The buzz in the Malad Elementary School auditorium was palpable as over 80 local kids made their way to the stage to audition for the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of Alice in Wonderland on Monday evening.  The play, which will be held on Saturday January 29th, will represent a culmination of a week’s worth of acting classes and workshops at the school, as well as the intensive rehearsal for the approximately 60 students selected for the performance.

Directors Dorothy Jo Oberfoell and James Buhse introduced themselves the energetic group on the stage, and explained their mission.  “We have a red truck outside filled with almost all the stuff we need to put on a great show.  We have costumes, we have props, we have scripts…but do you know what we still need?” Debra Jo asked the rapt audience.  A scattering of responses filled the silence: “Alices?  People?  Actors?”  “That’s right—we need you,” Oberfoell said.

Buhse and Oberfoell took turns explaining the essential qualities they were looking for in their eventual actors.  “Does anyone know what commitment means?” Buhse asked, before explaining that “it means, when you say you’re going to do something you do your very best to do it.  That means being at every rehearsal ready to go.  If you are going to be in the show, we need everyone to be here all week.”  

Buhse explained that “Alice in Wonderland is full of characters, and we’re going to need a lot of you to help out.  But it’s important to know that not every character is right for every actor.  Dorothy Jo and I are professional actors, and we’ve had lots of times where we weren’t picked for a part we wanted, and that’s okay.”  

“What we do need,” Oberfoell said, “is actors with certain qualities.”  The qualities spelled out by the two were commitment, loud and clear voices, big and expressive bodies and faces, and (they stressed) the ability to follow directions.  “Every single thing that happens from here on is part of the audition,” Buhse stressed.  “Following directions is part of that.  Saying lines is part of that.  And listening is a very important part of that.”

Despite the natural tendencies of elementary aged kids, the rules were followed for the most part over the next hour and half of the audition.  While there were certainly some points at which the group needed to be reminded about staying quiet and keeping still, for the most part the acting hopefuls handled themselves well.  The audition itself involved speaking a variety of lines, performing physical actions, singing, and following directions.  

“This is the biggest group we’ve ever worked with,” Buhse said.  “And the youngest,” Oberfoell added.  “But they did a great job.”

By the end of the night, the nervous energy was approaching critical levels.  As soon as the directors announced that they had made their casting decisions, the stage hushed and gathered around.  As Buhse and Oberfoell made their way through the list—lobsters, flowers, cards, royalty, the march hare and mock turtle, several Alices, and the rest—most of those called out beamed and walked up to get their scripts and share them will their friends.  Those who didn’t make it into the show took it in stride and with good grace.

There was no rest for the cast though, as rehearsals began almost immediately after the audition.  Over the week, most of the cast members will be required to rehearse for an hour or more a day, with some of the roles requiring even more time.  While a lot of effort will be required of the actors, the opportunity to work with a professional, world-class children’s theatre is a certainly worth it.