2022-2023 Season
Stone Soup
April 29, 2023
A giant carrot grows smack-dab in the center of four different property lines, the result of teamwork (and some scientific achievements) between four families. Unfortunately, that teamwork has long been forgotten, and a feud has erupted over which family actually owns the carrot. The General claims it’s hers, since her son provided the seed. The Fargins claim it was their growth formula, the Ornerys say their soil helped it grow so large, and the Corneliuses say that without their specially mineralized water, it would never be what it is today. Luckily, three mysterious strangers arrive just in time to help the families see the error of their ways and remind them what teamwork is all about. Join us for Kristian Kissel’s comedic and character-driven twist on the classic story of Stone Soup!
Radium Girls
February 17-19, 2023
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage – until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.
Inside the Fourth Wall
December 9-11, 2022
Join us for a pair of one-act plays where we not only break the fourth wall of theater, but you get to come inside! First, Wade Bradford’s “Conflict” offers a very amusing explanation of how we crave stories in which the protagonist experiences all kinds of hardship. Why are writers so cruel to their characters? Because it’s fun! Second, Carol and Ashley are expecting a tale of woe as they take their seats to watch Hamlet, but the real tragedy is that they’re sitting next to the world’s noisiest weirdos. In Ian McWethy’s “Appropriate Audience Behavior,” the audience takes the spotlight as everyone from a cough-drop obsessive to a guy watching the play like a football game steals the show from the unseen Shakespearean masterpiece. This is an outrageously meta comedy that reminds us where the drama belongs–onstage.
Annie Get Your Gun
November 4-6, 2022
You won’t want to miss Peter Stone’s Tony-winning revival of the classic, Annie Get Your Gun. Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she’s discovered by Colonel Buffalo Bill, he persuades this novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler, who headlines the show. She soon eclipses Butler as the main attraction which, while good for business, is bad for romance. Butler hightails it off to join a rival show, his bruised male ego leading the way, but is ultimately pitted against Annie in a final shoot-out. This rousing, sure-fire show is sure to hit the mark every time!
2021-2022 Season
The Elves and the Shoemaker
April 30, 2022
Lockhart Cobblestone, the shoemaker, has a kind heart but little money in his pocket. Moved by the plight of an old beggar woman, he gives her his last pair of shoes. Poor Lockhart has leather enough to make only one more pair of shoes and sets it out to work on the next morning. Then, the fun begins! Out pop five weird, endearing little elves: Mortz, Schwartz, Hazel, Gracie, and Studebaker, who whip up the most fantastic and magical shoes the town of Clankbottom has ever seen. Karen Boettcher-Tate’s adaptation of this story by the Brothers Grimm is an upbeat, fast-paced retelling of an old favorite, filled with delightfully wacky characters and clever dialogue, which also holds an important lesson about the nature of kindness. The Elves and the Shoemaker is a whimsical romp of a fantasy you and your family will want to experience with us.
The Westing Game
February 18-20, 2022
What do you get if you combine a mystery novel, a jigsaw puzzle, and a game of Clue? You get The Westing Game!
In Darian Lindle’s adaptation of Ellen Raskin’s Newbery Award-winning novel, the unsuspecting residents of Sunset Towers are summoned to the reading of a mysterious will, only to find themselves locked in a thrilling game, as they must discover who is responsible for killing an eccentric millionaire. Through blizzards, bombings, and unlikely alliances, the game is on, and the only people who hold all the clues are one Westing heir and you.
MLC: The Real World
December 10-12, 2021
Do you want to know the reality of what really goes on in the lives of MLC students? These two one-act plays will show you MLC: The Real World! We’re just kidding, but we do think they poke fun of some realities of seemingly unavoidable parts of our lives. In Teachers on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown by Bradley Hayward, five high school teachers find themselves at the end of their rope…and it’s only the first day of school! From an English teacher with mood swings and a math teacher in the middle of a divorce, to an elderly chemistry teacher with back pain and a geography teacher with a whip, the semester gets off to a rocky start. Add to the mix a drama teacher who sleeps on his desk, and it only becomes a matter of time before one of them snaps. As the students navigate this bumpy road, they begin to realize it may have been their behavior that pushed these teachers perilously close to the edge. Will they be able to make things right before it’s too late, or has this faculty completely lost its faculties? In the beginning of I Don’t Mind That You’re Ugly by Bobby Keniston, Clyde is waiting at “The Only Fancy Restaurant in Town,” anxious to propose to his beautiful girlfriend, Kira. There is only one problem: Clyde is a very average-looking guy. When Kira arrives, looking stunning, Clyde’s night is thrown into a whirlwind when everyone in the restaurant wants to gawk at his bride-to-be. When Kira accidentally makes the comment, “I don’t mind that you’re ugly,” to Clyde, the night really takes off in an unexpected direction. Will Clyde marry the girl of his dreams, or will his relationship be ruined at this wacky restaurant?
The Secret Garden
November 5-7, 2021
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved Victorian classic, The Secret Garden, blossoms anew in this enchanting musical by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon. When young Mary Lennox loses her parents to a cholera outbreak in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, hermit Archibald Craven, who lives in an imposing, secluded manor on the British heath. Inside this haunting house upon the hill, Mary finds that since her aunt Lily’s death, her uncle has pushed away his surviving loved ones, leaving his bedridden son, Colin, alone. Sickly Colin, hidden away in the depths of the manner, bears the guilt of his mother’s death on his crippled shoulders. When Mary discovers her Aunt Lily’s hidden garden, locked shut and overgrown with vines, she is determined to revive the beauty that once was. Surrounded by spirits from the past, who both warn and welcome her, Mary begins to peel away the layers of sadness that cover the house and the garden, showing us the power that one small girl can have when she wants things to grow.
2020-2021 Season
The Nerd
May 7-9, 2021
Now an aspiring young architect in Terre Haute, Indiana, Willum Cubbert has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick to say that, as long as he is alive, “you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you” —so Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his thirty-fourth birthday party. But his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless “nerd” —a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. And Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leading to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence—a dire development which, happily, is staved off by the surprising “twist” ending of the play. We hope you will join us for Larry Shue’s side-splitting comedy, The Nerd.
Jack and the Beanstalk
March 12-13, 2021
Jack’s life is tough. He and his mother have no money, no food, a run-down house, and an opera-singing cow that won’t give milk. Just as he’s about to be sent off to an orphanage, Jack meets a mysterious stranger, who gives him three magic beans, along with an even more mysterious piece of advice that sets Jack climbing up a beanstalk and into the clouds. There, he meets a Giant who would do anything to change places with him. With the help of a wise-cracking hen and a self-absorbed cow, can all of their problems be solved? Join us for Marjorie Sokoloff’s wacky, humorous adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk.
(NO ONE-ACT PLAY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE CALENDAR AFTER THANKSGIVING)
Monty Python’s Spamalot–Socially Distant Concert-ish Version
October 23-25, 2020
To address social distance restrictions during the pandemic of 2020, this “concert-ish” version of Spamalot is intended to be played to a socially separated audience by a cast of socially separated actors, appropriately placed.
Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot (Eric Idle and John Du Prez) retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features such unexpected setbacks as cows, killer rabbits, and French people. The 2005 Broadway production won three Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, and was followed by two successful West End runs. The outrageous, uproarious, and gloriously entertaining story of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake will delight audiences as they search for the Holy Grail and “always look on the bright side of life.”
2019-2020 Season
The Mouse that Roared
February 21-23, 2020
In this hilarious full-length comedy (adapted by Christopher Sergel, based on the book by Leonard Wibberley), Duchess Gloriana, a pretty girl of 22, is the present-day sovereign of a microscopic country in the Alps, founded centuries ago by a roving band of English bowmen. Gloriana’s unique solution to the near-bankruptcy of her tiny domain is to declare war on the United States! There’s some method to her madness, however, for her study of recent history suggests that the surest way to wealth today is to lose a war with the United States—for that country’s odd reaction is to pour aid, relief, and rehabilitation on the vanquished. When her “declaration” is considered a prank, Gloriana decides to escalate! Tully Bascomb, in charge of the bowmen, is ordered to launch an attack so they can surrender and reap the rewards. Serious-minded Tully, however, upsets all calculations when he and his bowmen do the one thing least expected. Join us for this sharp-witted comedy and enjoy the delight of the “impossible.”
Off the Beaten Path
December 13-15, 2019
Featuring 4 A.M. by Jonathan Dorf and Oz by Don Zolidis
Jonathan Dorf’s 4 A.M. asks an intriguing question: what is it like to be awake when the rest of your world is asleep? Meet an early-morning jogger, a radio DJ whose show may have an audience of none, a modern Romeo and Juliet, the author of a most unusual letter, and many other teen characters as they search for connection in the magic hour, as told through a series of connected scenes and monologues. In Oz by Don Zolidis, Beth is reeling from her sister’s death and suddenly finds herself journeying through a world suspiciously resembling the film The Wizard of Oz. But with the yellow brick road sold to foreign investors after a financial meltdown, the Scarecrow reveling in his ignorant bliss, the Cowardly Lion acting like a paranoid sociopath, and the Tin Man embracing his emotional numbness, Beth wonders what role she plays in this classic story gone awry.
Big Fish
November 1-2, 2019
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest … and then some! Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him—most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Overflowing with heart and humor, Big Fish is an extraordinary musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre—for an experience that’s richer, funnier, and bigger than life itself. (www.theatricalrights.com)
2018-2019 Season
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat
May 4, 2019
What usually happens in your home when your mom is out and the kids are left behind? Does your fish talk? Does a large cat, wearing a red and white hat, walk through the door? Follow Sally and her brother as they go on the craziest and most exciting adventures with none other than the tricky and mischievous Cat in the Hat when their mom is away. These adventures may be fun while they last, but what will happen when Mom comes back home? Find out in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
February 22-24 , 2019
Love is in the air in the city of Athens, but it is not without its complications. A young woman wants to marry her true love, but her father has chosen someone else. A group of friends find themselves in a love quadrangle facilitated by a mischievous fairy. What will come of this strain between friends, lovers, and strangers, and between the fairy world and human world? In William Shakespeare’s widely performed classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, love can make fools of us all, but it may also win out in the end.
One-Act Plays: Trifles and Lafayette No. 1
December 7-9 , 2018
Two intriguing one-act plays, each investigating unsolved mysteries involving surprising twists and turns. From a small-town murder to a yellow fever epidemic, this night of one-act plays will keep you guessing! Join us for dramatic entertainment at its finest!
Crazy For You
November 1-3 , 2018
A wannabe actor and heir to a banking dynasty, Bobby Child is looking for a way to break out. The only single woman in a run-down Nevada town, Polly Baker is just trying to support her father and keep their theater open. Bobby wants to help, but the only reason he is in Nevada in the first place is to foreclose on that theater. So he disguises himself as New York theater mogul Bela Zangler and, with the help of the real Zangler’s dancing Follies, Bobby helps the downtrodden citizens of Deadrock put together a show to save the theater. But when the show looks set to close before opening night, is there anything anyone can do to set things right? This dazzling show full of tap dancing, chorus lines, and standards by George and Ira Gershwin takes you back to the 1930s, when music and dance seemed to be driving the whole world crazy – Crazy For You!
2017-2018 Season
Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother
April 27-28, 7:30 PM, 2018
Everyone at Fairy Godmother Headquarters is excited for the monumental Cinderella ball, but when every single fairy godmother gets sick from food poisoning, who will be the one to help Cinderella? Out of sheer desperation, the most unlikely substitute is selected, with predictable, hilarious results! Find out if this inexperienced, bumbling replacement has what it takes to save the day at Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother, by Ed Monk.
Winter Play: The Crucible
February 8-10, 2018
No one thought that a group of young girls could do so much damage. In 1692 Salem Massachusetts, however, the word of a few children can send you to court or even the gallows. When witch fever begins to sweep the town, it seems as though no one is safe from hanging. John Procter speaks out against the trials, but when Abigail – a young woman with whom he had an affair – accuses John’s wife of witchcraft things heat up. All this and more horrifying secrets are found in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
Readers’ Theatre: The Six Shooter
December 8-10, 2017
The MLC Forum presented The Six Shooter, a weekly old-time radio program in the United States. In the radio drama James Stewart starred as Britt Ponset, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the Wild West. Episodes ranged from straight Western drama to whimsical comedy. The episodes featured in this readers’ theater were “When the Shoe Doesn’t Fit” and “Britt Ponset’s Christmas Carol.”
Camelot
November 3-5, 2017
The MLC Forum brought the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table to life with an extraordinary score and a story that poignantly dramatizes the human conflict at the heart of this classic tale.
2016-2017 Season
Peter Pan
April 27-29, 2017
The MLC Children’s Theatre proudly performed this classic tale to thousands of children.
The Mousetrap
February 17-18, 2017
The MLC Forum shared Agatha Christie’s mystery The Mousetrap as audiences have never seen before!
Greek Adventure
December 9-11, 2016
The MLC Forum Readers’ Theatre presented Greek Adventure in the MLC Auditorium. Greek Adventure included “Daedalus and Icarus,” “In the Cave of the Cyclops,” and “The Golden Fleece.”
Sound of Music
November 4-5, 2016
MLC Forum proudly presented The Sound of Music in the MLC Auditorium. The motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time.
2015-2016 Season
Once Upon a Wolf
April 28-30, 2016
This fast and furious collection of fractured fairy tales with a modern twist tells what happens when the Big Bad Wolf decides he (or she) doesn’t want to be big or bad anymore! Old Granny Stinkyfeet is just trying to tell the kiddies some stories but she’s having trouble with the Wolf. He won’t eat her like he’s supposed to! Instead, he wants to be the good guy for a change, so he’s off on a mission to become a hero – no matter how many people tell him it’s impossible. The show utilizes audience participation.
You Can’t Take It With You
February 19-21, 2016
Set in New York in 1938, You Can’t Take It With You tells the story of Martin Vanderhof and his quirky family. Their hobbies include firework making, playwriting, and ballet dancing, to name a few. When Alice, a daughter of the family, brings her fiance and his Wall Street parents to dinner, it may spell disaster for their relationship. Through a series of hilarious mishaps and misunderstandings everyone comes to realize that the most important things in life are the only ones that you can take with you.
It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play
December 11, 2015
It’s a Wonderful Life has maintained its appeal as a family holiday favorite for generations, and this radio play adaptation promises to present that timeless story in a fresh and memorable way. Bring the whole family!
Guys & Dolls
November 6-8, 2015
