Missoula Children’s Theatre makes stop in Geneva

GENEVA, Neb - A Montana based theatre group is making a quick stop in Southeast Nebraska.

Luckily, quick is the only way they operate. The Missoula Children’s Theatre is putting on a performance of “Princess and the Pea” this weekend, but the catch is, they have just seven days to prepare. Director Emily Palmerchuck explains.

“We have one week at every town we go to to put on a full-scale musical,” Palmerchuck. “It’s an hour long and we get a cast of about 50-60 children.”

Productions include songs and dances, all memorized in that one week of preparation. The week includes two-hour rehearsals during the week, after a round of auditions, and rehearsals of those in the main roles. On Wednesday, the group practiced the finale of their production.

Director Lindsay Wilk says the goal of Missoula is to bring the arts to areas where it’s not as prevalent, but also teach life lessons in doing so.

“Through theatre, we teach the life skills of working together, having patience and respect,” Will said. “Those life skills are such important things to learn at a young age so you can be successful wherever life takes you.”

Productions can have a wide age range of kids, from kindergarten through seniors in high school. With that much of an age range, and a tight schedule, it’s easy to think there would be some stress and difficulties. Palmerchuck says that hasn’t been the case with kids in the Geneva show.

“They all are listening, they’re ready to go, they’re excited,” Palmerchcuk said. “That allows us to add a little more character or run something a few more times and have them still feel really solid. We may even throw in a little acting exercise… The students have been really really great this week.”

The Saturday show day is another time crunch, before Emily and Lindsay head off to their next production.

“Saturday we have two shows, one at 3:00 and one at 5:30, the kids will come in a little early to get into costume, we’ll be ready for our audience to arrive around 2:30 for the 3:00 p.m, show,” Palmerchuck said. “Then again, audience comes in at 5, we have our show at 5:30, after that we take pictures, sell T-Shirt’s and pack up.”

“We pack up our little red truck and head off to our next location,” Wilk said.