conservatory - Mill Mountain Theatre

Mad Libs Live: Touring Southwest Virginia

Get the chance to write your own show this summer and watch your words come to life on stage!

Mill Mountain Theatre presents “Mad Libs Live!” a tour, traveling across the greater Roanoke Valley. Audiences will get to make each show different by controlling the show’s lines – just like in the famous “Mad Libs” book series.

Our story begins at the finals of Teen Superstars, the live TV show that will determine the most popular singing group at Blankville Central High. Virtuosa, Gogo, Geyser, and Merrily seem to have nothing in common – until just before airtime, when they realize that their songs are missing words! In the spirit of the “World’s Greatest Word Game,” our gang fills in the blanks with words from the audience! This truly interactive musical changes at every performance – thanks to you! Will GoGo get the girl? Will Geyser make new friends? Will Merrily come out of her shell? Will Virtuosa get out of the spotlight? And who will be the next Teen Superstars?? There is only one way to find out: Mad Libs Live!

The cast of “Mad Libs Live” will feature collegiate performers from all over the country and will welcome Roanoke as their home for just over a month.

“Mad Libs Live” is part of Mill Mountain Theatre’s initiative to connect theatre to literacy. Free books will be available for audience members to take throughout the performance.


Performances for “Mad Libs Live!” will take place from June 13th through July 14th touring the Roanoke Valley. Tickets for this event are free. For more information and tour locations, visit millmountain.org

Sponsors and grantors include Dunkenberger-Waskey Group at Morgan Stanley, American National Bank & Trust Company, Boxley Materials, Carilion Clinic, Cary Street Partners, Cox Communications, Davis H. Elliot Company, Member One Federal Credit Union, Nancy Ruth Patterson, Punch Boutique, TheRoanokeStar.com, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts and Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Charlotte’s Web at Mill Mountain Theatre

Join us on an adventure with two unlikely friends Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider in the musical stage adaptation of E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web.” 

White’s book is adapted into an even more loveable musical by Joseph Robinette with ear-catching music by Charles Strouse. Fern Arable is the eight-year-old daughter of John Arable, a pig farmer. Fern pleaded with her father to prevent turning the runt of the litter into bacon. In exchange for saving the pig, Fern nurtures the pig and names him Wilbur, who makes an unlikely and inseparable bond with a spider, named Charlotte.

“Charlotte’s Web” is part of Mill Mountain Theatre’s Young Audience Series and MMT’s reading initiative to connect theatre to literature.

The classic children’s book will feature young actors from across the Roanoke Valley on Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Stage. The cast includes Catherine Hester Addington, Ben Armstrong, Grace Cordle, Kamryn Cox, Campbell Duff, Keeli Emery, Drayven English, Kayla Ford, Gabby Harig, Harper Klein, Emily Mower, Andi-Grace Novell, Will Richardson, Ellen Riegger, Brielle Smith, Ruby Spence, Lily Stanley, Bella Turner, Charlier Villier and DeMarion Williams. 

The creative team for “Charlotte’s Web” includes Mill Mountain Theatre’s Ginger Poole (Producing Artistic Director), Victoria Buck (Director), Francesca Reilly (Stage Manager), Josh Polk (Choreographer) and Seth Davis (Music Director).


Performances will take place from May 4th through May 14th on the Waldron Stage. All tickets are ‘Pay What You Can’ at the door and are ineligible for reservations. Alternatively, Mill Mountain Theatre is hosting a ‘Sensory Friendly Performance’ through reservation only on May 10th at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit millmountain.org

Sponsors and grantors include Dunkenberger-Waskey Group at Morgan Stanley, American National Bank & Trust Company, Boxley Materials, Carilion Clinic, Cary Street Partners, Cox Communications, Davis H. Elliot Company, Nancy Ruth Patterson, Punch Boutique, TheRoanokeStar.com, Center in the Square, Actors’ Equity Association, The National Endowment for the Arts and Virginia Commission for the Arts.

The Season of Song is Here

Roanoke, VA – October 6, 2022

After a thrilling night of announcements at Mill Mountain Theatre, the theatre has unveiled its most anticipated season yet coined, “The Season of Song.”

In 2023, Mill Mountain Theatre is presenting a total of nine locally produced shows in the Roanoke Valley. All of the theatre’s shows are musicals, hence the name of their upcoming season. 

Kickstarting MMT’s 2023 season, and returning for its seventh season, is Write Stuff! The youth playwright festival of new works. Write Stuff! Accepts submissions from local students and the selected submissions are given the opportunity to produce their original play. 

Launching on the Trinkle MainStage is Jersey Boys. Jersey Boys has become a global sensation following the music and the story behind Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. Mill Mountain Theatre is one of the first regional theatres in the country to produce the fan-favorite show. 

The acclaimed Mill Mountain Music Series is back with The Best of Broadway which will feature beloved performers who have previously performed at Mill Mountain Theatre and some of your favorite Broadway songs from hit shows such as Wicked and songs from the renowned music maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda. 

Hitting the road to a venue near you, this summer is the fun and exciting show Mad Libs Live! Which will draw lyrical inspiration from audience members. Mad Libs Live! Is a part of Mill Mountain Theatre’s literacy initiative and connects young audiences to literacy through producing a free show and distributing free books at every performance to youth audience members. 

Local youth talent will shine on the Trinkle MainStage with Matilda the Musical. This musical is similar to the classic film of the same name and follows Matilda. Matilda is a young girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. 

Mill Mountain Theatre is celebrating Appalachia with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Bright Star. Bright Star tells the true tale of love and redemption against the backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and 1940s. Alice Murphy, a literary editor meets a young soldier shortly after he arrived home from World War II. The young soldier awakens her longing for the child she once lost and they build an unusually haunting connection. Alice is determined to understand her dark past and has the power to transform both of their lives. 

Another literary classic is traveling the region for young audiences. Mill Mountain Theatre presents Stellaluna, which will tour in the Fall across the Roanoke Valley. Stellaluna the bat, Verdi the snake, and Pinduli the Hyena all seek refreshment at a watering hole one day, only to find themselves subjects of a bullying lion’s ridicule. Through the power of friendship, this unique group discovers confidence, peace and wisdom. Stellaluna follows Mill Mountain Theatre’s literacy initiative.

Mill Mountain Theatre also announced the dates of their upcoming 2023 holiday show. However, a title was not disclosed.

“We’re producing an exciting show this Holiday Season! We can’t tell you the name yet, but we can tell you it’s got everything: singing, dancing, costumes – the works!” Said Ginger Poole, Producing Artistic Director of Mill Mountain Theatre. “Whether you’re looking for something fun to do with your family or want an exciting date night, this show has got something for everyone! Stay tuned for more details as they become available on our website and social media pages!”

Closing out Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2023 season is Charlotte’s Web, the classic book by E.B. White. Charlotte’s Web is adapted into an even more loveable musical by Joseph Robinette with ear-catching music by Charles Strouse. This literary classic tells the tale of two unlikely friends, Wilbur the pig and Charlotte, the spider. This show invites audiences to discover their irreplaceable bond of friendship.

Tickets to Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2023 slate of shows are available for renewing season ticket holders. Beginning November 1st, 2022, tickets will be available for all audiences.

To renew your season tickets, contact Mill Mountain Theatre’s Box Office at 540.342.5740.


Mill Mountain Theatre serves as Roanoke’s only Equity theatre since 1964. Since the theatre’s founding, Mill Mountain Theatre has produced hundreds of shows in-house and hosted world premieres. As a professional, year-round, regional theatre with roots in its community and excellence as its primary objective, Mill Mountain Theatre has proudly served the region and the industry for more than 50 years.

You’re Invited to Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2023 Season Reveal

Mill Mountain Theatre is getting ready to unveil its 2023 season with an open-house event filled with excitement and entertainment. 

On October 6th at 5:30 p.m. Mill Mountain Theatre invites you to celebrate the unveiling of their 2023 season, titled “The Season of Song,” with a free event hosted at Center in the Square. This fun night will kick off on Center in the Square’s roof with food and drinks available from Three Notch’d Brewery and Craft Kitchen. 

Guests will then be invited to gather inside the Trinkle MainStage for the main event. This occasion will be celebrated with performances from Mill Mountain Theatre’s outstanding Conservatory Students and members of the MMT Staff. 

“We have hand-picked these titles built around our audience’s requests and to uplift the Roanoke Valley and we cannot wait to share them with everyone!” Said Producing Artistic Director, Ginger Poole. “We truly believe that this is an amazing season and we can’t wait for you to return to your seats with us as we celebrate The Season of Song.”

Each show picked by Mill Mountain Theatre aligns with the theatre’s mission to inspire, entertain, enrich, educate and challenge audiences of Southwest Virginia through high-quality, professional theatrical productions and experiences. 

MMT’s 2023 Season unveiling will take place on October 6th starting at 5:30 p.m. at Center in the Square. Additionally, Mill Mountain Theatre will stream its 2023 presentation to Facebook Live on Mill Mountain Theatre’s Facebook page. Both events are free to the public. 


Mill Mountain Theatre serves as Roanoke’s only Equity theatre since 1964. Since the theatre’s founding, Mill Mountain Theatre has produced hundreds of shows in-house and hosted world premieres. As a professional, year-round, regional theatre with roots in its community and excellence as its primary objective, Mill Mountain Theatre has proudly served the region and the industry for more than 50 years.

The Cast of The Diary of Anne Frank

Trinkle MainStage plays are back at Mill Mountain Theatre featuring the incredibly powerful and true story based on the famed diary of a young girl, The Diary of Anne Frank.

Mill Mountain Theatre has cast remarkable actors to fulfill the roles. Not only has MMT built out a stellar cast, but they have also enlisted a mighty crew to support the onstage talents. 

“I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” Thirteen-year-old Anne Frank wrote in her diary to better understand herself and the horrors of being Jewish in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. In this transcendently powerful new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from the pages of history as a living, lyrical, and intensely gifted young girl. An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence—their fear, their laughter, their grief, and their hope. This adaptation breathes new life into this iconic tale. 

Starring as Anne Frank, is a student at Cave Spring High School, Elise LeGault. Joining opposite of LeGault is Hidden Valley Middle School student, Griffin Shaver who will portray Peter van Pels, the son of Hermann van Pels and Auguste van Pels. Filling out the youth cast is Lilah Vanke, who will play Margot Frank, Anne Frank’s older sister. 

The youth cast is no stranger to Mill Mountain Theatre through participating in MMT’s Conservatory Classes. In addition to classes, both LeGault and Shaver have performed on the Trinkle MainStage. LeGault was last seen this past August in, High School Musical: One Act Edition and Shaver was in 2017’s A Christmas Story

Performing as Anne Frank’s mother, Edith Frank, is Broadway Star, Jane Labanz*. Labanz is making her highly anticipated Mill Mountain Theatre debut. Some of Labanz’s impressive credits include the world premiere of Tuck Everlasting as “Older Winnie,” “Alison Barrett” in the American Premiere of Love Story and portraying “Hope” alongside Patti LuPone in Anything Goes. Labanz has been an instrumental performer in ten National Tours and has performed at legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall. 

The role of Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, will be performed by Jonathan Brody*. Brody, a fellow Broadway Star has performed in six Broadway Shows including A Bronx Tale, Amazing Grace, Spamalot, Titanic, Sally Marr…and her escorts, Me and My Girl. In addition to Brody’s extensive Broadway credits, Brody has toured the country with the official touring companies of Mary Poppins, Spamalot, Funny Girl and My Fair Lady

Returning to the Trinkle MainStage as Mr. van Daan, the father of Peter van Pels is a local fan favorite, Scott Watson*. Watson recently appeared in Mill Mountain Theatre’s A Christmas Story during the 2021 season. Watson has substantial regional theatre credits and nearly 20 film and television credits. 

Portraying Mrs. van Daan, the spouse of Mr. van Daan and the mother of Peter is Amanda Lea Mason. Mason has a vast list of New York City theatre credits including Broadway’s The Elephant Man. In addition to Mason’s theatre credits, Mason has also graced television screens in shows such as Showtime’s Three-Women

Mr. Dussel or otherwise known as Fritz Pfeffer, a dentist and the roommate of Anne Frank is portrayed by another Mill Mountain Theatre fan favorite– Jeffrey McGullion. McGullion has performed in over 40 stage productions including Mill Mountain Theatre’s The Odd Couple, On Golden Pond, Hairspray, 39 Steps, To Kill a Mockingbird, Disney’s My Son Pinnochio and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

After the wildly popular, Ladies of the 80s concert, returning to the Trinkle MainStage is Sarah Coleman as Miep Geiss, a crucial helper to the families hiding in the Secret Annex. A Roanoke local and Radford University Alumni. Coleman’s credits include powerhouse characters such as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Heather Duke from Heather’s the Musical and Edna from Bright Star to name a few. 

Making their Trinkle MainStage debut as Mr. Kraler, otherwise known as Victor Kugler, an electrician who helped the Frank Family while in the Annex, is Drew Callahan. Callahan is a Radford University Alumni and is no stranger to Mill Mountain Theatre. Currently, Callahan is a part of MMT’s outstanding carpentry team and has worked on shows such as Million Dollar Quartet, Legally Blonde the Musical, In the Heights, The Diary of Anne Frank and more! Callahan’s acting credit includes being an Acting Apprentice at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. 


The Diary of Anne Frank begins performances on September 21st and runs through October 2nd on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling the box office at 540-342-5740. Reduced special ticket pricing for school groups for 10:00 a.m. student matinees on 9/28 and 9/29. Contact the box office for more information.

Sponsors and grantors for The Diary of Anne Frank include Business Solutions; The Candy Store; Dominion Risk Advisors; Hope of Israel Congregation; The Sam and Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation; The Liberty Trust; The W.E. McGuire Foundation; Pinnacle Financial Partners; B.J. Preas; Roanoke Jewish Federation; Skyline National Bank; National Endowment for the Arts; Virginia Commission for the Arts; Center in the Square; Theatre Communications Group; Actors’ Equity Association; and Blue Star Theatres. 

“The Diary of Anne Frank” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., A Concord Theatricals Company.

*Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory Seeking Scripts for 7th Annual Young Playwrights Festival “Write Stuff!”

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory is seeking submissions of short plays for Write Stuff!, their seventh-annual festival of new works penned by local students. The playwriting contest will have categories for Middle School and High School playwrights, and winning plays will be selected by a panel of professional Mill Mountain Theatre artists.

The selected plays will be performed by Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory students and directed by Mill Mountain Theatre staff during a festival of play-readings in Mill Mountain Theatre’s upcoming 2023 Season.

Write Stuff! serves to connect Mill Mountain Theatre’s expanding education programming with its historical and ongoing commitment to new play development. Ginger Poole, Mill Mountain Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, expressed excitement at the return of this beloved Young Audiences programming. 

“Beginning with the Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works and continuing through our partnership with the Hollins Playwrights Lab, new work has been an important element of Mill Mountain Theatre’s identity,” she said. “Expanding that vision to invest in the development of young writers is very important to our organization. Our inaugural festival was a success, as were the subsequent events, and I look forward to bringing the festival back for a fifth year and watching its growth and success continue in the coming years.”

The mission to encourage student authors is also in alignment with Mill Mountain Theatre’s pedagogical goals. “Write Stuff is an incredible experience and opportunity for young artists to work on a new play process,” says Victoria Buck, Mill Mountain Theatre’s Interim Director of Education. “It isn’t often that young people get to be involved in producing brand new plays: learning how scripts change, how characters are developed, and how to work with a playwright in the room.”

Scripts, 10-15 minutes in length, should be formatted as PDFs and emailed to education@nullmillmountain.org with the subject line “Write Stuff! Submission.” The deadline for script submissions is December 15th. Performance and presentation of winning plays TBA.

WILLY WONKA AUDITIONS – February 24th & 25th

Auditions for Mill Mountain Theatre’s Summer Mainstage, Roald Dahl’s WILLY WONKA JR, will take place on Friday February 24th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and Saturday February 25th from 10:00am to 1:00pm.  Some may be asked to attend callbacks on Sunday February 26th at 2:00pm.

Please email conservatoryauditions@nullmillmountain.org for an audition appointment time, and put ‘Willy Wonka Audition’ in the subject line.  Auditions will take place in MMT’s 3rd Floor Studio (located at 20 Church Ave SE).  All children 6-18 years of age are invited to audition.

Please prepare:  

Please prepare a 32-bar cut of a musical theatre song (about one minute).  To also be considered for a role, please prepare a one-minute monologue as well.  There will be a brief movement/dance call, so please bring appropriate attire that you can move in.

Rehearsals and performances:

Rehearsals are Monday through Saturday, beginning July 6th.  Performances are July 26th through August 6th on MMT’s Trinkle Mainstage.

A little bit about the show:

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr. follows candy maker Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. MMT’s version puts young actors in the spotlight, singing memorable songs including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candyman,” “ I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “ Oompa-Loompa,” and “I Want it Now.”

Character Breakdown: (in order of appearance)

Willy Wonka/Candy Man – mysterious, mischievous, charismatic, and engaging.  Wonka serves as narrator and ‘tour guide’ throughout the show, and must possess strong vocal and acting skills.

Charlie Bucket – the emotional heart and soul of the musical; honest, thoughtful, and virtuous.  Spunky and enthusiastic, Charlie is in almost every scene and must possess strong vocal and acting skills.

Mr. Bucket –  the bread-winner of the family;  he deals with the pressures of supporting a whole family; a nurturer.

Mrs. Bucket – the support, stability, and care-taker of the family; she deals with running a household and looking after Charlie’s grandparents.

Grandpa Joe – caring, patient, sweet, and always reminds Charlie to remain cheerful.  Must be kind and funny.

Grandma Josephina, Grandpa George, & Grandma Georgina – Charlie’s other grandparents;  quirky and interesting.  Must have good comic timing.

James & Matilda – friends of Charlie’s from school.  Will likely double as Oompa-Loompas.

Phineous Trout – a reporter, who announces the Golden Ticket winners throughout the show.  Must have a clear, confident speaking voice.

Augustus Gloop – an overachieving eater and glutton, a character actor who can sing.

Mrs. Gloop – Augustus’s over-indulgent mother.

Veruca Salt – A wealthy, class-concious spoiled brat.  Often portrayed as British, but snobby comes in all nationalities, so not a requirement.  Must be a strong singer.

Mr. Salt – solves problems by buying his way out.  His nose in the air, he is obviously of the uppercrust, and you can see where Veruca gets her attitude from.  An acting role (not much singing required).

Violet Beauregarde – a gum chewer extraordinaire and ‘blue-collar brat.’  Must have a strong singing voice.

Mrs. Beauregarde – a geography teacher who has invested a lot of hard-earned money into therapy for her orally-fixated daughter.  An acting role (not much singing required).

Mike Teevee – a technology junkie, Mike is obsessed with television, video games, the internet, and any other technological device.  Bratty, loud, and obnoxious; does not like to hear the word ‘no.’

Ms. Teevee – perfectly put together, and perfectly vacant.  Think June Cleaver, Marion Cunningham, or Carol Brady.

Ensemble – to play Oompa-Loompas, Candy Man Kids, etc.

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