Lincoln City, OR – A bounty of summer creativity awaits for local kids and families at the Lincoln City Cultural Center. The Center’s annual youth theatre day camp is sailing into view, and this year’s production is a longtime favorite: a musical adaptation of the classic adventure tale, “Treasure Island.” Auditions will begin promptly at 10 am on Monday, July 22, at the Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101. 

Among the roles to be cast are Jim Hawkins, his mother and sisters, a rollicking Pirate Crew, Jim’s Ruffian friends, seacoast Mariners, shining Treasures, a mysterious Stranger, and cuddly Gulls. Students entering grades 1 through 12 are encouraged to audition. 

No advance preparation or pre-registration is necessary. Assistant Directors will also be cast to aid in rehearsals throughout the week and to take on essential backstage responsibilities. There are roles for up to 64 youth in this production, led by a dynamic duo of touring directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre, Leila Abou-Jaoude and Zoey Paulson. 

All the roles will be cast at the end of the first day’s audition on July 22. Participants will be assigned their parts and provided with a rehearsal schedule. Rehearsals will take place from 12:30-2:30 Monday and from 10 am to 2:30 pm Tuesday through Friday. 

And, just in case that’s not enough drama for all these aspiring actors, directors Leyla and Zoey will also be offering extra workshops from 2:45 to 3:30 pm for three days of the residence week. There will be a stage movement class on Tuesday (July 23), a “Behind the Scenes” design workshop on Wednesday (July 24), and “Acting and Improv” on Thursday (July 25). These experiences are also free. 

The week will end with two performances of “Treasure Island,” at 3 pm and 5:30 pm on Saturday, July 27. General admission tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, $8 for youth ages 6-18 and free for kids ages 5 and younger. Pre-sale tickets and credit card sales at the door will be subject to a $2 per ticket fee. The tickets are on sale now at this link. 

This will be the 19th summer that the Cultural Center has hosted the “Little Red Truck” and its touring directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre. 

“It’s thanks to our donors and members, local service clubs, the business community of Lincoln City – and of course the work of all those parents and grandparents — that we are able to provide this experience free of charge,” said Cultural Center director Niki Price. “This year’s production is supported by the Walter Behrens Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation and the Geary Family. If you’d like to help or donate, please give us a call.” 

About Missoula Children’s Theatre 

The Missoula Children’s Theatre, the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre, has been touring extensively for more than 40 years now from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 44 teams of Tour Actor/Directors. 

A tour team arrives in town with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play … except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented on Saturday. 

All MCT shows are original adaptations of classic children’s stories and fairytales . . . a twist on the classic stories that you know and love. Also included in the residency are three enrichment workshops presented by the Tour Actor/Directors. 

This educational project offers youth the chance to expand their creativity, social skills, goal achievement, communication skills and self-esteem. MCT’s mission is the development of life skills in children, through participation in the performing arts. 

About the “Treasure Island” directors 

The young actors taking part in the MCT production of “Treasure Island” in Lincoln City will be led by these touring directors: 

Leila Abou-Jaoude 

Leila’s performance credits include the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” Marjorie/Crissy U/S in “Hair,” and the title role in an original musical she wrote about German Romantic concert pianist and composer Clara Schumann. She earned her BA in music from Princeton University and MM in vocal performance from Boston University. 

Zoey Paulson 

A Minnesota native, Zoey began dancing at the age of two and entertaining at the age of 11. Her work has been seen professionally at the Guthrie Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, The Minnesota Opera, Stages Theatre Company, and the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. She recently received her BFA in musical theatre from LIU Post on Long Island.