CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Missoula Children’s Theatre, based out of Montana, will be coming to Marshalltown to put on the “Rumpelstiltskin” play. Kindergarten through eighth grade students are encouraged to audition.

Young acting enthusiasts will have a chance to test out their talent in the upcoming local production of “Rumpelstiltskin,” organized by the Missoula Children’s Theatre.

The Montana based theatre tours internationally, bringing props, costumes and directors with them to put on a show. The only thing missing are the actors, who they handpick from the local children who audition. The whole production, from casting to performance, takes just one week, with auditions being held on Feb. 7, and the performance being presented by the Assistance League of Marshalltown (AL) on Feb. 12.

“It’s really amazing how they get those kids corralled,” Yvette Meyer, a member of the AL, said. “They’re very organized, and they know exactly what they’re looking for in each role. It’s what they do every week.”

Meyer said they had been partnering with the theater since 1998 to bring the theatrical arts alive for local children. The last time they put on a play in Marshalltown was 2019. Generally, they bring the theater in every other year, but given the circumstances of the pandemic, Meyer said they decided to postpone a performance until this year.

The AL cultural committee decided on the week they wanted the play to be performed, and the children’s theater had “Rumpelstiltskin” available. In addition to providing the theater directors with a place to stay and a place to practice and perform for the week, AL volunteers also put in a lot of effort to make the play possible.

“The Assistance League will have our members there in the evenings and during the performance and everything, and we volunteer and help the directors with anything they need,” Meyer said.

In addition to overseeing the play rehearsals and performance, Meyer said the directors will also hold theater workshops for local elementary school classes during the day.

The theatre will be looking to cast a myriad of roles starting with the main characters like Rumpelstiltskin, Queen Beatrice and Clara as well as background characters such as gnomes, wizards and knights. Meyer said they usually cast around 50 to 60 kids, but not everyone is guaranteed a part.

Kids from kindergarten through eighth grade are encouraged to audition, and older children may be given the position of assistant director. Children in the assistant director roles will have backstage responsibilities and will help where needed during the rehearsals throughout the week.

Auditions are from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 101 S. Center St. If a child is cast, rehearsals will be Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a performance on Saturday afternoon.

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Contact Susanna Meyer at 641-753-6611

or smeyer@timesrepublican.com.