SUCCESS: Beauty Lou & the Country Beast!

Audiences of all ages got a fresh look at an old favorite this past Saturday when the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) and more than 35 local students presented BEAUTY LOU AND THE COUNTRY BEAST, conceived and written by Jim Caron, with music and lyrics by Michael McGill, Jim Caron, Jon Hart and Michael Schooner.

Featured as Beauty Lou were Jaeden Aragon and Jaesca Chadwick. The Younger Daughters were played by Miah Roman, Brynn Welch, Peyton Randall, Mia Kidwell, and Lilly Montogmery; the Older Daughters were Marly Rawson, Lynzey Rawson, Jeanette Blazevich, Ashlyn Gray, and Kylee McLaughlin.

The Imaginary Friend was played by Cooper Montgomery and the Beast was played by Gage Kidwell. Dusty and Slim, the helpful farmhands, were played by Trent Price and Soren Richardson. Faithful friend Fleabite Clyde, the dog, was played by Halle Downey.

Hoping to win enough money to save the family farm, Buck sets off for the rodeo and is joined by the rest of the Country Folk Aurora Koenig, Aidden Burton, Emily Gaboury, Ryan Raty, Evelinn Scarborough, Michael Raty, and Aliyah Rawson, along with a few Barnyard Critters played by Kalvin Ostander, Layla Gonzales, Harper Wahner, McKinley Ostrander, Paige Loomis, Adam Gaboury, Neveah Smith, Cameron Ballard and Brynnlee Turner. Elena Richardson served as Assistant Director throughout the week.

"It was an enriching experience, both for the kids and the adults who were able to gather and regain a sense of community. Laughs were had and the kids put in an exceptional amount of work all week. Amazing that this was all pulled off in less than a week," said Alison Richardson.

A huge thank you to Mr. Koenig for all his hard work in getting things approved! Thank you to the teachers for getting the forms home and back on such short notice. Thank you to Cori Koenig, Alison Richardson, Corie Downey and Pati McLaughlin for helping with TAD dinners. And thank you to Historic Borden's AirBNB for housing the MCT. Thanks also goes to Lee Good with TSS for streaming the play for those who couldn't attend in person.

The Missoula Children's Theatre residency in Whitehall was brought to the area by the Whitehall PTSA. If you are interested in helping bring MCT to Whitehall again next year, please contact Kari Montgomery at 406-570-5686.

Throughout its 45 year existence, the Missoula Children's Theatre International Tour has fostered developmental life skills in more than a million kids. Just this year, they will work with 65,000 children in more than 1,200 communities in all 50 states and 17 countries. The Missoula Children's Theatre relies on your generosity to close the gap between low tour fees and the actual cost of touring. If their program has had a positive impact on you or a family member, and you would like to help ensure this experience for future generations, please contact bfrazee@MCTinc.org.