Don't be late for a very important tea party

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Rory Everingham, from left, playing the Mad Hatter, Holly Strobel, playing the Door Mouse, Samantha French, playing the White Queen, McKenzie Tommerup, playing the White Rabbit, and Jessa Pyette, playing Alice, rehearse a scene for the upcoming play "Alice In Wonderland" Wednesday evening in the Holiday Village Mall's former Bi-Mart location. The Montana Actors' Theatre production and its interactive tea party, which is sponsored by the Hill County Community Foundation, will be tonight at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at the mall. See today's Community page for more photographs of the dress rehearsal.

People can join Alice, the Red Queen and the Mad Hatter for an interactive production of the "Alice in Wonderland" interactive tea party.

The play and tea party will be held at Holiday Village Mall in the former Bi-Mart location next to Sears, today at 6:30 p. m. and Saturday at 2 p. m. Admission for children and adults is $10. Proceeds will be split between Montana Actors' Theatre and the Hill County Community Foundation.

"We encourage people to bring their kids because the cast will interact with the audience, " said Director Pam Veis.

She encouraged tea party guests to play dress up, wear fancy hats and engage in the fun spirit of the event. Cookies, lemonade and orange drink will be offered to the kids. Adults will be offered tea or coffee in real porcelain tea cups.

"The fun thing in 'Alice in Wonderland' is everything is all mixed up, " said Faye James, team member of the Hill County Community Foundation. "The house is too small, and Alice is too big. None of the teacups match the saucers at the tea party. "

The mission of the Hill County Community Foundation is to engage Hill County residents in the support and enhancement of the Hi-Line community. The foundation focuses on three areas: arts and culture, basic human needs and community beautification.

James says the tea party is meant to contribute to the focus on arts and culture but is also "just something to have fun with. "

Proceeds the foundation receives will be added to the endowment fund. The interest earned from the fund is used to promote social improvement projects.

"The more money we put in the endowment the more interest we have to work with and (the endowment) lasts forever, " said James.

Montana Actors' Theatre will sponsor youth acting camps this August.

"We promote youth and children's theater in the summer, so we thought (the tea party) would be a nice way to kick that off, " said Veis. "We hope kids will come see the production and want to get involved with acting. "