MILTON-FREEWATER — HeARTistas is presenting Eastern Oregon University’s 45th Parallel at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, in the McLoughlin High School auditorium, 120 S. Main St.

The instrumental ensemble features strings, horns, drums, bass, guitar and more, and there are different vocal accompaniments for each song. Also, four Mac-Hi alumni will perform as part of the group from EOU, including Hunter Brown, Hannah Pulliam, Maria Gomez and Jayden Dawson.

Tickets for this fundraiser are $12 for credit/debit or $10 cash and are available at Holden Hearts Boutique in Milton-Freewater and at the door.

HeARTistas is a local organization focused on raising funds and providing opportunities for Milton-Freewater youths to participate in the arts. Proceeds from this event will fund a Missoula Children’s Theatre production.

MCT sends a team of two directors to town, along with all the costuming, props, and staging materials. They will audition area youth ages 5-18 on a Monday and cast up to 50-60 members for a production of “Treasure Island.” The group will rehearse all week and perform twice on Saturday.

“Funds raised will help us ensure that this opportunity is free to area youth,” said Emily Holden of HeARTistas.

“Auditions and the performance will be later this summer depending on the schedule they assign us,” Holden added.

About MCT

MCT Center for the Performing Arts started with Jim Caron, an unemployed actor, who was searching for a mission in life. In the summer of 1970, his aging Volkswagen van broke down and the nearest service station was in Missoula, Montana.

Caron noticed an audition poster for “Man of La Mancha.” Just for fun, he auditioned and was cast as Sancho. He developed a lasting friendship with Don Collins, playing Don Quixote, and they organized a company of adults to perform plays for children on a make-shift stage in a local movie theater. Soon, nearby Montana and Idaho communities requested performances of their own.

The company began casting children when it seemed appropriate, such as in “Hansel and Gretel” or “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” That turned into a success with major interest among kids, parents, teachers and the press, as well as an excellent production and sold-out performances.

Today, MCT brings the arts to all 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 16 countries. For more information about HeARTistas or the EOU 45th Parallel event on April 4, contact Holden at 541-377-1194 or emily.holden22@gmail.com.