FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- An audition for the Missoula Children's Theatre production of The Secret Garden is scheduled for June 18 at C.C. Pinckney Elementary School. Roles are available for students entering first grade through 12th grade.

Approximately 50-60 local students will be cast to appear in the show with the MCT tour actor/director. However, there is no guarantee that everyone who auditions will be cast in the play. Students wishing to audition must arrive by the scheduled starting time and stay for the entire two-hour session. The first rehearsal begins about 15 to 30 minutes after the audition. Auditions will start 10 a.m.

Children who wish to audition must be registered with Child, Youth and School Services. Registration is free and is done at the Parent Central Services office at the Joe E. Mann Center, 3392 Magruder Ave.

This is a group audition -- no advance preparation is necessary, but a smile never hurts. Students should just be ready to come and have a good time.

Rehearsals will be conducted every day, June 18-21 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. at C.C. Pinckney Elementary School and the SKIESUnlimited Family Center. Although not all cast members will be needed at every session, those auditioning must have a clear schedule for the entire week and, if selected, be able to attend all rehearsals required for their roles.

A detailed rehearsal schedule will be distributed at the conclusion of the audition. Cast members scheduled for the full rehearsal will be asked to bring a sack lunch or snack.

The performances will be at C. C. Pinckney Elementary School. The students in the cast will be called for dress rehearsal before the performance that day. All those cast must be available for all scheduled performances.

In 2010, more than 50 children participated in an MTC production at Fort Jackson.

"It was an awesome experience," said Cindy Andre-Noel, Parent Outreach Services, CYSS. "The children enjoyed it."

This year, more than 65,000 cast members across the globe will take to the stage to the delight and applause of their families, friends, community members, neighbors and teachers. The residency at Fort Jackson is made possible by CYSS and the Army Family Covenant.

The Missoula Children's Theatre, the nation's largest touring children's theatre, has been touring extensively for 40 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 47 teams of tour actor/directors. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props and makeup -- everything it takes to put on a play, except the cast.

All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children's stories and fairy tales. Also included in the residency are three enrichment workshops presented by the tour actor/directors. Creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem are all characteristics that are attained through the participation in this unique, educational project.

MCT's mission is the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.

The Missoula Children's Theatre is based in Missoula, Mont., and also runs many local programs. These include musical theatre day camps and performing arts classes for local children, a summer residency performing arts camp for students from around the world and the Missoula Community Theatre, which creates an arena for local talent of all ages to participate in large-scale productions and attracts audiences from western Montana.

For students interested in a career in the performing arts, MCT has developed Next Step Prep -- The Academy for Musical Theatre, providing high school students an affordable opportunity to train and study with well-known professionals in the field of music, dance and acting to prepare for college. For information, email nextstep@mctinc.org.

For any questions regarding the Fort Jackson production, contact Michele Mirabal at 751-5384.