Breckenridge Texan

By Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan

Missoula Children’s Theatre has come back to Breckenridge for another week of learning a show at breakneck speed and building friendships with fellow stage-loving peers. This year, 41 children aged 5 to 17 came to audition Monday morning, and, after a week of practicing, they will present their finished product on Saturday, June 22, at the National Theatre at 2 p.m.

This year’s Missoula Children’s Theatre workshop at the National Theatre of Breckenridge started on Monday, June 17, and will wrap up with the production of “Treasure Island” on Saturday, June 22. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan)

Admission to the show is free, and everyone is invited to see the youth of Breckenridge in “Treasure Island” by Jim Caron. The National Theatre of Breckenridge is located at 116 E. Walker St. in downtown Breckenridge.

The Friends of Historic Breckenridge created a tradition when they first invited Missoula Children’s Theatre to present their clinic here in 2016. There was a pause in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, but otherwise, MCT has come every year, and so have the Breckenridge youth.

Some of this year’s actors have been involved with all six shows that have been presented through the years, and, while they are always happy to see their old friends on theater week, they are not exclusive. They are just as welcoming to new people trying out theater for the first time as they are to fellow castmates from previous productions.

Missoula Children’s Theatre has been touring for over 50 years. They are based in Missoula, Montana, where they train their tour directors to help young actors grow in their creativity and expressiveness through one-week theater productions. They have 30 teams going across all 50 states and 15 countries this summer, and in Breckenridge this week, the tour director and tour actor are Jake Aune and Maddy Ballard.

“Treasure Island” is an adaptation of the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson by the same name. The character Jim Hawkins is not eager to work at his mother’s inn with his six sisters, but his ambition is awakened when he finds a treasure map scribbled on a table cloth. He and his ruffian friends team up with Long John Silver and the pirates of the Jolly Roger to find the Island of the Skull. They follow the seagulls across the sea, ignorant of Long John Silver’s villainous plot against them, but Hawkins’ sisters are ready to save the day.

The production of “Treasure Island” includes the characters of Tim Hawkins and his mother and sisters. Pictured are, on the back row (standing), from left, Cara Sims, Reyse Hash, Lila Weaver and Aurora Dawson; and, on the front row, from left, Amelie Wilhite, Kaylee Lee, Clara Barton and Berkley White. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan)

This year’s cast list includes:

• Jim Hawkins – Reyse Hash
• Mother Hawkins – Lila Weaver
• Pirates:
  • Cap’n Patches – Brysen Hash
  • Davey – Sarah Moreno
  • Singin’ Sam – Alice Weaver
  • Rhode Island Red – Adelaide Hamilton
  • Snowy Owl – Evelyn Halari
  • Blue Jay – Lydia Moreno
  • Goldie – Brantley McKay
  • Outlook – Leeland Hamilton
• Sisters: Aurora Dawson, Berkley White, Clara Barton, Kaylee Lee, Amelie Wilhite, Cara Sims
• Ruffians: Isaac Weaver, Zavier Dawson, Jackson Morehart, Matthias Wilhite, Levi Wilhite, Lexington Boulevard
• Stranger – Jayden Rosemann
• Mariners: Betty Ann Pitzer, Shane Halari, Julia Arnot, Scarlett Nieves, Tristyn Stafford, Britta Miller
• Cap’n Flint – Betty Ann Pitzer
• Gulls: Carrie Arnot, Kailyn Wiggins, Savannah Halari, Katie Holt, Owen Griffith, Lana Kay Holt, Sutton Street, Kade Dawson, Codie Perry, Sage Parker, Miles Morehart
• Assistant Director – Teagan Stafford
• Piano Accompanist – Anna Moreno
• Long John Silver – Tour Actor- Maddy Ballard
• Director – Tour Director – Jake Aune

Click here to see Nathalie Wilhite’s Photo Gallery from the 2024 Missoula Children’s Theatre week in Breckenridge.

Long John Silver (Maddy Ballard, right) tries to find out if the ruffians are tough enough to be pirates. The Ruffians are, left to right, Zavier Dawson, Lexington Boulevard, Levi Wilhite, Matthias Wilhite, Isaac Weaver and Jackson Morehart. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan)

The Mariners express how much they disliked the food. Pictured from left are Shane Halari, Betty Ann Pitzer, Julia Arnot, Scarlett Nieves and Britta Miller. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan)

The colorful Pirates in the National Theatre’s production of “Treasure Island” are portrayed by, Long John Silver (Maddy Ballard, far right); standing, from left, Brantley McKay, Alice Weaver, Sarah Moreno and Brysen Hash; and, seated, from left, Lydia Moreno, Evalyn Halari, Adelaide Hamilton and Leeland Hamilton. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: The production of “Treasure Island” at the National Theatre of Breckenridge includes Pirate performances by, from left, Sarah Moreno, Lydia Moreno, Evelyn Halari, Adelaide Hamilton and Maddy Ballard with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Click here to see more photos from the production. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite/Breckenridge Texan)