On Tuesday, Emily Bruns got a black eye at school. The first-grader’s parents shouldn’t be worried, though. The black eye came from the“Let’s Make Up Workshop” in Tami Stanley’s first-grade class at SawtoothElementary School.

The makeup workshop was one of nine hosted this week by Missoula Children’s Theatre directors Amelia Taber and Jason Studley. Topics ranged from improv with high schoolers to makeup application with kindergartners and first-graders.

Missoula Children’s Theatre teams travel the country to host plays starring local children. This week, the pair of actor-directors is in Twin Falls to put on “ThePrincess and the Pea,” starring 58 local children.

The week started with an audition at Valley Christian Church in Twin Falls. Almost 100 children turned up for the open audition, said planning committee member Jennifer Brizee. Roles are cast the same day, and the rest of the week is filled with evening auditions to prepare for two Saturday shows.

While the kids were in school, directors Taber and Studley filled their days with theater workshops at Magic Valley schools. Most towns they travel to ask them to host only three workshops, Taber said, so they were surprised when Twin Falls schools asked for nine.

Stanley’s first-graders met Tuesday’s makeup workshop with enthusiasm. When Taber asked for volunteers, almost all of the hands in the class shot up.

Four students got stage makeup: Bruns’ black eye, leprechaun makeup for Ethan Gadd, old lady makeup for Kealey Alexander and clown makeup for Elizabeth Morris.

The observing students giggled, oohed and aahed over their classmates’ transformations.

“It looks like she put her face in a donut!”crowed Cameron Bowen after Taber finished applying the white to Morris’ face.

Missoula Children’s Theatre directors are trained to work with children from ages 5 to 18. Younger kids need repetition, simple instruction, visuals and lots of breaks, Taber said. At play rehearsal, Taber and Studley use games to teach young actors theater skills. One game requires the children to stand completely still — a technique needed for “The Princess and thePea.”

“We always tie the games back to how this helps on the stage,”Taber said.

It’s just another tool that helps the theater company pull off a full-scale production in less than a week.

Melissa Davlin may be reached at 208-735-3234 or melissa.davlin@lee.net.