December wrap up

Every time I look at the calendar I can't believe how fast the time is going. The theatre will be open until 5 pm Thursday Dec. 22 and then close and reopen Jan. 3. If you have any last minute gift certificates you need stop by tomorrow to pick those up. I just sent out scripts for the next murder mystery dinner theatre event March 8-10.We will do Murder by Magic. A producer is trying to take over the Market House Theatre and turn it into a year round haunted house. The producer tries to bring back the ghosts of a famous magician and his assistant who tragically died in the theatre with the help of a local psychic. Of course not everything goes as planned and one of the company members are murdered. See if you can solve the mystery and win a prize. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 3.

Escanaba in da moonlight is taking a short break for Christmas and will be back in rehearsal before New Years. That show opens Jan. 12 and it looks to be lots of fun! WARNING- if crude language and bodily function humor are not your cup of tea- this is not the show for you. If watching 5 male hunters go to any length to bag a buck, "wit lots o drinking o de maple sap whisky" and "yur males bonding wit de tall tales of da deer hunting" written by Jeff Daniels then this is da show fur u!

That was my limited attempt of the Upper Peninsula Michigan accent. There are websites devoted to this show about Yoopers and all things U.P.

The board of directors met last night with a pot luck get together to celebrate the holidays and review the first half of our current fiscal year. We've had lots of positive response to the news that MHT ended the second consecutive year in the black. We used almost all of the surplus to pay for maintenance repairs on the buildings in the current fiscal year and the consultants we've been working with on a future plan for MHT. Hopefully by the time we announce our 49th season in March we will have made some decisions about facility improvements and some exciting new programming for our 50th Anniversay in 2014!

Speaking of announcing our 49th season the play selection committee headed up by Denise Bristol is madly reading plays for consideration for next season! We have to have our list finalized and work on securing the rights by the end of January if at all possible.

January has auditions for The Adventures of Nate the Great on the 9&10, Getting Sara Married on the 23&24. Two weeks later on Feb. 6&7 are auditions for Hairspray.

The January newsletter is going through its final proofing and should hit mailboxes soon! We have lots of information about some new acting classes for adults that will start in Jan.

We have received some donations in memory of JC Dudley this past week. JC will be missed a great deal by everyone who knew him. He gave me a tie tack a few years ago that he wore to the theatre for opening nights. It is something I treasure. I've worn it a couple of times in his honor on the Sundays when he would be in the audience. I couldn't help but smile when ever he entered the theatre.

On behalf of the Staff and the Board of Directors Merry Christmas, Happy Hannuka, we hope that everyone has a safe and joyous New Year! See you in 2012!