MAT gets back into action with summer programs

Phase Two of Gov. Steve Bullock’s re-opening plan has put Montana Actors’ Theatre back to holding its shows for the upcoming season.

The auditions for MAT’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” are set for Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the  Creative Leisure Building, 417 First Street.

Much of MAT’s season was canceled after social distancing and stay-at-home rules were put in place in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the phased re-opening of the state is relaxing some of the restrictions.

Watch for more on MAT’s plans for the rest of the year in upcoming editions of the Havre Daily News.

The adaptation is of L. Frank Baum’s novel, which was made into a well-known 1939 musical film that was one of the by colored movies, is about young Dorothy Gale, who is torn from her home from a tornado and swept away to the colorful world of Oz where she meets unusual characters including the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, The Wicked Witch of the East and West of course, the Wizard of Oz.

The “Wizard of Oz” will be directed by Angie Pratt.

She said roles available for the production are for middle and high school youth.

The production will premiere Thursday, Aug. 6, and run Aug. 7-8, and 13- 15.

People who cannot make the audition dates should contact Pratt at 390-2729.

MAT will also start its children’s camps, KidsMAT, starting next Monday, also doing “The Wizard of Oz.”

KidsMAT Camp is Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The children will rehearse and then produce “Wizard of Oz” next Thursday at 7 p.m. in The Little Theatre in Montana State University-Northern’s Cowan Hall.

The camp will take place outdoors and will be limited to 25 participants.

Youth who are interested can register at https://mtactors.com/kidsmat .

For the first child, the registration fee is $50 for each camp and $35 for each additional child.

The camps continue through the summer, including three more in Havre.

June 22-26, July 6-9 and July 13-16 the KidsMAT camps will be in Havre.

June 29-July 2 KidsMAT will hold a camp in Chinook, then July 20-23 in Shelby and Rocky Boy July 27-30.

For more information or to request a scholarship, people can contact Pratt at 390-2729 or [email protected], and Crissy Bauman in Shelby at [email protected].