Frequently Asked Questions about MCT Day Camps
What will my child do at MCT Day Camp?
MCT Day Camps are a rehearsal process that culminates in weekend performances of an original Missoula Children’s Theatre musical. Your child will participate in a group audition, be cast in a role, rehearse, and perform in the show. The audition and casting take place on Monday and your child will know what role he/she is playing by the end of that day.
Some children will receive roles that require memorization outside of time spent at MCT; these children will receive a script that may need to be returned to MCT. Lines should be memorized as soon as possible!
Some roles do not require as much rehearsal as others. When not in rehearsal, children will attend acting, movement, and art workshops taught by MCT personnel.
What else can you tell me about Day Camp?
MCT Day Camp is from 9:00 AM through 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Performances are on Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 and 5:00 PM. and you select which day your child performs on the registration form.
When can I register my child for Day Camp?
Registration forms are available on our website and at MCT 6-8 weeks before camp begins.
Completed forms may be mailed to MCT or dropped off at the MCT Box Office (parking lot/lobby entrance). Sorry, but registration cannot be taken over the phone or by fax.
In order for us to prepare appropriately for Day Camp, we appreciate receiving the registration forms the week before Day Camp starts (by Friday), but you may still register your child the Monday morning that Day Camp begins.
After I send in the registration form to MCT, will I receive a confirmation that my child is enrolled?
MCT does not send out confirmation of enrollment; however, we do not cap the number of children involved in our Day Camps, so your child will take part if he/she is registered. Feel free to call us at (406) 728-1911 if you want to confirm that we received the registration form.
How old should my child be to participate in MCT Day Camp?
Spring Day Camp: Children must be in grades K-12.
Summer Day Camps: Children must be entering grades 1-12.*
*We have found that young children are more successful in our projects if they have attended or are currently attending kindergarten.
What should my child wear to MCT Day Camp?
MCT Day Camp is quite active, and we want your child to be as comfortable as possible. Unless your child has a role that requires them to be barefoot, children must wear shoes at MCT. Your child should wear closed-toe, soft-soled shoes that are comfortable to move around in—such as tennis shoes. No sandals, please! In colder, snowy weather when children may be wearing snow boots, please send along a pair of shoes your child may wear in the building. For rehearsal clothes: In warmer weather, shorts and T-shirts are great; in colder weather, jeans or other comfortable pants are ideal.
Should I send a lunch?
Yes! We take two meal breaks during the day. Please send a non-messy lunch, a healthy snack, and water. (Water is best because it’s the easiest to clean up!) Cast members will not be allowed to leave the theatre to get food unless prior arrangements have been made and they are under adult supervision.
Campers will not have access to a microwave oven OR to the candy vending machines. Campers should eat a nice big breakfast before they arrive at MCT because we will not have our lunch break until about 12:00 PM.
When should I drop off my child?
We will begin the Day Camp day with warm-ups at 9:00 AM. Please do not bring your child to MCT any earlier than 8:40 AM because there won't be supervision in the theatre.
How should I drop off my child?
Safety is very important to us, and MCT’s parking lot can be quite busy. In an effort to facilitate morniing drop-off of your child, we encourage you to use either the Main St. double door entrance or Adams St. entrance. You may pull your car up to either of these entrances and drop off your child. If you must use the Lobby entrance, please park your car and walk your child to the Lobby doors. This is for the safety of your child and to keep traffic in the parking lot from getting backed up into the street. Students should pick up their name tags and leave their belongings in the third floor Community Room. We will meet as a group in the theatre and warm up for the day.
When and how should I pick up my child?
Dismissal for most campers is at 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The lobby is where you will meet your child after class. Because of the volume of cars at 4:00, campers will remain in the lobby (inside MCT) until the adult they are expecting comes into the lobby to escort them out to the parking lot. This is purely for the safety of the kids. Please do not pull up to the lobby doors to pick up your child; in the afternoon there is too much traffic to do this. It is important that the entrance, exit, and ticket pick-up window are not blocked, so please park your car.
To help alleviate some of the afternoon parking traffic, we will have a daily “Early Out” for kids who are 5, 6, or 7 years old. We will dismiss these children to the lobby at 3:45. Siblings/co-riders of these younger children will be excused next. If your child is 5, 6, or 7 years old and you are unable to do the early pick-up, your child will remain supervised in the lobby until you arrive. MCT staff will supervise all of the children until everyone is picked up. Unless prior arrangements have been made by parents, all children must be signed out.
What if my child walks or rides a bicycle to MCT?
That's great! Please make sure we are aware of this by calling us or sending a note with your child.
What if my child has to miss some of the week?
To have effective rehearsals and great shows, attendance is important. We really need to know if your child will miss rehearsal. If you know in advance that your child will need to miss part of the week, please tell us as soon as possible. We will try to make every effort to accommodate you if possible. If your child is sick and unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible. Missing rehearsals may affect the role your child receives/performs.
What if I’d like my child to just attend Day Camp Monday through Friday, and not take part in the weekend performances?
MCT Day Camp is centered around preparing the children for the weekend performances. If your child is unable to take part in the performances, then the Day Camp experience is probably not right for you at this time.
What if my child has a disability or medical consideration?
MCT is proud of its inclusive casting policies; all children are welcome. If you feel your child’s situation is something we need to be aware of or special accommodations need to be made, please feel free to call us to discuss it. Please write down any medical considerations and attach to the registration form.
When will my child be performing in the show?
You should choose a Saturday OR Sunday performance day when you fill out the registration form. Occasionally, we may ask some children if they are able to perform on both days. Show times are 3:00 and 5:00 PM. We will send a letter home with your child that will discuss the performance day in detail.
Why do you need my phone number?
The guardian information on the registration form is there for us to be able to contact you in case of an emergency or any other situation in which we would need to talk to you. Please provide the contact information for guardians who are local.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes, there are a limited number of partial scholarships available. Application for a scholarship implies willingness of the responsible adult recipient to give volunteer hours to the Missoula Children’s Theatre by ushering. Receipt of an application does not guarantee a scholarship. You will be notified of your eligibility before class begins, as soon as all applications have been processed.
Upon acceptance of a scholarship, you will be scheduled to complete your volunteer hours. (Please note: ushering may need to be scheduled on the day your child is not performing.) Failure to complete this trade obligation will disqualify the applicant for future scholarships.
To be considered, the scholarship application form must be returned no later than one week prior to the first day of day camp. Application forms are available at the MCT Box Office.
Will my child receive a T-shirt?
Yes, the registration fee includes a show T-shirt. Please choose a size on the registration form (Youth 6-8, Youth 10-12, Youth 14-16, Adult S, Adult M, Adult L, Adult XL). Your child will receive the T-shirt after the performances on Saturday or Sunday, after he/she returns his/her costume to MCT.
When will I see my child on show day? Can I go backstage?
We do not allow the cast members to go out in the lobby in costume but family and friends may briefly visit their actor for the snack break in the green room between the 3:00 and 5:00 PM shows. However, the cast needs to begin focusing on the show 30 minutes before the 5:00 PM show begins.
Will there be a DVD of the show I can purchase?
MCT does not film the shows for purchase. However, you are welcome to film it from your seat. Please be sure your camera is hand-held and battery-operated.
May I take pictures during the show?
MCT does not allow pictures to be taken during the show. This policy is not only for the comfort of those around you, but because the flash/noise of a camera can be very distracting to the young performers. There will be a photo session following the 5:00 PM performance; you may take as many photos as you like then. You do not have to have tickets to the 5:00 PM performance to attend the post-show photo session.
When can I get tickets to the show?
Tickets for the day camp performances are available the Monday that the camp begins. We strongly urge families to purchase tickets in advance.
Box Office Information
How do I get on your mailing list?
Brochures are mailed to participants annually, or upon request by calling MCT.
Contact Us
Don Mogstad, Local Youth Activities Director
Phone (406) 728-1911, ext. 178
Eric Prim, Local Children’s Projects Administrator
Phone (406) 728-1911, ext. 258