Lights, camera, action for school musical

AN American theatre company is auditioning students for a very elaborate €10,000 musical Robin Hood they plan to stage next Thursday and Friday — free of charge.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) from Montana travels to schools all over the world with the challenge of getting students ready to put on their own musical within a week — and the company pays for it.

A spokesperson said: “We pick schools that have had no or very little access to theatre and Our Lady of Lourdes primary school in Rosbrien in Limerick was picked because some of the students come from disadvantaged backgrounds — it has not put on a musical or a play for three years.”

Yesterday two actors and a Director auditioned the students for parts in the musical that they plan to stage on Thursday and Friday night this week. MTC will provide all the props and costumes for the production.

Terri Elander of MTC says they are not trying to create wannabe actors.

She said: “The focus is on teamwork, children gaining confidence in themselves and respect from others and all the other feelgood factors that come from having fun while doing something creative.”

The total cost is €10,000 and it is unlikely the school would be able to put on such a production without this sponsorship.

Geoff Sutton, who has been working on cultural exchanges between Ireland and Montana, said they have a grant from Culture Ireland to put on an Irish play in Montana and they are bringing this musical to Limerick because they want to give something back to Ireland.

The Small Business Administration of the US Department of Commerce is financing the Limerick school theatre project.