Jordan Beck | Daily Press From left, “Peter and Wendy” co-director Cassie Emert, Hailey Sherman, Isaiah Anderson, Lily Witte, Caleb Sherman, Ben Tourangeau and Madison Niswonger rehearse a dance routine for the show at the Bonifas Arts Center Wednesday.

ESCANABA — Missoula Children’s Theatre has returned to the Bonifas Arts Center this week. Local students involved with Missoula have been getting ready to put on a production of “Peter and Wendy” recently, with showtimes set for 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Cassie Emert, one of the co-directors of the production, said the rehearsal process has been going smoothly so far.

“They’re all great listeners, and they’re picking up all their lines really quickly,” she said of the students involved with the show.

Emert said “Peter and Wendy” is based on a well-known story.

“The play follows all of the classic ‘Peter Pan’ characters, with a little bit of a spin,” she said.

Among other changes, Emert noted two of the “Lost Boys” in the Missoula show are Mark Twain’s characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Emert is serving in the co-director role for this production of “Peter and Wendy” along with Marissa DelVecchio. The latter co-director is also playing the role of “Smee.”

The two are traveling from town to town to co-direct Missoula productions, transporting props, sets and costumes for the shows in one of Missoula’s signature red trucks.

“We have everything we need to put on a show in the back of our truck … except for the cast,” Emert said.

The Escanaba production marks Emert and DelVecchio’s second week on tour.

Auditions for the Escanaba production took place Monday. According to DelVecchio, participation in auditions was significantly stronger in Escanaba than for the last Missoula production she was involved with, for which only about 25 students auditioned.

“This time, we had over 80 come out to audition,” she said.

About 60 students will be on stage during the show, DelVecchio said. The show also has four assistant directors.

Early in the week, students began rehearsing in small groups, which have grown larger over the past several days. Meanwhile, Emert and DelVecchio have been gradually introducing elements such as sets and costumes.

“There are … building blocks to creating the show throughout the week,” DelVecchio said.

Caleb Sherman, who has been cast in the role of “Michael Darling,” said he has enjoyed the rehearsal process.

“It’s really fun — we’ve been learning a lot, and we’ve memorized a lot of stuff really fast,” he said.

Molly Matthews, who is playing a panda in “Peter and Wendy,” has had a good time singing and dancing.

“I like the songs,” she said.

Bonifas Center Executive Director Sue Roll said students involved with Missoula Children’s Theatre have been hard at work over the past few days.

“They’re very lively and engaged,” she said.

Roll also noted students’ parents, relatives and neighbors have been providing support as the students prepare for Saturday’s shows.

According to Roll, Missoula Children’s Theatre has been visiting the area for about 25 years. Lorrayne Krans, a musician who has accompanied almost all of Missoula’s local productions, will once again provide accompaniment for “Peter and Wendy.”

Hosting Missoula Children’s Theatre has been a way for the Bonifas to invest in local students and the community as a whole.

“I know some of our most successful high school graduates have experienced Missoula,” Roll said.

Additionally, Roll thanked organizations that have financially supported the Bonifas’ efforts to bring Missoula Children’s Theatre to Escanaba. She said a $3,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Delta County and its Youth Advisory Committee has played an especially important role in making Missoula’s current visit possible.

“They made a huge difference for us this year,” she said.