Rehearsals have begun for William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Mill Mountain Theatre! Romeo and Juliet is part of MMT’s Young Audiences Series: producing theatre by young people, for young people.  The classic tale of star-crossed lovers is re-envisioned in a new imaginative and theatrical telling on the Waldron Stage. Shakespeare’s most famous play about love, family feuds, and inevitable tragedy takes on a new life through the work of local youth performers. 

Romeo and Juliet is best suited for families with middle and high school students. This production features student performers, designers, and technicians. Each of the Pay-What-You-Can performances will include the distribution of free books to student audience members as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy.

Romeo and Juliet features Jacob Wadstrom (Romeo), Haley Chey Lynch (Juliet), Kira Shelor (Nurse), Charles Meidlinger (Friar Lawrence), Isaac Bouldin (Mercutio), Caroline Weston (Benvolio), Ann Marie Thorell (Peter, Abraham, & others), Bayla Kessler (Sampson, Friar John, & others), Simon Elliott (Paris), and Ryan Ramey (Tybalt). Romeo and Juliet is adapted and directed by Travis Kendrick, associate directed by Victoria Buck, and production stage managed by Tatiana Durant.

Sponsors for Romeo and Juliet include: Business Solutions, Inc., B.J. Preas, Carilion Clinic, Claytor/Wirt Associates, Davis H. Elliot Company, Kiwanis Club of Roanoke, Tina and Jay Jindal, Innovative Insurance Group, and Roanoke Valley Orthodontics. Grantors include Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, National Endowments for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Romeo and Juliet runs October 19 – 26 on the Waldron Stage. General admission tickets are available only at the door, 30 minutes in advance of each performance, and are ‘pay what you can’. To book group tickets for a student matinee, contact Emma Gwin (emma@nullmillmountain.org). For any additional information, visit millmountain.org.

Mill Mountain Theatre announced their 2020 Season with a joyous celebration and performance on the Trinkle MainStage.The theatre’s 2020 season will consist of three MainStage productions on the Trinkle, five productions for Young Audiences, two productions in the Fringe Series, and two concerts in their Music Series. A brilliant balance of shows that all will enjoy.

TRINKLE MAINSTAGE SERIES

Three big-cast shows of drama, comedy, music, and family fun, all with impressive production quality.

Dreamgirls

March 25 – April 11
Trinkle MainStage

A dazzling journey through 20th-century American popular music, Dreamgirls follows the rising stardom of The Dreamettes, an all-girl Motown group from Chicago. Known for its 2006 feature film adaptation starring Jennifer Hudson, and filled with show-stopping musical numbers from the genres of gospel, R&B, smooth pop, disco, and more, Dreamgirls explores themes of ambition, hope, and betrayal, all set in the glamorous and competitive world of the entertainment industry. Dreamgirls has music by Academy Award nominee Henry Krieger, with book and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award winner Tom Eyen. Songs include, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “I Am Changing,” “One Night Only,” and “Steppin’ To The Bad Side.”

The Diary of Anne Frank

September 23 – October 4
Trinkle MainStage

“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. 

Holiday Inn

December 2 – 20
Trinkle MainStage

Based on the 1942 Paramount Pictures film of the same name, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn tells the story of Jim, who leaves behind the bright lights of show business to settle down in a small farmhouse in Connecticut. His luck takes a spectacular turn when he meets Linda, a spirited schoolteacher with talent to spare. Together, they turn the farmhouse into a fabulous inn where they put on dazzling performances to celebrate each holiday, from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July. Will Jim be able to salvage his latest chance at love when his best friend Ted tries to lure Linda away? Celebrate the holiday season with this joyous musical features thrilling tap-dance numbers, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a parade of hit Irving Berlin songs, including “Blue Skies,” “Easter Parade,” “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” “Heat Wave,” “Be Careful, It’s My Heart,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Shaking the Blues Away,” and many more!

 THE FRINGE SERIES

Two productions of cutting edge drama.

Cabaret

June 25 – July 5
Trinkle MainStage

Willkommen to the Kit Kat Club! Set in a 1920’s Berlin nightclub, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken with British Cabaret singer Sally Bowles. Using the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Featuring some of the most memorable songs in musical theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Two Ladies,” and “Maybe This Time,” this Tony Award-winning masterpiece by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff is more relevant today than ever. So, “come to the cabaret my friends! Come to the cabaret!”

The Cake

November 5 – 8
Waldron Stage

When Della, a North Carolina baker and devout Christian, is asked to bake a wedding cake for her best friend’s daughter, she is overjoyed – until she finds out that the bride’s intended is another bride. For the first time in her life, Della is forced to think for herself, examine her deeply-held belief in “traditional marriage,” and make a decision that may turn her entire life upside-down.  Inspired by true events, this hilarious and delicious play by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us) is proof that love is the key ingredient in creating common ground.

YOUNG AUDIENCE SERIES

Four delightful productions all encouraging literacy and for children to read.

Cinderella

July 29 – August 9
Trinkle MainStage

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical, Cinderella, truly sparkles in this new, Tony Award-winning adaptation that won the hearts of audiences everywhere. Cinderella features some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” alongside a hilarious and romantic libretto by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane, featuring some new characters and surprising twists! This full-length production on the Trinkle MainStage will feature local youth performers and is perfect for the whole family. In conjunction with this production, MMT will distribute free books to children in attendance as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy. Hurry– get your tickets– before the clock strikes twelve! 

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical

May 30 – July 3
Touring the Roanoke Valley

8-year-old Lily Polkadot just moved to the “Squares Only” small town of Rockaway, and is the first Polkadot in an all Square school. Experiencing everything from daily bullying to segregated drinking fountains, Lily feels hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected friendship. Inspired by Civil Rights pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine, Polkadots serves as a colorful history lesson for the world, reminding us that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts. MMT will delight families everywhere by performing this touring show at schools, libraries, parks, and neighborhood venues around the region. Admission is free, and MMT will distribute free books to student audience members as part of our initiative connecting theatre to reading and literacy.

Write Stuff! 2020

February 22nd, 2020
On the Waldron Stage

MMT’s young playwrights festival Write Stuff! returns for its fourth year, encouraging young writers to submit their short plays to be produced as staged readings on the Waldron Stage. Students, see your characters come to life on the MMT stage! The competition is open to all middle and high-school students, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2019. Mark that on your calendar, folks! Several short plays will be selected from the submissions by a panel of readers, and will then be workshopped, produced in a staged reading format, and performed by Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory students.

Treasure Island: A New Musical

May 2 – May 9
On the Waldron Stage

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, this swashbuckling adventure shares the story of a young man in the midst of a race against Long John Silver to find buried treasure. Filled with mystery, scurvy pirates, and cheery sea shanties, Treasure Island is an expedition you don’t want to miss. This original musical will make its world-premiere on the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre, and feature local students as performers, designers, and technicians. All public performances will be “pay what you can,” and include the distribution of free books to students as part of our initiative connecting theatre to reading and literacy.

Peter & Wendy

November 10 – 18
On the Waldron Stage

Fly to Neverland with Peter Pan and Wendy Darling in this new adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s most famous novel. Local student-performers will welcome audience members into a world full of mermaids, fairies, and pirates on the Waldron Stage for a performance that will mesmerize patrons of all ages. The original adaptation will also feature local students as designers and technicians. All public performances will be “pay what you can,” and include the distribution of free books to students as part of our initiative connecting theatre to reading and literacy.

MUSIC SERIES

Two musical concerts, with four fun-filled nights of well known tunes.

Golden Age of Broadway

May 22 – 23
Trinkle MainStage

Enjoy the sweeping and illustrious music of Broadway’s Golden Age in our Golden Age of Broadway concert on the Trinkle MainStage. Throughout the evening, enjoy songs from the Great White Way’s most iconic composers: Cole Porter (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate), Rodgers and Hammerstein (Sound of Music, South Pacific, Carousel, The King and I), Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story, On The Town), Irving Berlin (Annie Get Your Gun), Lerner and Lowe (My Fair Lady), Frank Loesser (Guys and Dolls), and more!  Featuring a live band and singers, this concert is produced by MMT in just a week and plays for two nights only!

Music of the Crooners

August 21 – 22
Trinkle MainStage

Remember some of the most celebrated entertainers of our time at our Music of the Crooners concert. Sit back and enjoy tunes originated by the velvety voices of singers like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and more. Pop standards from the Great American Songbook will leave you humming all the way home. Featuring a live band and singers, this concert is produced by MMT in just a week and plays for two nights only!

Season Subscriptions

Season subscriptions are available on Oct 1st on their website. There are many different packages visit millmountain.org/tickets/subscriptions:

Trinkle Productions – Package includes: Dreamgirls, Cinderella (Young Audiences on Trinkle), The Diary of Anne Frank, and Holiday Inn.

Music Series – Package includes: Golden Age of Broadway and Music of the Crooners.

The Fringe Series – Package includes: Cabaret and The Cake.

All In Package – Package includes:  Dreamgirls, Cinderella (Young Audiences on Trinkle), The Diary of Anne Frank, Holiday Inn, Golden Age of Broadway, Music of the Crooners, Cabaret, and The Cake.

Single tickets go on sale: December 1st. 

Visit millmountain.org or call 540-342-5740 for more information

MMT Staff joins the Cast & Creative Team of The Glass Menagerie 

The cast of Mill Mountain Theatre’s upcoming production of the classic drama The Glass Menagerie is gearing up for their first public performance next Wednesday, September 25th. Returning Roanoke favorites include Amy Baldwin* (Donna in Mamma Mia! and Diana in Next To Normal) and Logan T. Sutton (Pepper in Mamma Mia!)

Said to be one of the greatest plays in the 20th Century, The Glass Menagerie is the “memory play” that catapulted beloved playwright Tennessee Williams to fame. This riveting drama is set in 1937’s St. Louis, and follows the fragile Wingfield family: Tom, an aspiring poet, his painfully shy sister Laura, and their mother Amanda, a faded southern belle. Dreams and reality collide in this play of exquisite beauty. The Glass Menagerie runs September 25 through October 6 on the Trinkle MainStage.

Tennesee William’s The Glass Menagerie features Amy Baldwin* (Amanda), Logan T. Sutton (Tom), Lauren Wainwright* (Laura), and David Federman (Jim).  The Glass Menagerie will be Directed by Peppy Biddy, Production Stage Managed by Jessica Taylor Edwards*, Lighting Design by Bill Webb, Scenic Design by Jimmy Ray Ward, Costume Design by Jessica Gaffney, Properties Design by Matt Shields, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchek, Sound Design by Savannah Woodruff, and Sound Engineered by Pat LoRicco. *Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

The Glass Menagerie runs September 25 through October 6 on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be bought online at millmountain.org or at the box office: 540-342-5740.

Amy Baldwin* (Amanda) is honored to return to Mill Mountain Theatre for the third time this year.  Favorite regional credits include: Next to Normal (Diana– at MMT) Tracy Lord (The Philadelphia Story), Scarecrow (Wizard of Oz), Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), Reagan (King Lear), Ruth Condomine (Blithe Spirit). Amy is a proud AEA member & thinks dogs the best–particularly rescue dogs. *Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Logan T. Sutton (Tom) is grateful to be returning to Mill Mountain after his debut as Pepper in “Mamma Mia!” earlier this year. Prior to this he had just finished a run of “Your Alice” at BAM Off-Broadway and Edinburgh Fringe as the Swing. NYC Theatre: Homer (Floyd Collins), Percy Shelley (Mary’s Little Monster), Slightly (Peter Pan). Regional Theatre: Orlando (As You Like It), Claudio (Much Ado About Nothing), Rocky (Damn Yankees). BFA Elon University. 

Lauren Wainwright* (Laura) Regional: ONCE (Florida Studio Theatre, Theatre Raleigh), VIOLET, THE WINTER’S TALE, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, GUYS AND DOLLS (Festival 56), LOVE’S LABOURS LOST (Great Lakes Theatre), MEDEA (Hydrama Theatre, Greece). New York: Lots of Shakespeare and children’s theatre from Off-Broadway to Bryant Park. Film: “The Ides of March.” Follow along: @wrenwainwright *Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

David Federman (Jim) is thrilled to be working on his first production with Mill Mountain. Past credits include: Apemantus in Timon of Athens with the Fools & Kings Project, Doug in Gruesome Playground Injuries with Alliance Repertory Theatre, and Laertes in Hamlet with Stag and Lion. www.davidfederman.net

Sponsors for The Glass Menagerie include Business Solutions, Inc., The Glebe, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Skyline National Bank, and The W.E. McGuire Foundation. Grantors include Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, National Endowments for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Rehearsals have started for Mill Mountain Theatre’s upcoming production of the classic drama The Glass Menagerie. Said to be one of the greatest plays in the 20th Century, The Glass Menagerie is the “memory play” that catapulted beloved playwright Tennessee Williams to fame. This riveting drama is set in 1937’s St. Louis, and follows the fragile Wingfield family: Tom, an aspiring poet, his painfully shy sister Laura, and their mother Amanda, a faded southern belle. Dreams and reality collide in this play of exquisite beauty. The Glass Menagerie runs September 25 through October 6 on the Trinkle MainStage.

Tennesee William’s The Glass Menagerie features Amy Baldwin* (Amanda), Logan T. Sutton (Tom), Lauren Wainwright* (Laura), and David Federman (Jim).  The Glass Menagerie will be Directed by Peppy Biddy, Production Stage Managed by Jessica Taylor Edwards*, Lighting Design by Bill Webb, Scenic Design by Jimmy Ray Ward, Costume Design by Jessica Gaffney, Properties Design by Matt Shields, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchek, Sound Design by Savannah Woodruff, and Sound Engineered by Pat LoRicco. *Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

Sponsors for The Glass Menagerie include Business Solutions, Inc., The Glebe, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Skyline National Bank, and The W.E. McGuire Foundation. Grantors include Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, National Endowments for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

The Glass Menagerie runs September 25 through October 6 on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be bought online at millmountain.org or at the box office: 540-342-5740.

Mill Mountain Theatre unveils its dazzling 2020 Season: September 12th from 6:00-7:30pm on the Trinkle MainStage with a celebration to kick off the next year’s programming. Sparkling musicals, thought-provoking plays, and catchy concerts will populate the theatre’s stages in 2020. Be the first to hear the upcoming sensational titles at Mill Mountain Theatre!

This public and free event will begin at 6:00pm in the Center in the Square Atrium with food and drinks provided by Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen and Brewery, at 7:00pm patrons will gather in the Trinkle MainStage to view a special performance where MMT Staff and Guest Artists will unveil the 2020 Season. 

Family Favorites, American Classics, and Groundbreaking New Works appear in the Trinkle MainStage, Waldron Fringe, Young Audiences, and Music Series at MMT next year. This event will be Roanoke patron’s first chance to renew season tickets, reserve those coveted seats for every performance, and learn how to purchase discounted season tickets.  Be sure to save the date and join the festivities on September 12th from 6:00-7:30pm at Mill Mountain Theatre.

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR FALL CLASSES?! 🍁🍃🍂 Mill Mountain Theatre’s initiatives in Education and Community Engagement foster artistic growth in students of all ages and strengthen the organization’s relationship with the wider Roanoke Valley region through instructional programming, performances, partnerships, and special classes.

We’ve got lots of fun offerings for students Pre-K through Adult! There’s something for everyone!

Pre-K:

• “Disney Dreams” Preschool Music and Movement

Elementary (K-5):

• “Hakuna Matata” K-2 & Elementary Music Theatre
• Elementary Acting
• “Trolls!” K-2 Acting & Creative Movement
• Elementary Dance

Middle & High School (6-12):

• Middle & High School Improv
• Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Dance
• “Broadway: Right Now” Middle & High School Music Theatre
• Playwriting
• Acting Shakespeare
• Beginning Tap Dance
• Fundamentals of Theatre Design
• EXTENSION: Acting The Monologue

Adult Offerings:

• Beginning Tap Dance
• Acting Shakespeare
• Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Dance

Classes start September 3, so visit millmountain.org/class for more information about what class would be perfect for you! Click on the class titles above to learn more information.

Mill Mountain Theatre is reeling for its upcoming concert Let’s Go to The Movies, August 23rd & 24th on the Trinkle MainStage. Four of Roanoke’s favorite vocalists return to celebrate 100 years of movie magic: Devin Altizer (Spring Awakening, Concerts: Music of the 60s, Taste of Country, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and One Hit Wonders), Madeline Mae Walker (Spring Awakening, Frog & Toad TYA, and Shrek The Musical TYA), Christopher Castanho (Spelling Bee, The Little Lion, and The Jungle Book), and Emma Leigh Gwin (Andrew Lloyd Webber and The Little Lion). 

Sit back and enjoy all of your favorite songs from Hollywood’s Greatest Blockbusters: from  Titanic to The Wizard of Oz, Dirty Dancing to The Graduate. You will not want to miss this journey of music through the golden age of cinema at Mill Mountain Theatre. Come join us in this celebration of music through 100 years of movie magic.

The concert also features seven local youth performers, who will be giving a sneak peek of their upcoming roles in the MMT production of The Sound Of Music. Youth performers include Ellen Frary, Taylor Barenbaum, Caroline Moledor, James Moledor, Griffin Shaver, Riley Whisnant, and Natalie Thorell.

Devin Altizer is excited to be back after performing in the Music of the 60s concert. He is from Radford, VA, holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Emory & Henry College, and appeared at MMT as Moritz in Spring Awakening and in the Taste of Country and Andrew Lloyd Webber concerts last season. Favorite previous credits include: Toby in Sweeney Todd, Riff-Raff in Rocky Horror, and Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby. IG and Twitter: @devaltizer

Christopher Castanho is so excited to be singing on the Trinkle MainStage, having just directed MMT’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. He is a proud graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory’s BFA Musical Theatre Program. Favorite credits include Leaf Coneybear (Spelling Bee), Arpad (She Loves Me), and Labaile Gillman (The Little Lion). He is on staff as Mill Mountain’s Resident Creative & Teaching Artist. ChristopherCastanho.com @ChrisCast95.

Emma Leigh Gwin is a Virginia native and teaching artist at MMT. Credits include Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady), Laurey (Oklahoma!), Soloist (An Evening with Andrew Lloyd Webber), and Angelina (Trial by Jury). Love and gratitude to her family, especially HJ and C! Catch her next as Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. emmaleighgwin.com Instagram: @emmaleighgwin

Madeline Mae Walker is going into her senior year at UCF in the BFA Musical Theatre program with a dance minor. She is thrilled to be back at MMT after being in their 2018 Apprentice Company! Last summer she performed in Spring Awakening (Ilse), A Year with Frog & Toad (Woman 1) and Shrek (Dragon). Some previous UCF credits include Hot Mikado (Yum Yum), Titanic (Dance Captain/Kate McGowan u/s) and Oklahoma! (Ado Annie u/s). Maddie also tours Schoolhouse Rock to Central Florida schools with Winter Park Playhouse’s outreach program. She danced 2 years in Universal’s Holiday Parade and currently sings in the Hogwarts Frog Choir. 

Let’s Go To The Movies is Directed by Travis Kendrick, Music Direction/Arranging by Seth Davis, Lighting Design by Bill Webb, Sound Engineering by Ayme Gierchak, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchak, and Band Members: Seth Davis (Keys), Rachel Fauber (Keys 2), Evin Bowman (Bass/Guitar), and JT Fauber (Drums).

Sponsors for Let’s Go To The Movies: Blue Ridge Beverage, John H. and Michelle S. Higginbotham Family Foundation, Skyline Capital Strategies LLC, Skyline National Bank, and Woods Rogers PLC. Grantors include: Actors Equity Association, Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, Virginia Commission for the Arts, WVTF.

Get your tickets today by calling the MMT box office @ 540-342-5740 or by visiting millmountain.org Let’s Go To The Movies running August 23 – 24 on the Trinkle MainStage.  

The cast of Mill Mountain Theatre’s upcoming production of the classic musical The Little Mermaid Jr. has been announced. The Little Mermaid Jr. runs July 31 through August 11 on the Trinkle MainStage. 

Journey under the sea with Ariel and her friends in Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. In a magical underwater utopia, mermaid Ariel’s only wish is to live on land. But first, she’ll have to meet a prince, defy her father, and strike up a deal with an evil sea witch! Classic songs like “Part of Your World”, “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, “Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea”, and more appear in this one-hour version of the story we all know and love. This fully produced production featuring local youth is perfect for the whole family. In conjunction with this production, MMT will distribute free books to children in attendance, as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy.

The Little Mermaid Jr. features Victoria Riego de Dios (Ariel), Paige Smeltzer (Ursula), Eric Jones (King Triton), Simon Elliott (Prince Eric), Jasper Moore (Flounder), Ashlinn Blevins (Sebastian), Olivia Goodman (Scuttle), Noah Cox (Grimsby), Caroline Moledor (Chef Louis), Charles Meidlinger (Pilot), Beckett Socha (Flotsam), James Moledor (Jetsam), Bayla Kessler (Carlotta), Olivia Hunter (Aquata), Gabrielle Shelton (Andrina), Taylor Berenbaum (Arista), Tela Espelage (Atina), Julia Koncoski (Adella), Caroline Weston (Allana), Zachary Conklin (Sailor/Chef Ensemble), Connor Dunford (Sailor/Chef Ensemble), Hannah Kelly (Sailor/Chef Ensemble), Sarah Clemmer (Gull Ensemble), Mariah Eakin (Gull Ensemble), Mikayla Parker (Gull Ensemble), MaCalan Johnson (Sea Horse), Drew D’Allenssandro (Sea Creature Ensemble), Emily Mower (Sea Creature Ensemble), Ananiya Parker (Sea Creature Ensemble), and Griffin Shaver (Sea Creature Ensemble).   

The Little Mermaid Jr. will be Directed by Christopher Castanho, Choreographed by Travis Kendrick, Music Directed by Seth Davis, Production Stage Managed by Caroline Ragland, Lighting Design by Bill Webb, Scenic Design by Jimmy Ray Ward, Costume Design by Jessica Gaffney, Properties Design by Matt Shields, Assistant Choreographed & Assistant Stage Managed by Leonela Hernandez, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchek, Sound Engineering by Savannah Woodruff, and Assistant Stage Managed by Liz Bradley. 

Sponsors of the 2019 Theatre for Young Audiences Series and Reading Series include: B.J. Preas, Business Solutions Inc., Carilion Clinic, Claytor/Wirt Associates, Davis H. Elliott Company, Jay & Jindal, Innovative Insurance Group, Kiwanis Club of Roanoke, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and Roanoke Valley Orthodontics. Grantors include Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, National Endowments for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

The Little Mermaid Jr. runs July 31 through August 11 on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be bought online at millmountain.org or at the box office: 540-342-5740. Tickets only $15 – $22.

The cast of Mill Mountain Theatre’s upcoming production of Broadway musical Next To Normal has been announced. Next To Normal runs June 20 – 29 on the Waldron Stage.

Winner of the Pulitzer-Prize for Drama, this groundbreaking musical follows the Goodmans, a seemingly typical American family whose lives are anything but normal. The contemporary and electrifying musical shares the Goodman family’s intricate battle with mental health. Abundant with love, sympathy, and heart, Next To Normal takes the audience into the minds of each character, and reminds us that nobody’s family is normal.

Next To Normal features Amy Baldwin* (Diana), Chris Gleim* (Dan), Mikayla Cohen (Natalie), Jake Ellsworth (Gabe), Gianni Palmarini (Henry), and Briar Boggs (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine). *Amy Baldwin & Chris Gleim appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Next To Normal will be directed by Travis Kendrick, music directed by Seth Davis, production stage managed by Jessica Edwards*, assistant directed by Leonela Hernandez, technical direction by Karen Gierchek, scenic and prop design by Matt Shields, lighting design by Bill Webb, costume design by Jessica Gaffney, sound consultation by Ayme Gierchek,  and sound design by Savannah Woodruff. *Jessica Edwards appears of Actors’ Equity Association.

Sponsors of the 2019 Waldron Fringe Series include Friends of the Fringe. Grantors include Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, National Endowments for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group and Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Dear Friend of Mill Mountain Theatre:

When MMT added the Fringe Series to its season several years ago it gave me the “edgier” and challenging shows that I love.  OK, what IS a “Fringe Series”? In the theatre industry ‘fringe’ describes contemporary plays that may stretch the boundaries between actors and audiences, be about issues that may be uncomfortable or simply present new ideas for discussion.

The 2019 Fringe Series, at home on our Waldron Stage on Church Avenue, will present the musical Next to Normal, coming up soon,  June 20-29; and Every Brilliant Thing in November.  Both are thoughtful plays with a contemporary edge and deal with mental health issues. There is, indeed, a strong audience for this kind of theatre.

But this audience needs to be supported and I hope you will help me do that by becoming a Friend of the Fringe, an affinity group to enable MMT to keep these Fringe shows on its schedule for many years to come.  Friends of the Fringe can be a significant and influential voice in our community of theatre lovers for new and provocative plays.  And we can have fun while we are doing that!

Want to become a Friend of the Fringe?  Please contact Suzanne Cresswell, MMT’s development director, at 342-5761 or development@nullmillmountain.org, so we can continue efforts to preserve and grow this valued addition to our cultural community.  Together we will devise ways to help develop a vehicle for shows that matter to us.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Olson

Mill Mountain Theatre audience member since 1992

Mill Mountain Theatre is about to hop into the summer with A Peter Rabbit Tale: A Children’s Musical opening June 1st. Performances of A Peter Rabbit Tale will tour to outreach venues around the region to promote reading through engaging performance. Admission is free and books will be given to students without cost but with the promise to complete a survey so MMT can monitor the program’s impact.

Beatrix Potter’s classic story A Peter Rabbit Tale comes to life in this spirited children’s musical, touring the Roanoke Valley this summer. Peter Rabbit has begun to believe that being a rabbit isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. His mother is always making him do chores and he’s had enough of his goody-two-shoes twin sisters: Flopsy and Mopsy. After being picked on for the last time, Peter decides to run away from home. When he encounters difficulties living with feisty squirrels and sewing mice, he discovers that home might not be too bad after all.

MMT will perform a version of the story at parks, libraries and other neighborhood venues in Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Smith Mountain Lake, and Vinton and at special shows for students enrolled in the Roanoke City Public Schools summer enrichment program. The cast is composed of college-level or recent graduate drama students, who are hired as summer apprentices, especially for this project.

The reading and literacy program was developed in 2015 when Roanoke Public City Schools administrators asked MMT to develop a multi-year project to supplement schools’ efforts to raise student reading score and help efforts for accreditation of all Roanoke primary and elementary schools. In partnership with Blue Ridge Literacy and Roanoke Refugee Resettlement Service, we also help their clients learn to use English as a primary language.

When children receive free books at Mill Mountain Theatre shows, staffers ask for email addresses so we can send their families links to questionnaires. This feedback tells us the impact we have on the development of reading skills. In the 2018 season, MMT distributed 1,464 books; 77 percent of the children who received these books reported reading them and 83 percent expressed interest in visiting area libraries.

Sponsors of the 2019 Young Audience Series of performances include Business Solutions, Inc., Carillion Clinic, Claytor/Wirt Associates, Davis H. Elliot Company, Innovative Insurance Group, Kiwanis Club of Roanoke, Pinnacle Financial Partners, B.J. Preas, and Roanoke Valley Orthodontics. Grantors include Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, National Endowments for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group and Virginia Commission for the Arts.

A Peter Rabbit Tale features Gianni Palmarini, Leonela Hernandez, Jake Ellsworth, Mikayla Cohen, and Briar Boggs. A Peter Rabbit Tale is Directed and Choreographed by Michelle LoRicco, Music Directed by Emma Gwin, Stage Managed by Caroline Ragland, Tour Managed by Pat LoRicco, Scenic & Props Design by Matt Shields, Costume Design by Alison Owen, and Technical Direction by Karen Gierchak.

A Peter Rabbit Tale: A Children’s Musical begins performances on June 1st and runs until July 13 touring all over the Roanoke Valley. All performances are free! Be sure to visit millmountain.org/peter-rabbit to download a performance calendar and learn more.

Mill Mountain Theatre is excited to finally unveil its upcoming holiday show today: The Sound of Music running December 4 – 22 on the Trinkle MainStage. Due to licensing, Mill Mountain had to withhold this title when the 2019 season was revealed back in September of 2018. The classic returns to the Trinkle MainStage, full of national talent and local favorites like Roanoke native Emma Gwin starring as Maria.

The hills are alive in the Roanoke Valley this holiday season with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound Of Music, best known for its film adaptation starring Julie Andrews as the high-spirited governess Fraulein Maria. This 1959 classic has songs like “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, “Do-Re-Mi’, and “The Sound of Music”, perfect for the whole family during the holidays. Share this heartwarming story with a cast that mixes national talent with your local favorites in Roanoke’s most beloved musical: The Sound of Music.

To celebrate the special announcement, MMT is doing a special 12-HOUR TICKET FLASH. On May 7th from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm patrons can purchase an adult ticket for $25 for the first week of performances (December 4 – 8). Up to 4 tickets may be purchased with this deal. Time is limited- purchase your tickets now at millmountain.org or call 540-342-5740.

“The Sound of Music was instrumental back in our 2013 Season,” says Ginger Poole, Producing Artistic Director. “We are all so excited to finally announce this title and share this classic story with Roanoke.”

The Sound of Music will be Directed by Ginger Poole, Music Direction by Seth Davis, Scenic Design by Jimmy Ray Ward, Lighting Design by Bill Webb, Props Design by Matt Shields, Sound Engineering by Ayme Gierchak, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchak.

Sponsors for The Sound of Music include:  Avis Construction Co.; Boxley; Brooks Financial Group; Business Solutions, Inc.; Claytor/Wirt Associates; The Convergence Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Dixon, Hubard, Feinour & Brown, Inc.; Freedom First Credit Union; Frith Anderson + Peake; Gentry Locke Attorneys; Lunsford, a Trustpoint Company; Member One Federal Credit Union; Miller, Long & Associates, Inc. and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Long; Oakey’s Funeral Service and Crematory; Pinnacle Financial Partners; Roanoke Animal Hospital; Roanoke Valley Orthodontics; Rutherfoord, A Marsh & McLennan Agency; Skyline National Bank; Sun Tan City; and Trane.

Grantors include: Actors Equity Association, Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, Virginia Commission for the Arts, WVTF Radio.

Celebrate the holiday season this year with tickets to The Sound Of Music running December 4 – 22 on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.  

Mill Mountain Theatre is tuning up for its upcoming concert Music of the 60s, May 31st and June 1st on the Trinkle MainStage. Roanoke favorites return to sing some toe-tappin’ tunes: Devin Altizer (Spring Awakening, Country Concert, Andrew Lloyd Webber Concert, One Hit Wonders Concert), Emma Lou Delaney (Ali in Mamma Mia!), Kennedy Salters (2016 Apprentice), and newcomer Michelle Colette Ingle (will also be in MMT’s Holiday Show).

Twist and shimmy your way to Mill Mountain Theatre with the catchiest songs from one of the most revolutionary decades in music, the 60s. With your favorites from chart-toppers like The Beatles, The Supremes, and Aretha Franklin, we invite you to slip on a pair of bell bottoms and dance to your favorites. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. this groovy mix of tunes as we cover the best artists from the Motown Hub to the Woodstock Craze.

Devin Altizer is excited to be back at for the concert series this season. He is from Radford, VA, holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Emory & Henry College, and last appeared at MMT as Moritz in Spring Awakening and in the Taste of Country and Andrew Lloyd Webber concerts last season. Favorite previous credits include: Toby in Sweeney Todd, Riff-Raff in Rocky Horror, and Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby. IG and Twitter: @devaltizer

Emma Lou DeLaney is thrilled to be back at Mill Mountain Theatre so soon after playing Ali in MAMMA MIA! in April. This brown-eyed girl holds a BFA in Music Theatre with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine and is oh so grateful to the MMT team for giving her yet another opportunity. Love to Mom & Jim! @emma_lou_delaney

Michelle Colette Ingle is excited to be making her Mill Mountain debut in Music of the 60s! From Lincoln, NE, Michelle is currently finishing up her BA in Theatre Performance at the University of Nebraska. Michelle is currently playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors with Theatreworks UCCS in Colorado Springs. Other credits include The Boys Next Door (Sheila), Annie (Star-to-Be), Madagascar: A Musical Adventure (Gloria), and Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad), a role she was called back to play for NBC in their live TV production. Michelle is grateful to her friends and family for their support of her creative endeavors. She can be seen next as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray at Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Massachusetts this summer.

Kennedy Salters is a graduate of Brenau University, where she studied with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Roles Salters has performed, but not limited to are: Minnie in Flyin’ West, Bess Call in Tale Tales: A Folk Musical and Quinn in All the World’s a Stage, an adaptation (MMT), Asaka in Once on This Island, and Tiresias in Antigone. Directly after college, she interned and industrially performed with the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Following that, she traveled north to perform with the Cortland Repertory Theatre in their productions of Saturday Night Fever as Candy and Newsies as Medda Larkin. Salters is thrilled to be back at MMT for Music of the 60s, the theatre she owes her first professional theatre debut to.

Music of the 60s is Directed by Ginger Poole and Travis Kendrick, Music Direction/Arranging by Seth Davis, Sound Engineering by Ayme Gierchak, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchak, and Band Members: Seth Davis (Keys), Cara Modisett (Keys 2), Michael Havens (Bass/Guitar), and JT Fauber (Drums).

Sponsors for Music of the 60s: John H. and Michelle S. Higginbotham Family Foundation, Skyline Capital Strategies LLC, Skyline National Bank, and Woods Rogers. Grantors include: Actors Equity Association, Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, Virginia Commission for the Arts, WVTF.

Get your tickets today by calling the MMT box office @ 540-342-5740 or by visiting millmountain.org  Music of the 60s running May 31st & June 1st on the Trinkle MainStage. 

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory is proud to present their 2019 Summer Camp Series during June 3 – July 12. Camps provide burgeoning artists of all ages the opportunity to hone their creative skills in acting, music theatre, dance, and technical theatre disciplines at the only equity professional theatre in the valley.

Camps are weekly sessions with full and half-day options, which offer students Pre K through Adult a variety of ways to explore their creativity and self-expression. Each camp culminates with a performance for family and friends on the Trinkle MainStage.

Learn to perform where the professionals do!

2019 SUMMER CAMPS:

• Pre K – 1 Theatre Camp: Peter Rabbit And Friends Half-Day
• Teen & Adult Dance: All That Jazz! Half-Day
• K-2 Science & Theatre Camp: Adventures with Harry Potter Half-Day or Full-Day
• Elementary Science & Theatre Camp: Adventures with Harry Potter Half-Day or Full-Day
• Teen & Adult Dance: Contemporary Broadway Half-Day
• K-2 Music Theatre:  Friend Like Me Half-Day
• Elementary Music Theatre:  Friend Like Me Half-Day
• Middle & High School Acting: MMT Live! Half-Day
• Production Camp: Fame The Musical Jr. Full-Day
• Technical Theatre Camp Half-Day

All classes are taught by working theatre artists. Get a chance to flex your collaboration muscle and put on a show with a variety of different styled courses. Need-based scholarships are available on request: email travis@nullmillmountain.org for more information.

For more information, and the weekly schedule visit millmountain.org/class

The cast of Mill Mountain Theatre’s upcoming production of the Broadway musical Mamma Mia! has been announced, full of Roanoke favorites and even former Broadway performers. Mamma Mia! runs March 27 – April 14 on the Trinkle MainStage.

Mamma Mia! tells the story of Sophie, a twenty-year-old bride-to-be who longs to have her father walk her down the aisle. The problem is, she has no idea who he is! After reading her mother’s diary, filled with adventures in love, Sophie invites each of the three potential fathers to her wedding. With nonstop laughs and exhilarating dance numbers set to the iconic music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! has been a global smash hit since its premiere on Broadway in 2002. Notable songs include “Take A Chance on Me,” “Super Trouper,” “Dancing Queen”, and more!

The cast is full of returning MMT favorites: Lisa Graye as Sophie (2018’s West Side Story), Scott Watson as Bill (2016’s The Odd Couple, 2017’s A Christmas Story & Spelling Bee), Emma Lou Delaney as Ali (2018 Summer Camp Teaching Artist), and Diane Meck (2018’s A Chorus Line) in the ensemble. Most notably, Timothy Booth (MMT’s A Christmas Story in 2017) is returning to play Sam, reprising the role he played in Mamma Mia! on Broadway and the national tour.

Mamma Mia! features Amy Baldwin* (Donna), Timothy Booth* (Sam), Lisa Graye (Sophie), Hayley Palmer (Tanya), Steven Bidwell (Harry), Billie Aken-Tyers (Rosie), Scott Watson (Bill), Katya Ferrer (Lisa), Emma Lou Delaney (Ali), Nicholas Metcalf (Sky), Logan T. Sutton (Pepper), Brandon Looney (Eddie), A.J. Foggiano (Ensemble), Parker Joh (Ensemble), Fredy Ruiz (Ensemble), Adam Wedesky (Ensemble), Diane Meck (Ensemble), Natalie Mehl (Ensemble), Melissa Perry (Ensemble), and Tara Lynn Steele (Ensemble). *Amy Baldwin & Timothy Booth appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Mamma Mia! will be directed by Ginger Poole, with choreography by Kristen Brooks Sandler, music directed by Seth Davis, production stage managed by Bill Munoz*, assistant directed by Travis Kendrick, technical direction by Karen Gierchek, scenic design by Jimmy Ray Ward, lighting design by Bill Webb, costume design by Keith Schneider, prop design by Matt Shields, and sound design by Savannah Woodruff. *Bill Munoz appears of Actors’ Equity Association.

Sponsors of Mamma Mia! Include Avis Construction Company, BB&T Wealth, Brandon Oaks, Business Solutions, Inc., Davenport & Company, Inc., Dominion Risk Advisors, Elk Hill Advisors, Inc., Entre Computer Center, HCO Private Wealth, Howell’s Motor Freight, Inc. Pinnacle Financial Partners, and Roanoke Valley Orthodontics.  Grantors include: Actors’ Equity Association, Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and WVTF Radio.

Mamma Mia! runs March 27 – April 14 on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets can be bought online at millmountain.org or at the box office: 540-342-5740. Be sure to reserve your seat to Roanoke’s most joyful event of the year.

“My Fatal Valentine” is the third collaboration between the Mill Mountain Theatre and the Roanoke Parks and Recreation. It all began in 2016 with the dinner theatre production of “The Haunting”. This year, MMT and Roanoke PLAY co-produce Eileen Moushey’s hilarious and mysterious play “My Fatal Valentine”, running Feb 15 – 17 at the Fishburn Mansion.

Join other amateur sleuths at Roanoke’s historic Fishburn Mansion for a delicious dinner and an interactive murder mystery theatre performance. During this interactive dinner theatre, audience members will use their detective skills while traveling through the mansion to solve the mystery. This event will take place on the first and second floor of the Mountain View Center. Please note that the second floor is accessible by stairs only. Dinner, iced tea, coffee, and dessert included in the ticket price.

The production stars 17 local performers and is directed by MMT’s Resident Creative, Christopher Castanho, assisted by Caroline Moledor.

“My Fatal Valentine” runs Feb 15 – 17 at the Fishburn Mansion. Tickets must be purchased in advance by visiting millmountain.org or by calling 540-853-1027.

Lots of fun and exciting classes for students of all ages (Grades Pre K through Adult) coming up this Spring at Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory. Taking class at MMT gives students the opportunity to hone their creative skills in acting, music theatre, dance, and technical theatre disciplines at the only Equity professional theatre in the valley.

LEARN TO PERFORM WHERE THE PROFESSIONALS DO!

Classes this Spring:

• Teen & Adult Tap
• Musical Theatre Song Study: Singing & Acting Solo Songs
• Theatre Design: Puppetry and Performance
• “A Spoonful of Sugar” K-2 & Elementary Music Theatre
• “Seuss!” – Preschool Music and Movement
• Music Theatre Conservatory (Audition Only)
• Middle & High School Music Theatre
• “In The Jungle” – K-2 Acting & Creative Movement
• Acting Conservatory (Audition Only)
• Stage & Special Effects Makeup
• “Incredible Heroes!” Elementary Acting
• Foundations of Dance
• Middle & High School Acting & Improv
• Playwriting
• Theatre Dance (Drop-In)

All classes are taught by professional theatre artists. Get a chance to flex your collaboration muscle and put on a show with a variety of different styled courses. Need-based scholarships are available on request: email travis@nullmillmountain.org for more information.

Spring Classes begin February 4th and continue to April 6th. For more information, and the weekly schedule visit millmountain.org/class

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory, the onsite, pre-professional training program at Mill Mountain Theatre, is seeking submissions of short plays for Write Stuff!, the third annual festival of new works penned by local students. The playwriting contest will have categories for Middle School and High School playwrights, with the theme “Discovering Truth About Yourselves and Others”. The winning plays will be selected by a panel of Mill Mountain Theatre professional artists and will be performed by local youth as part of a festival of staged-readings directed by MMT staff on April 12th, 2019 on the Waldron Stage. One of the winning plays will then go on to be entered in Young Playwrights For Change, a national competition. The deadline for submissions is January 31st, 2019.

Write Stuff! serves to connect Mill Mountain Theatre’s rapidly expanding education programming with its historical and ongoing commitment to new play development. Ginger Poole, Mill Mountain Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, expressed excitement about bringing the young playwrights festival back to Mill Mountain Theatre’s Young Audiences programming for the third year in a row. “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. Expanding that vision to invest in the development of young writers had been a desire of mine for several years, and I am thrilled how this festival has grown so much since its inception in 2017” she said.

The mission to encourage student authors is also in alignment with Mill Mountain Theatre’s pedagogical goals. “Write Stuff is an incredible experience for young artists to work on a new play process.  It isn’t often that young people get to be involved in brand new plays: learning how scripts change, how characters are developed, and how to work with a playwright in the room,” says Travis Kendrick, Mill Mountain Theatre’s Director of Education. “Last year, Mill Mountain Theatre gave this experience to three young playwrights, who got to see their words come to life onstage as other young actors embodied the characters that they had created.  The new plays performed to a full house, and each playwright participated in a talk back discussion with the audience afterwards,” he added.

In addition to staged readings of the chosen plays, MMT has the privilege of being a hosting site for the Young Playwrights for Change competition. One of the winning plays will be submitted to Young Playwrights For Change from Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory.

Write Stuff Scripts will be centered around: “Discovering Truth about Ourselves and Others.”

How do we discover comforting or uncomfortable truths about ourselves? What do we learn about ourselves or the world around us as a product of the discovery? How do we discover the truth about another person or group of people who have different beliefs and identities from our own?

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 January 31st, 2019. Winners will be notified by February 11th, 2019. Performance and presentation of winning plays will be April 12th, 2019 on MMT’s Waldron Stage. Visit millmountain.org to learn more.