Forty-four youth will present the musical "Peter and Wendy," a production of Missoula Children's Theatre on Aug. 14, 2024. The youth present the music in two shows: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at Baker High School's auditorium.

When Missoula Children’s Theatre comes to town, young actors learn lines and songs and dances.

And a bit about life.

“We teach them life lessons,” Jazmine Mitts said, just seconds before her attention diverts to a child aiming to jump off the stage rather than take the stairs.

“Stop jumping off the stage!” she hollered with a smile.

This week, Mitts and Kaeli Heffner, both actor/directors with Missoula Children’s Theatre, arrived in Baker City to teach 44 youngsters an entire musical.

With auditions on the first day followed by rehearsals, the young actors will present “Peter and Wendy” twice this week: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.

Both performances are at Baker High School’s auditorium, 2500 E St. Admission is $5, or free for age 12 and younger.

MCT has a roster of musicals based on familiar stories and fairy tales. This one, Mitts said, diverges a bit from the original “Peter Pan” by J.M. Barrie.

“The crocodile’s nice and everyone lives,” Mitts said.

Heffner has a degree in acting from New York University, and started with MCT in 2022. In addition to short tours in the U.S., she has toured a show overseas.

“I kind of fell into this job and I love it,” she said.

Touring abroad had its challenges — MCT staff arrive with costumes, props and set, so Heffner and her tour partner had to keep track of 10 oversized bags through the two-month tour.

And, whether in the states or abroad, they work with a new cast every week. Although the cast can be as big as 64, the script can be adjusted to the number of kids.

In Portugal, Heffner worked with a cast of seven to perform “Peter and Wendy.”

“It’s the most difficult job in theater,” Heffner said of Missoula Children’s Theater.

But both she and Mitts were all smiles as they gather the actors back from lunch and rehearse, for the first time this week, to piano accompaniment provided by Angela Kolilis.

Heffner said she has toured “off and on” with MCT since 2022.

“You can come back to it,” she said.

Mitts has a degree in theatre and performance arts with a minor in anthropology from the University of San Diego, and a master’s degree in theatre and performance practice from the University of West London.

She was hired by MCT in December 2023, and started touring in January 2024.

“I’ve been doing this show for nine months,” she said. “Every performance is different — it’s the community that changes it.”

Both Heffner and Mitts have been acting as long as they can remember.

“My mom says I was born for the stage,” Mitts said, then joined the youngsters to rehearse her part as Mr. Smee, which she swaps with Heffner each week.