The week has been fast-paced, with lines and choreographed movements learned quickly, but despite this, the kids looked as though they were having fun.

That’s because youngsters with the Missoula Theatre Group workshop, which is producing “The Secret Garden” play at 2 p.m. Saturday, have plenty of other activities and projects to stir their creativities and interest.

General admission for the one-act play, which will be staged at Bradford Area High School auditorium, is $5, said Terri Leven, a board member of Bradford Creative and Performing Arts (BCPAC) which sponsors the annual program. Leven, who also serves as chairperson of BCPAC’s arts and education committee, said the organization’s main focus is to bring the arts to children in Bradford. This is accomplished through Missoula’s yearly visits to the community since 1995 and through artist residencies in the schools during the school year.

“We can take 60 students on stage and four assistant directors, and since our beginning we have offered this to over 1,400 students … some of the parents were in Missoula way back when we started and their kids are here,” Leven noted.

In addition to Bradford, students have hailed from surrounding communities in Pennsylvania and New York state as well as distant states to participate in the program.

“A lot of children come and stay with their relatives for the week,” Leven explained.

The program offers two different types of scholarships to help students attend, which are the Nickel Endowment Scholarship, established in 2002, which has provided 16 scholarships to present. In addition, the Nickel Opportunity Scholarship, created last year, has provided a total of six scholarships to date.

In addition to providing sound instruction for performances, the week-long camp, provided from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, also provides a number of other activities for students.

“It’s structured, but not structured,” Leven said, explaining the week includes on-stage instruction along with informal instruction in the sciences and arts.

For example, the children planted impatiens flowers in pots, with help from Bob Harris of Graham’s Greenhouse, to take home. Another related activity was the painting of garden stepping stones by youngsters at the camp.    

Missoula director, Erica Dieterich, said the 47 youngsters involved have done a good job this week on the play that has a serious tone and messages for the audience.

“They are all really focused and really patient,” Dieterich said of the young actors. “And they’ve all studied and learned their lines, which makes it easier to put together.”

Students who commented on the event included Lacey Rodgers, 13, who plays a main character in the show.

“Missoula is a really fun thing to do,” Rodgers said. “It’s never too stressful for me. Every year I come here, it’s just five days, it’s so much fun and I meet people.”

Rodgers said she believes Missoula has helped her land theatrical roles in other productions because of the discipline imparted.

“I have been in two of my school performances … (Missoula) prepared me to know my lines,” she recalled.

Another young actor, Michael Vos, 12, who plays a key performance, said he also likes the camp because it’s fun and he gets to hang out with his friends. Other students with main roles are Regan Dolan, Truman Forbes, Jocelyn Doriguzzi, Owen Troisi, Julia Moini, Grace Dalton, Grace Jones, Isaac McCormick and Maddison Kagarise.

Kathy Jones, who stopped at the high school to pick up her grandchildren in the production, said she believes the program is “a wonderful experience for the kids.”

“They enjoy it so much as look forward to coming every year,” Jones said, noting her children’s other grandmother, Sandy Lyter, makes sure they’re signed up early.

“They’ve also made a lot of friends here who also have the same interest,” Jones said of her grandchildren.

In a final comment, Leven said the event wouldn’t have been possible over the years without the support of the BCPAC board, parents and the community, who have donated time, funds and even snacks for the day camp and the reception following the play.

“It’s a good, cooperative effort,” Leven concluded.

For more information on the performance or to purchase advance tickets, call BCPAC at 362-2522. Tickets are also available at the door.