This website uses Javascript. You must allow/enable JavaScript in your browser for this site to function correctly.

Community-Education

about the sPOTLITE program

Special Program on Theater: Lessons in Theater Education (SPOTLITE) is a tuition-free, in-classroom theatre enrichment program that reaches every 4th grade student from local public and private schools and homeschool groups in Bartlesville and Dewey during the month of October. Taught by OAC Artist-in-Residence Nick Sweet, CMT Artistic Director Roberta Eberhard, and CMT Founder Tracye Caughell, this program introduces students to improvisation, nonverbal communication, and the structure of stories. On the final week, the 4th grade students tour The Center in Bartlesville where they enjoy hands-on lessons in elements of stagecraft, like lighting and makeup, before enjoying a live, interactive performance from Missoula Children’s Theatre. SPOTLITE showcases the many different skills necessary to bring a show to life.

If you would like to learn more about the program, this year’s dates, or how to sponsor the work that CMT and SPOTLITE accomplish in our community, please email eat1@eau1eav1eaw1 or call our office at 918-336-0558.

SPOTLITE is administrated by Children’s Musical Theatre of Bartlesville (CMT) partnering with the Bartlesville Community Center and is funded in part through grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council, Walmart, and Bartlesville Rotary.

About The Missoula Children's Theatre Residency Program

The CMT Missoula Children’s Theatre Children’s Program is the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) Residency Program is an international touring company that brings a new, original musical to Bartlesville every fall. After auditioning K-8 students from local public and private schools, as well as homeschool groups, the MCT team typically casts 50-60 students on the Monday of production week and rehearses with them during that week so that they can present a full musical play to the public on Friday. Each MCT show is an adaptation of a classic children’s story or fairy tale. Throughout the experience, students learn that auditions can be fun and exciting, and cast members develop the discipline necessary to put an entire show together in four days. MCT Tour Actor/Directors accomplish this using the “show and tell” and “building block” methods. These workshops help students learn basic acting skills for the stage as well as improvisation. Our partnership with the MCT Residency Program is another tuition-free program that CMT offers the community.

Missoula Children's Theatre Residency Program 2023

The 2023 program was “Beauty Lou and the Country Beast”. Auditions were November 13th with two performances on November 17th.

Missoula Children’s Theatre’s tour through Bartlesville is co-produced by Children’s Musical Theatre and The Center. Missoula Children’s Theatre is funded in part through grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council, ConocoPhillips, P66, and the Bartlesville Community Foundation.

Our Missoula Programs

11/03/2025

Red Riding Hood

REGISTER FOR AUDITIONS | BUY TICKETS

2024

Wizard of Oz

2023

Beauty Lou and the Country Beast

History of Missoula in Bartlesville

For nearly three decades, the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) has been a beloved tradition in Bartlesville, bringing the magic of live performance to generations of local children. Each fall, MCT’s professional tour directors arrive in town to cast, rehearse, and stage a full musical production in just one week—culminating in performances at The Center, formerly the Bartlesville Community Center. The program has become a cornerstone of arts education in the community, giving hundreds of young performers their first opportunity to shine on stage.

In its early years, MCT’s residency in Bartlesville was made possible through the generous support of the Allied Arts Council of Bartlesville, whose dedication to the arts helped ensure that children from across the region could experience the excitement of theatre. This partnership brought professional-level theatre training to local schools and fostered a love for creativity, teamwork, and confidence through the performing arts.

In 2014, Children’s Musical Theatre of Bartlesville (CMT) took over management of the local MCT residency program, continuing the legacy of excellence and accessibility established by the Allied Arts Council. Under CMT’s leadership, the program has grown to include outreach to Bartlesville-area schools and expanded opportunities for young actors to participate. Today, MCT remains a highlight of CMT’s annual season—a joyful reminder that the arts have the power to inspire, connect, and transform young lives in our community.