Brandon Price, the theater teacher at Boulder’s Manhattan Middle School of Arts and Academics, got his start in theater in elementary school through the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s summer program.

Later, he spent four years working as a tour actor and trainer for the program, which brings two professional actors plus a red truck packed with costumes and set pieces to locations around the country.

Now, he has organized two sessions with the program in June at Manhattan for local elementary students, who will perform the musical “Red Riding Hood.”

“One of the big goals is really getting kids interested in theater earlier,” Price said. “We want to get them jazzed up about how wonderful and amazing theater is. Watching what this program can do with kids in a week is just amazing. They learn confidence, collaboration and creativity. It’s about teaching life skills through theater. I’m glad to be able to bring that to a new generation of actor.”

The program is open to rising first-grade through sixth-grade students — those currently in kindergarten through fifth grades. Students spend a week rehearsing, then perform twice, once on Friday night and once on Saturday. Up to 60 students can attend each session, for a total of 120 students. Tuition for the week is $225.

Students start by auditioning for parts, but don’t need to prepare in advance.

“They need their loud and clear voices, big expressive faces and bodies and ability to listen to directions,” Price said.

To give families a taste of what the program offers, Manhattan is hosting a free screening of the “Little Red Truck” documentary on the Missoula Children’s Theatre.

The film will be shown 6 p.m. Wednesday at Manhattan Middle School, 290 Manhattan Drive.

For more information, contact Price at Brandon.Price@bvsd.org.