March 11, 2012

March is packed full of events that you won't want to miss at MHT. Yesterday we finished up with the murder mystery dinner theatre Murder by Magic. We did one performance at Caldwell County in February and then did three performances in the theatre with the regular chairs removed and dinner theatre style seating put in. We had a terrific final performance with an almost sold out crowd on Saturday night. Renie Barger, Marsha Cash, April Cochran, Audra Hall, Travis Hensel, Valerie Pollard, Steve Schwetman, and Heather Tomko, who all did a great job. Many thanks go to Don the Magnificent Barger who helped out the with clue hunt. Special thanks goes to Neil's Catering who also did a great job. The theatre raised almost $4,000 after expenses and we hope to find a date for the next dinner theatre event.

This week we have a big party on Friday night at 7:30pm to announce our 49th Anniversary season. We've got refreshments, a cash bar, entertainment, and several really special auction items. The board of Directors has put together a really fun group of auction packages created from their own areas of expertise or passion. We have a shoe package for the shoe devotee from the ultimate shoe expert Renie & Don Barger, 2 hours of tutoring for any age or subject including SAT or ACT prep with the very talented teacher Jennifer Hughes, Wine Tasting 101 is a special class in wine tasting from our wine connoisseurs, Kristin and John Williams Jr., an exclusive backstage pass to Hairspray where you will get to be in the stage manager central with Denise Bristol and listen in on the headset to how the show works, a yoga and art package from Pam Benzing and the Yoga Artz hub, Cocktails, dinner and babysitting included along with playing the not so newly wed game hosted by board members and their spouses Sid Hancock, Kathryn Joyner, Heather Overby, and Susan Ybarzabal, a March Madness party pack of pizzas, drinks and the Kent Price family delivery where they wear your team colors and sing your teams fight song (Duke fans are not eligible to bid on this package!)a take out package from the "queen" of takeout, a yoga art package, 2 hour career and resume counseling from HR expert Maurie McGarvey, a walk on male and female role in the 49th season, a night on the town from one of MHT's most eligible young bachelors, and a country catfish dinner for 8 friends at the home of Melisa and David Mast home! Admission is free and you won't want to miss this event! The Crescendos from Lone Oak High School will entertain us.

Footlights will have their troupe performances on March 24 & 25. April is currently rehearsing several shows in the school systems. This month Clark Elementary presents the Jungle Book as their school play directed by April.

Getting Sara Married and Hairspray are now in rehearsal and the theatre is gearing up to put Season tickets for next year on sale after our announcement next week. It will go right down to the wire to get the rights to two of the shows for next season. We are waiting on approval from the playwrights which are checking against national tours of the shows we have selected. We hope to see you next Friday!