Get your little actors and singers ready to be animated and follow instructions:It's audition time.

Magic Valley Arts Council announced Nov. 16 auditions for the Twin Falls production of Missoula Children's Theatre's "The Princess and the Pea."

When a Missoula Children's Theatre team comes to town, it auditions local children on a Monday, leads focused and fast rehearsals all week, and puts the cast on stage that Saturday. It's an intense experience.

Auditions begin at 4 p.m. sharp Nov. 16 at Valley Christian Church, 1708 Heyburn Ave. E. in Twin Falls. To audition, arrive by 3:50 p.m. and plan to stay for two hours. Part of the cast will rehearse immediately following the auditions.

All students ages 5-17 may audition. No stage experience and no previous training in music or theater are required. Missoula Children's Theatre is free to participants. And no preparation is necessary before the auditions.

Those who audition must be able to commit to a full week of rehearsals and to two performances on Nov. 21. Assistant directors will be cast to assist with technical aspects of the production.

The cast of about 50 local children will be on stage for two performances of "The Princess and the Pea" - an original adaptation with a twist - at 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at O'Leary Middle School. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for kids under 18, available at the Magic Valley Arts Council and Everybody's Business in Twin Falls.

In this version of the tale, written by Michael McGill, the residents of a kingdom of snow are Winter Wind Workers, Blizzard Bringers, Icicle Sharpeners and Snow Smoothers, ruled by the Storm King and the Snow Queen. And, of course, there's a Prince looking for a proper Princess to share the throne.

Princess and her friend Pea live in a kingdom of rivers and green hills with her subjects, The Flower Gardeners, River Runners, Green Shoot Growers and Tree Barkers. Her parents, King Size and Queen Size, do all they can to keep things running smoothly.

Although the two kingdoms think they have nothing in common, the peace-loving Leprechauns prove otherwise. Throw in some Phony Princesses and you have a real fiasco.

Information: the arts council at 734-2787.