At the end of Always...Patsy Cline, audience members searched me out and told me this was the best show they had seen at MHT. Kim Yocum, who played Patsy, brought so much to her performance that audiences were on their feet every performance with standing ovations. Newcomer Rachael Dodson, performing in her first show ever, also brought so much energy to the role of Louise that audiences couldn’t help but feel the joy she had in performing the role. Backed up by an amazing band, the show will be remembered for a very long time. We would have been Crazy to not open our season with it.

With the closing of Always...Patsy Cline, we enter a time from now through December where we have new shows every couple of weeks. We do as much of our seasonal programming in the four months in the fall as we do in the six months in the spring. For children and families, we enjoyed Playtime performances of Goldilocks in the outdoor Courtyard Theatre and are looking forward to Winnie the Pooh, part of the Family Series,

in the main theatre in October. MHT's annual Ghost Tours are back this year where tour-goers get to hear the darker side of downtown Paducah's history and the chilling tales of the past lives of residents in Oak Grove Cemetery. Ghost Tours run every Friday and Saturday in October. It's truly a spooky time! The 58th Signature Season begins its the slate of three World Premieres, starting with Riot: Asbury Park in November.

We are in the final months of work on the Finkel's building which will, hopefully, be finished by the end of the year to wrap up the Next Stage Project. What's Next? The success of our plays and recognition of MHT’s programming doesn’t happen by accident; planning is a big part of every action the theatre takes. MHT’s play selection committee is starting the process of looking at shows for the 59th season even though we just opened the 58th. MHT’s Strategic Planning Committee is planning for where the theatre goes in the next 10 years as we finish up the plan from the last 10 years.

We enjoy our successes, but we always keep our eyes fixed the on the future, because today’s successes are the products of yesterday’s planning infused with our mission, vision, and values clearly in mind. We know we are succeeding when we are challenging ourselves to continually improve each year and as each new season has audience members saying “This is the best show you’ve ever done!”