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NEWS | Aug. 13, 2007

'The Wizard of Oz' delights audience of all ages

By Pacifica Chehy Capital Flyer staff writer

The Missoula Children's Theatre and 35 children from the Team Andrews community took the audience on an interactive journey to find the wizard in last Saturday's presentation of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Reel Time Theater. The children's theatre is designed to introduce and immerse children in the arts. 

"I love to act and this is one of my hobbies" said Taylor Hollowood, 11, who portrayed Dorothy and is the daughter of Tammie Hollowood and Chief Master Sgt. William Hollowood, Surgeon General's Office, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. "It's a great experience to come in and have fun." 

Sarah Sunday, 12, who played the Wicked Witch and is daughter of Maj. Al Sunday, 1st Helicopter Squadron, and Lisa Sunday agreed. "This program is definitely something I'd recommend to other kids. We did this when we were stationed in Japan and when I found out the tour team was coming here to Andrews, I really wanted to do it again." "The Wizard of Oz" production taught Miss Sunday something more than just memorizing and plainly reciting lines, "It taught me how to act and I really learned how to express myself." 

For parents, seeing their children on stage gives them a sense of pride and deeper insight into their children's personalities. "I am so proud of my children," said Mrs. Sunday who had 3 other children, Dan, 14, as the Tin Man; Ian, 10, as a Munchkin; and Mariah, 8, as a Winkie, participate in the play. "It's nice to see your children portray something so different than what you see them do at home. With projects such as these, you and your children discover, awaken and then can develop, hidden traits and passions you didn't know they have." 

Co-founded in 1970 by Jim Caron and Don Collins, the Missoula Children's Theatre, a non-profit program, has tour teams set out around the world and introduces children to an intense week-long immersion program in the arts. The Missoula Children's Theatre International Tour Project will have over 65,000 young people participate in the program this year. 

For more information on the Missoula Children's Theatre, go to www.mctinc.org.