About the Missoula Children’s Theatre
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Connection Through Creativity
From our headquarters in downtown Missoula, Montana, to far-reaching parts of the globe, the Missoula Children’s Theatre is an arts organization committed to the core goals of serving youth and adults alike with quality and accessible performing arts programming. MCT’s live, theatrical productions are widely regarded as entertaining, educational, and enriching experiences for performers and audiences alike. The Red Truck Tour is recognized as the world’s largest touring children’s theatre of its kind, and all programming serves MCT’s one mission.
What makes MCT so special?
The Missoula Children’s Theatre is invested in the belief that the Arts play a crucial role in the health and well-being of all communities. Each of the programs support our underlying values—the importance of access to arts experiences, the commitment to provide excellence, and the belief that the desire to connect to others is universal.
In 1970, co-founders Jim Caron and Don Collins created MCT. During the first few years, our company of adults performed children’s shows in the Missoula area. We began touring in the early 1970s when Miles City School in eastern Montana invited us to bring our musical version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to town. Rather than risk winter travel with the children playing the Dwarfs, Caron tried something new: he found kids in Miles City to play the title roles. The experience inspired visits to other Montana communities with the specific intent of casting local children. The scope of our touring increased rapidly, and today, the Red Truck Tour is the largest, most far-reaching and by far, the most important program of the Missoula Children’s Theatre.
Our Culture
Mission
Empowering children and adults through theatre education and performance to develop lifelong
skills while enriching communities worldwide
through live productions.
Vision
Our vision is to be a vibrant and inclusive hub for the communities we serve, where children and adults of all backgrounds and abilities can come together to learn, grow, create, and have fun. Through our commitment to excellence, innovation, and community engagement, we aim to inspire and entertain audiences, develop lifelong skills in our participants, and contribute to the cultural vitality and social fabric of every community we serve. We aspire to be a place where creativity thrives, where lifelong friendships are formed, and where the magic of live performance is accessible to all.
Values
Empowerment: We believe in empowering children and adults through theatre education and performance, providing them with the skills and tools to achieve their full potential.
Lifelong Learning: We believe in the power of theatre to foster lifelong skills such as creativity, confidence, and teamwork, and we strive to provide opportunities for continuous growth and development.
Community Enrichment: We believe in the importance of exceptional live performance as a means of enriching the community, bringing people together, and creating shared experiences.
Excellence: We believe in pursuing excellence in all aspects of our work, from the quality of our productions to the professionalism and dedication of our staff and volunteers.
Inclusivity: We believe in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, encourages collaboration, and respects the unique perspectives and backgrounds of all participants and audience members.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We’re on a mission to change the world for the better. Central to our mission is the belief that diversity and inclusion are catalysts for meaningful change. We advocate for equality, justice, and equity in all our initiatives. Our commitment to diversity is woven into the very fabric of our organization, from our leadership to our volunteers. Together, we’re making strides toward a more inclusive society where everyone’s rights are protected, and everyone’s voice is heard.
Our Story
It all started in the summer of 1970.
An unemployed actor, was searching for a mission in life, on his way from Chicago to a friend’s wedding in Oregon when his aging Volkswagen van broke down. The nearest service station was – fortunately and fatefully – in Missoula, Montana. While waiting for the van to be patched together, Jim noticed an audition poster for Man of La Mancha. Just for fun, he auditioned and was cast in the role of “Sancho.”
Jim developed an instant and lasting friendship with Don Collins (the actor playing “Don Quixote”), and together they organized a company of adults to perform plays for children on a make-shift stage in a local movie theatre.
The plays, as well as the idea of developing live theatre for kids, were well-received in Missoula. Soon, nearby Montana and Idaho communities requested performances of their own. During the early days, the company began casting kids when it seemed appropriate, such as the title roles in Hansel and Gretel or as Dwarfs in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
In 1972, when February performances of Snow White were booked in Miles City (a small Montana community located an icy 500 miles from Missoula), Jim and the other directors were not excited about the prospect of traveling with seven children across the state and decided to take a radical step: they would attempt to cast the Dwarfs roles from children in Miles City. The directors traveled across the state a week before the rest of the company, a bit skeptical about finding seven kids who might be interested in being in the play…
the astonished team improvised quickly to create a fair audition process and by the end, they had cast the seven Dwarfs. The success of that week was obvious from the interest among kids, parents, teachers, and the press. The week culminated in sold-out performances of an excellent production, which opened the eyes of the MCT staff…and the doors to the future.
The lessons learned in those early days, especially the rewards of involving children as cast members, set the stage for today’s Red Truck Tour, Local Youth Series, Local Community Series, and the magnificent building that MCT is proud to call home.
