A milestone opening night
from the desk of
Michael Cochran
Original Productions Even before Covid, most theatres didn’t produce original scripts. The process to bring a script to life for the first time is challenging. In addition, getting actors to audition for shows they don’t know and audiences to take a chance on an unknown work makes many theatres back away. Covid in many ways was a storm that hit the theatre community really hard. One of the most devoted parts of that community was playwrights with new work. This season, MHT felt that it was important as part of our mission to nurture, develop and share the talent in our local, state, and national theatre community. I recently watched the movie tick, tick... BOOM! about Jonathan Larsen and his journey to writing RENT. If you want to see what a successful playwright's life is like, watch that movie and listen to his agent tell him “the facts” after he gets his big moment. Next Stage Project Another milestone in the theatre’s 12-year journey with our Next Stage Project will be concluding in March/April. This one, however, still needs your help. As part of our efforts to battle the rising costs in construction due to the pandemic, MHT will need volunteers to help us finish the Finkel building! We will need help scraping ceilings, walls, and floors and painting them to finish up the inside of the building. If you can handle a paintbrush or a paint roller, we could use your help. We will be putting out a call as soon as the contractor turns the building over to use and you can help put the finishing touches on the interior. The theatre is also looking to buy some additional lighting, audience risers and masking curtains for the new studio theatre. So, if you are looking for a place to make a donation, MHT could still use your financial help as well!
Last week, Karen Schaeffer came to Paducah for a workshop of her new play, Unpacking Mother. As part of the AACT national NewPlayFest rules, playwrights come two to three weeks before opening to see a few rehearsals of their play and work with the cast and director on any changes needed to fully realize the playwright's vision. Karen flew back to Des Moines, Iowa after the workshop and will return Feb. 9th for the opening weekend of Unpacking Mother. In addition the Education Director of AACT (American Association of Community Theatre) David VanCleave, Linda Lee with the Jack & Frank Ayre Lee Foundation, and a representative from Dramatic Publishing company will be here for opening night. Our guests will give some remarks after the performance to commemorate this show that has been two years in the making! MHT was chosen by AACT in a competition to produce the premiere of Unpacking Mother. We will have some remarks from our VIP guests before the performance opening night. To celebrate the opening of the show that has been two years in the making for the playwright and MHT. All of the actors and production personnel in the show will be in the published version of the script by Dramatic Publishing. Please come on opening night February 10 to help us fill all the seats and celebrate this milestone event!
Pictured Karen Schaeffer (Left) and Kathy Pingle (Right) sit at the director's table to watch the workshop of Unpacking Mother.
Thank you, Alex! Finally, we are saying goodbye to a friend and valued member of our staff, Alex Hilkey. After four years at MHT and a lifetime in Western Kentucky, Alex has found a new home in Pensacola, Florida. She has been so instrumental in helping us with all of our newsletters, programs, social media and print media and marketing and as we wish her well in her new adventure. We will miss her. Joining MHT in the role of Marketing Director is Caleb Buford, who has worked behind the scenes for the past couple of years and has also been doing some of our social media and marketing for events like the Shakespeare in the Park show last summer. Welcome, Caleb!
Thank you so much for your continued support and presence at MarTheatre. | MarketHouseTheatre.org Tickets: Adults: $15, Children (8-12): $8ket House 270.444.6828
