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News you can use
Hannah Bricker, a KidsMAT camp councilor, helps participants create a prop for the 2020 production of "The Wizard of Oz."
KidsMAT volunteer Katelyn Maloughney, from left, and interns Marcee Murphy and Hannah Bricker in the Creative Leisure Building as camp participants rehearse for the 2020 KidsMAT youth production of "The Wizard of Oz."
Kate Hemmer, playing Dorothy, Jordan Rader, playing the Scarecrow, and Tehya Vauthier, playing the Tin Man, rehearse a scene for the 2020 Montana Actors' Theatre youth production of "The Wizard of Oz."
Montana Actors' Theatre is looking for four interns with drama experience to help with their children and youth productions this summer.
Children and Youth Theater Director Angela Pratt said interns will lead groups of K-5 students in the KidsMAT Camps over the summer, and will help put on this summer's youth productions in August which features middle and high school students as well.
Pratt said interns will also help behind the scenes on MAT's production of "12th Night" later this year.
She said MAT has managed to get good interns for many years, and she thinks this year that will continue.
"Our interns that we've gotten every year have been wonderful," she said.
The MAT youth program started in 2000, with its first children's production, "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig" that took place in Pepin Park.
MAT decided to also offer a youth production with "Ten Little Indians" later that summer.
Since then, MAT has offered both children's theater and youth productions, and, in 2015, the program started hiring of summer interns.
The MAT youth programs and camps grew and expanded with its productions showcased in other towns across the Hi-Line. When it started running camps in towns including Malta and Chinook it adopted the name of KidsMAT.
Since then, the program has continued to expand
Pratt said that, this year, they are looking mainly for college-age students with experience working on theater productions, but high school seniors with significant drama experience will also be considered.
She said they prioritize college-age students, but, during the pandemic, when they saw a dip in applicants, high school seniors were able to fill the void, so they are encouraged to try.
"They're more than welcome to apply, but the older applicants will get first look," she said.
Pratt said there is an interview process, but it's not very intense and is mostly just so she can meet applicants and see if they are as good in person as they are on paper.
She said they are also looking for student interns, high school students that are too young to be full interns but want to help behind the scenes.
Pratt said interns will help younger students through these productions, and learn about aspects of theater production they may not have experience with, including directing, casting, costume making, prop making, scheduling and more.
She said applicants will need some theater experience, whether that's on stage or behind the scenes, but they are sure to learn a lot during their time.
"They'll get their hands in everything," she said.
Pratt said interns will receive training in their first few days on the job, and that she and fellow Children and Youth Theater Director Tylyn Turner will be with them the whole time to provide guidance, so they won't be without resources as they lead their groups.
"We're not just going to leave them to the wolves," she said.
The interns, however, will be expected to devote significant time to the productions.
Pratt said they are expected to be available from June 7 to Aug. 9, and while they will have most weekends off, successful productions require a lot of work and students will be expected to work as long as needed to make productions happen, and they are typically going to be working during the weekends immediately before a production.
The deadline for applications is May 1.
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