STANHOPE Each year over 1000 communities in the United States, Canada and overseas have the good fortune to be visited by a Little Red Truck. This year, Stanhope will be one of those fortunate towns. The Little Red Truck, driven by a team of two actor/directors, will hold within it scenery, costumes, props, lights, makeup and a 40-50 page script for The Pied Piper everything but the actors. The Missoula Children’s Theatre’s base of operations is in Missoula, Montana. In Montana is the Center for the Performing Arts, which houses both the The Missoula Children’s Theatre and The Missoula Children’s Theatre’s Community Theatre. Each year 35 teams of two actor/directors are trained and sent out on tour. Each team leaves with their own Little Red Truck. Thanks to the efforts of Julie Schwartz, an alumni of the theater who grew up in Stanhope, the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s little red truck will be arriving in Sussex County for the first time this December. Schwartz trained and toured with the children’s theater for a year, starting in June of 2005. Her tour took her and her partner through 12 states and three Canadian Provences. “Our purpose is not to discover the next big star. Our mission on tour is the development of lifeskills in children through participation in the performing arts. To teach teamwork, the importance of commitment and responsibility.” Now living in New York city, Schwartz has worked hard to bring the tour to her hometown of Stanhope. She is currently rehearsing for American Girl Places’ Bitty Bear’s Family Tree, and will start rehearsing for Scrooge the Musical at the Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island soon. When asked if she would ever return to Missoula Children’s Theater, Schwartz replied, “I would like to go back to it at some point. It was the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.” The 23-year-old graduate of Lenape Valley High School won’t be one of the actor/directors this time, though. “My role is as the contact and organizer for the town to the children’s theatre.” Schwartz raised money through sponsorship and fundraising so there is no fee for the children to participate. Children from Byram, Stanhope and Netcong ages 5-18 will be eligible to audition on Monday, December 4 for The Pied Piper. All auditions, rehearsals, and performances will be held at the Lenape Valley Regional High School Auditorium. Between 50 and 60 children will be cast in the show. Once cast, they rehearse every day after school in two 2-hour sessions. The team will also hold workshops on various theatrical topics. On Saturday, December 9, the children will perform two shows at 3 and 7 p.m. for friends, family, and anyone who wants to be entertained by local talent. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. For information about the The Missoula Children’s Theatre’s program and auditions in Stanhope, contact the Stanhope Recreation department or Julie Schwartz at 718-986-0410. For more information about bringing Missoula Children’s Theatre to your community check out their webite at www.mctinc.org.