said, and something she may want to do again. “Maybe, if it (her role) is the director, backstage,” she said. Like, Johnson, Amber be- lieved the cast would be ready for Friday’s perform- ance on the Falls City High School stage. Reese and Baker were ex- cited for the kids to experi- ence the sense of accom- plishment during and after the show. “Seeing the difference from Monday to Friday is a complete 180. It’s so cool to see kids who maybe haven’t gotten a big confidence booster in their life, (have) that happen on stage,” Baker said. “They may never do a play again, but this is some- thing they can hold onto and have that confidence in for the rest of their lives.” Reese said her favorite part of performance night is the brief moment after the bows when she and Baker step back and let the stu- dents absorb the audience’s praise. “We get to step away and let the kids feel that,” she said. “And the looks on their faces, it’s really incredible.” LaCreole MS to hold sixth-grade camp DALLAS — LaCreole Middle School in Dallas will hold an orien- tation camp to introduce incoming sixth-graders to the building and their new routine starting this fall. The camp will be held Aug. 25 and 26 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at LaCre- ole, 701 SE LaCreole Drive. Tuition for the camp is $20. Partial scholarships may be available. Registration is due by Aug. 14 and forms can be mailed to or dropped off at LaCreole’s office. For more information: 503-623-6662. DALLAS 121 Main St. • 503-623-8155 Mon-Fri 8AM - 6PM • Sat 8AM - 5PM INDEPENDENCE 1710 Monmouth St. • 503-838-6340