January 6

Although MHT was closed for the Holidays there has still been activity going on behind the scenes. It has been a rough week for me getting back into the swing of things. I had shoulder surgery on Monday and although the recovery looks good and should progress quickly I will be glad when things smooth back out a bit. The grant for the Kentucky Arts Council is due a week from Friday and that will be the focus for the rest of this week and most of next for me.

Jim Keeney along with a volunteer is trying to move the Best Christmas Scenery to the Warehouse along with the old audience chairs to make room for the new chairs and the God's Favorite set. I obviously haven't been much help with that moving project. A new volunteer Thomas has been a big help. We could still use some help to move the chairs and the flats and platforms.

Marsha and I counted today and we have over 172 of the old chairs left for sale. There are about 5 aisle seats left. I will post the complete number of chairs and parts on the website this week. If anyone is interested in buying the old chairs contact me for a price on multiple chair purchases. If I don't get any response before the end of the month I'll put them on eBay. Get your orders in now!

Betty Wise came in today and took down all of the Christmas and Holiday decorations. She did an outstanding job of decorating the theatre lobby and the box office and our sincere thanks go out to her for her hard work.

The strategic planning committee has been working with Kristin Williams on our survey that is about to start online this month. We are doing this survey before we hold a strategic planning meeting in February. Hopefully this survey along with some of the results from the survey we did for Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming will be helpful as we develop a strategic plan outline for the theatre's future. Constance Alexander from Murray will be our facilitator for the strategic planning meeting.

The play selection committee met on Monday evening and has narrowed the list for next season down to about 10-15 plays to choose from. Diane Byrd and the cast of God's Favorite are back in full rehearsal mode and will transition from the classroom to the stage next Monday. April will hold auditions next Monday and Tuesday for There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom. Footlights starts this Saturday regardless of weather (she never cancels because of kids coming from so many different locations.)