The Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) actors and tour directors, along with children of military service members and civilians assigned to Navy Region Center Singapore (NRCS), took to the stage to perform a modern rendition of King Arthur at the upper patio of the Terror Club, March 25.

The event gathered military service members, DoD civilians, and their families for a performance of the renowned King Arthur and his tall tales of adventure, magic and mystery.

The performance, entitled "King Arthur's Quest," featured a small group of NRCS children and Missoula actors who auditioned and rehearsed during the week prior to the performance. For the MCT tour directors, these performances are a great venue to bring the military community together.

"We have been helping to bring military communities together for many years," said Jennifer Crews, a tour actor/director with Missoula Children's Theatre.

"During the week-long auditions and rehearsals, we are focused on promoting teamwork, responsibility, public speaking and, of course, endorsing the performing arts."

As the world's largest touring children's theatre, the MCT International Tour has filled an important morale-building need on U.S. military bases for more than 20 years, according to the official MCT website. The organization contracts with U.S. Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP), Air Force Youth Services, and Army Child and Youth Services.

During the performance, Crews welcomed the audience and gave a short prologue to King Arthur's Quest.

The story unfolded as King Arthur and his court confronted a giant whose insomnia was relentless. The king and his court worked together to find a solution to the giant's problem by offering him a glass of warm milk and singing a lullaby, which helped the giant find his slumber.

In the second act, King Arthur and his court faced an annoyed dragon who suffered from a terrible toothache. In order to quell the dragon's discomfort, King Arthur and company decided to pull out the aching tooth.

Throughout the play, the children, adorned in colorful and period-specific attire, danced, sang songs, and portrayed their roles with much enthusiasm.

For 12-year-old Mya Cabrera, a student at Singapore American School, her role as the dragon was very rewarding.

"It was fun to work with a small group of actors because when you work with a smaller group you get more one-on-one attention from the tour directors," Mya said. "More importantly, it was cool to learn songs, do choreography, and recite lines. I found that by employing different techniques, you can get different reactions from the audience."

According to Crews, there are many positive results from participating in these programs in that many families often find their introverted and shy son or daughter suddenly reciting lines and performing as if he or she was a different person - thus dispelling any biases from the child's peers or teachers.

Crews explained that these performances promote teamwork and knowing that a helping hand can make things easier for others.

While the program does promote teamwork and responsibility, NRCS Children and Youth Programs leaders were astounded with the performance.

"What they lacked in numbers, the made up in charisma and personality," said Nina Delucchi, CYP lead for NRCS.

The MCT International Tour makes regular stops to Singapore, and with the success of this season's performance, the NRCS community looks forward to their return later this year.

For more news from Commander, Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil