The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - In just over a week, the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) will arrive at Dayton’s Liberty Theater for a one-week residency. The summer theater program runs Aug. 14-19, giving approximately 50-60 local students roles in an original MCT production.

First graders through seniors are encouraged to register. Actors have fun while learning how to present themselves in front of an audience, memorize lines and improvise, and draw on their creativity.

The week ends with two public performances on the Liberty stage. This year’s production, Bette Lou and the Country Beast, is a delightfully comedic take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale.

No advance preparation is necessary and there is no cost to participate, however parents or guardians must pre-register students by Aug. 11. Pre-registration hours at the Liberty Theater are from 2:30-5:30 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 8 and Fri., Aug. 11. If those time are not convenient, contact the theater at (509) 382-1380 or by email at info@libertytheater.org.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 18 and Sat., Aug. 19. Tickets will be available online at libertytheater.org and at the box office, starting at noon on Mon., Aug.14.

Bette Lou and the Country Beast is part of the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s unique international touring project and is presented at the Liberty Theater in Dayton by the Touchet Valley Arts Council, with support from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation Columbia County Children’s Fund, Blue Mountain Community Foundation, Columbia County Fund and the Warren Fund.