MACT

book by John Cariani Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend-almost-in this delightful midwinter night’s dream. Dinner at 6:00 pm Show at 7:00 pm (No dinner for Sunday matinees – dessert only)

by Agatha Christie, adapted by Ken Ludwig Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.  

by Elaine Liner This comedy about life’s second act finds older gents Al and Wizzer meeting on a park bench every morning to read and mock newspaper obits. Their daily rituals-shooting the bull about sports, women loved and lost and the many annoyances of aging-are suddenly shaken up by the appearance of a friendly young woman and her flirty mom. Wizzer pep-talks lonely widower Al to convince him to break out of his self-imposed “quantum of solace” and maybe find love again, while also dealing with his own fear of ending up in the memory care unit at their assisted living facility. Punctuated with true-to-life moments familiar to anyone with an aging parent or spouse, the play takes an upbeat attitude toward life after 60, 70 and beyond. This play was selected to be part of the AACTFest Newplay Fest 2018.

February 21, 22, 27, 28, March 1 @ 7 pm Feb 23 and March 2 @ 1 pm Performed in the Black Box at Rochester Civic Theatre Auditions Tuesday October 22 from 6 -8 pm Chateau Theatre – Downtown Rochester Directed by Philip Muehe Thomas Novachek, a director/playwright, has suffered through a long day of abysmal auditions for his adaptation of the German sadomasochistic novel Venus in Furs, until Vanda, a crass and pushy actress, stumbles into his audition room. While Vanda shares the lead character’s name, she lacks her sophistication. However, when Thomas agrees to let Vanda read for the role, she displays a surprising understanding of the material. Working through the script with Thomas playing the masochistic male lead, the roleplay becomes intense, erotic, and less like acting. David Ives’ mesmerizing play explores themes of submission, domination, and power with a fast-paced, mutable language he is known for. Reality and pretend become blurred lines in Venus in Fur, and the question of “who’s on top” always has a different answer.

book by Heather Hach music & lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin Legally Blonde JR. follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. When Elle’s boyfriend, Warner, dumps her and heads to Harvard, claiming she’s not “serious” enough, Elle takes matters into her own hands, crafting a showy song-and-dance personal essay and charming her way into law school. Befriending classmate, Emmett, and spunky hairdresser, Paulette, along the way, Elle finds that books and looks aren’t mutually exclusive. As Elle begins outsmarting her peers, she realizes that law may be her natural calling after all.  

Book, Music, and Lyrics by: Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.

book by Rachel Sheinkin music and lyrics by William Finn An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

book by Nora Ephron & Delia Ephron Based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman. A play of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes and memory covering all the important subjects-mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses and why we only wear black.

by Karen Zacarías Directed by Kari Steinbach Two female scientists, living hundreds of years apart, explore the meaning of love, motherhood, family, art and science. Written by Karen Zacarías (The Book Club Play), Legacy of Light juxtaposes the true story of Émilie du Châtelet, a mathematician, scientist, and lover of the philosopher Voltaire, who became unexpectedly pregnant at 42, and that of a fictional 21st-century physicist desperately trying to conceive a child.

book by John Cariani Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend-almost-in this delightful midwinter night’s dream. Dinner at 6:00 pm Show at 7:00 pm (No dinner for Sunday matinees (2:00 pm) – dessert only)

Original BOLD-choice Musical coming to Grand Marais! Saturday, February 22nd 3:00pm Tickets at the door. BOLD-choice Theatre is taking their new country western musical “Sundown on the Japser Country Jewel” on the road! Jasper County once had the most illustrious Honky Tonk venue in all the country – but years of wear and changing times have put “The Jewel” on the verge of ruin. Through original songs and music, storytelling, and reflection, BOLD-choice tells the fictional story of the once-famed Country Western Theatre. When a traveling band finds themselves booked to play what appears to be a run-down shell of a theatre, an eccentric owner takes them through a historic retelling of the venue’s past with tales of the famed legends that performed on The Jewel’s stage. BOLD-choice Theatre is a community theatre company that creates original, fully staged productions that seek to align artistic expression with civic engagement. This program is a place for artists to explore their craft and realize the power of artistic expression. The company seeks to entertain and engage the community, leading to dialogue around the issues of inclusivity, individuality, and social responsibility. BOLD-choice’s professional actors are primarily adults proudly living with disabilities. This performance is made possible through the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and our gracious friends and hosts at Grand Marais Playhouse and the Cook County Schools Unified Club!

by Agatha Christie, adapted by Ken Ludwig Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.  

book by Heather Hach music & lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin Legally Blonde JR. follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. When Elle’s boyfriend, Warner, dumps her and heads to Harvard, claiming she’s not “serious” enough, Elle takes matters into her own hands, crafting a showy song-and-dance personal essay and charming her way into law school. Befriending classmate, Emmett, and spunky hairdresser, Paulette, along the way, Elle finds that books and looks aren’t mutually exclusive. As Elle begins outsmarting her peers, she realizes that law may be her natural calling after all.  

by Elaine Liner This comedy about life’s second act finds older gents Al and Wizzer meeting on a park bench every morning to read and mock newspaper obits. Their daily rituals-shooting the bull about sports, women loved and lost and the many annoyances of aging-are suddenly shaken up by the appearance of a friendly young woman and her flirty mom. Wizzer pep-talks lonely widower Al to convince him to break out of his self-imposed “quantum of solace” and maybe find love again, while also dealing with his own fear of ending up in the memory care unit at their assisted living facility. Punctuated with true-to-life moments familiar to anyone with an aging parent or spouse, the play takes an upbeat attitude toward life after 60, 70 and beyond. This play was selected to be part of the AACTFest Newplay Fest 2018.

February 21, 22, 27, 28, March 1 @ 7 pm Feb 23 and March 2 @ 1 pm Performed in the Black Box at Rochester Civic Theatre Auditions Tuesday October 22 from 6 -8 pm Chateau Theatre – Downtown Rochester Directed by Philip Muehe Thomas Novachek, a director/playwright, has suffered through a long day of abysmal auditions for his adaptation of the German sadomasochistic novel Venus in Furs, until Vanda, a crass and pushy actress, stumbles into his audition room. While Vanda shares the lead character’s name, she lacks her sophistication. However, when Thomas agrees to let Vanda read for the role, she displays a surprising understanding of the material. Working through the script with Thomas playing the masochistic male lead, the roleplay becomes intense, erotic, and less like acting. David Ives’ mesmerizing play explores themes of submission, domination, and power with a fast-paced, mutable language he is known for. Reality and pretend become blurred lines in Venus in Fur, and the question of “who’s on top” always has a different answer.

Book, Music, and Lyrics by: Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.

book by Rachel Sheinkin music and lyrics by William Finn An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

book by Nora Ephron & Delia Ephron Based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman. A play of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes and memory covering all the important subjects-mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses and why we only wear black.

by Karen Zacarías Directed by Kari Steinbach Two female scientists, living hundreds of years apart, explore the meaning of love, motherhood, family, art and science. Written by Karen Zacarías (The Book Club Play), Legacy of Light juxtaposes the true story of Émilie du Châtelet, a mathematician, scientist, and lover of the philosopher Voltaire, who became unexpectedly pregnant at 42, and that of a fictional 21st-century physicist desperately trying to conceive a child.

February 21, 22, 27, 28, March 1 @ 7 pm Feb 23 and March 2 @ 1 pm Performed in the Black Box at Rochester Civic Theatre Auditions Tuesday October 22 from 6 -8 pm Chateau Theatre – Downtown Rochester Directed by Philip Muehe Thomas Novachek, a director/playwright, has suffered through a long day of abysmal auditions for his adaptation of the German sadomasochistic novel Venus in Furs, until Vanda, a crass and pushy actress, stumbles into his audition room. While Vanda shares the lead character’s name, she lacks her sophistication. However, when Thomas agrees to let Vanda read for the role, she displays a surprising understanding of the material. Working through the script with Thomas playing the masochistic male lead, the roleplay becomes intense, erotic, and less like acting. David Ives’ mesmerizing play explores themes of submission, domination, and power with a fast-paced, mutable language he is known for. Reality and pretend become blurred lines in Venus in Fur, and the question of “who’s on top” always has a different answer.

by Karen Zacarías Directed by Kari Steinbach Two female scientists, living hundreds of years apart, explore the meaning of love, motherhood, family, art and science. Written by Karen Zacarías (The Book Club Play), Legacy of Light juxtaposes the true story of Émilie du Châtelet, a mathematician, scientist, and lover of the philosopher Voltaire, who became unexpectedly pregnant at 42, and that of a fictional 21st-century physicist desperately trying to conceive a child.

book by Rachel Sheinkin music and lyrics by William Finn An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

book by Nora Ephron & Delia Ephron Based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman. A play of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes and memory covering all the important subjects-mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses and why we only wear black.

by Agatha Christie, adapted by Ken Ludwig Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.  

book by Heather Hach music & lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin Legally Blonde JR. follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. When Elle’s boyfriend, Warner, dumps her and heads to Harvard, claiming she’s not “serious” enough, Elle takes matters into her own hands, crafting a showy song-and-dance personal essay and charming her way into law school. Befriending classmate, Emmett, and spunky hairdresser, Paulette, along the way, Elle finds that books and looks aren’t mutually exclusive. As Elle begins outsmarting her peers, she realizes that law may be her natural calling after all.  

Book, Music, and Lyrics by: Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.

by Elaine Liner This comedy about life’s second act finds older gents Al and Wizzer meeting on a park bench every morning to read and mock newspaper obits. Their daily rituals-shooting the bull about sports, women loved and lost and the many annoyances of aging-are suddenly shaken up by the appearance of a friendly young woman and her flirty mom. Wizzer pep-talks lonely widower Al to convince him to break out of his self-imposed “quantum of solace” and maybe find love again, while also dealing with his own fear of ending up in the memory care unit at their assisted living facility. Punctuated with true-to-life moments familiar to anyone with an aging parent or spouse, the play takes an upbeat attitude toward life after 60, 70 and beyond. This play was selected to be part of the AACTFest Newplay Fest 2018.

book by Fred Carmichael directed by Connor Davis Once famous mystery writers involve the audience as they apply their individual methods to solving various murders. They include a couple who write sophisticated murders, a young author of the James Bond school. a retired writer of the hard hitting method and an aging queen of the logical murder. February 27–March 1 at 7:00 pm and March 2 at 2:00 pm March 13–15 at 7:00 pm

February 21, 22, 27, 28, March 1 @ 7 pm Feb 23 and March 2 @ 1 pm Performed in the Black Box at Rochester Civic Theatre Auditions Tuesday October 22 from 6 -8 pm Chateau Theatre – Downtown Rochester Directed by Philip Muehe Thomas Novachek, a director/playwright, has suffered through a long day of abysmal auditions for his adaptation of the German sadomasochistic novel Venus in Furs, until Vanda, a crass and pushy actress, stumbles into his audition room. While Vanda shares the lead character’s name, she lacks her sophistication. However, when Thomas agrees to let Vanda read for the role, she displays a surprising understanding of the material. Working through the script with Thomas playing the masochistic male lead, the roleplay becomes intense, erotic, and less like acting. David Ives’ mesmerizing play explores themes of submission, domination, and power with a fast-paced, mutable language he is known for. Reality and pretend become blurred lines in Venus in Fur, and the question of “who’s on top” always has a different answer.

This is an original play written by Amy Hunter. It illuminates some of the stories about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, the families effected, the survivors and the people shedding light and healing on behalf of the women and children, moms and dads. In addition to the performances in Staples, this show will also be entered into MACT*Fest to be performed March 7 or 8 at the Depot Theatre in Duluth.

Book, Music, and Lyrics by: Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.

by A.R. Gurney directed by Ruth Furan The play is set in the dining room of a typical well-to-do household, the place where the family assembled daily for breakfast and dinner and for any and all special occasions. A mosaic of interrelated scenes-some funny, some touching, some rueful-which, taken together, create an in-depth portrait of a vanishing species: the upper-middle-class WASP. The actors change roles, personalities and ages as they portray a variety of characters, from little boys to stern grandfathers, from giggling teenage girls to Irish housemaids. Each vignette introduces a new set of people and events; a father lectures his son on grammar and politics; a boy returns from boarding school to discover his mother’s infidelity; a senile grandmother doesn’t recognize her own sons; a daughter, her marriage a shambles, pleads futilely to return home, etc. Dovetailing swiftly and smoothly, the varied scenes coalesce, ultimately, into a theatrical experience of exceptional range, compassionate humor and abundant humanity.

Annual Original One-Acts: Fresh Stories, Local Talent! Join us for our annual Original One-Acts production—a night of bite-sized theatre packed with creativity, laughter, and heartfelt moments. These short plays, selected by our Playwriting Review Committee, showcase fresh voices and bold stories, brought to life by a talented cast of local performers.

book by Fred Carmichael directed by Connor Davis Once famous mystery writers involve the audience as they apply their individual methods to solving various murders. They include a couple who write sophisticated murders, a young author of the James Bond school. a retired writer of the hard hitting method and an aging queen of the logical murder. February 27–March 1 at 7:00 pm and March 2 at 2:00 pm March 13–15 at 7:00 pm

by Agatha Christie, adapted by Ken Ludwig Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.  

book by Heather Hach music & lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nell Benjamin Legally Blonde JR. follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. When Elle’s boyfriend, Warner, dumps her and heads to Harvard, claiming she’s not “serious” enough, Elle takes matters into her own hands, crafting a showy song-and-dance personal essay and charming her way into law school. Befriending classmate, Emmett, and spunky hairdresser, Paulette, along the way, Elle finds that books and looks aren’t mutually exclusive. As Elle begins outsmarting her peers, she realizes that law may be her natural calling after all.  

February 21, 22, 27, 28, March 1 @ 7 pm Feb 23 and March 2 @ 1 pm Performed in the Black Box at Rochester Civic Theatre Auditions Tuesday October 22 from 6 -8 pm Chateau Theatre – Downtown Rochester Directed by Philip Muehe Thomas Novachek, a director/playwright, has suffered through a long day of abysmal auditions for his adaptation of the German sadomasochistic novel Venus in Furs, until Vanda, a crass and pushy actress, stumbles into his audition room. While Vanda shares the lead character’s name, she lacks her sophistication. However, when Thomas agrees to let Vanda read for the role, she displays a surprising understanding of the material. Working through the script with Thomas playing the masochistic male lead, the roleplay becomes intense, erotic, and less like acting. David Ives’ mesmerizing play explores themes of submission, domination, and power with a fast-paced, mutable language he is known for. Reality and pretend become blurred lines in Venus in Fur, and the question of “who’s on top” always has a different answer.

book by Eric Ulloa directed by Karla Haij On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 innocent souls before taking his own life. These 26 innocent deaths, like pebbles thrown into a pond, created ripples and vibrations that were felt far beyond the initial rings. This is the story of those vibrations. Similar in style to The Laramie Project, 26 Pebbles is a heartbreaking and riveting docudrama. Playwright Eric Ulloa conducted interviews with members of the community in Newtown and crafted them into an exploration of gun violence and a small town shaken by a horrific event.

by Karen Zacarías Directed by Kari Steinbach Two female scientists, living hundreds of years apart, explore the meaning of love, motherhood, family, art and science. Written by Karen Zacarías (The Book Club Play), Legacy of Light juxtaposes the true story of Émilie du Châtelet, a mathematician, scientist, and lover of the philosopher Voltaire, who became unexpectedly pregnant at 42, and that of a fictional 21st-century physicist desperately trying to conceive a child.

This is an original play written by Amy Hunter. It illuminates some of the stories about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, the families effected, the survivors and the people shedding light and healing on behalf of the women and children, moms and dads. In addition to the performances in Staples, this show will also be entered into MACT*Fest to be performed March 7 or 8 at the Depot Theatre in Duluth.