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AUDITIONS: FALL 2018 MUSIC THEATRE CONSERVATORY CLASS 

Middle & High School Students interested in the ‘audition only’ Music Theatre Conservatory class at Mill Mountain Theatre: auditions will take place Friday, August 10 from 4-6pm in the 3rd Floor Studio. (20 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, Virginia 24011)

Please email conservatoryauditions@nullmillmountain.org to schedule an appointment. Please prepare a one minute selection of a musical theatre song and a 1 minute monologue.

Music Theatre Conservatory classes will be held on Tuesdays from 7pm-9pm, September 4th- October 23rd.

Introducing Michelle LoRicco, our new Education Associate

Michelle is a passionate educator, director, and playwright who loves to create and tell stories on stage and in the classroom with people of all ages. Michelle graduated from the University of Central Florida with her MFA, specializing in Theatre for Young Audiences, and she received her Bachelor’s in Theatre, specializing in Musical Theatre, at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She has developed curriculum and worked in the education departments at the American Repertory Theatre, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Christ Fellowship, and Children’s Impact Network. As a teaching artist, Michelle has taught students of all ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and varying abilities in the Central Florida community in projects like EYEPLAY, a dual-language program developed by Childsplay in Arizona to take drama in preschool classrooms to develop literacy in English and Spanish.

 

Michelle worked as the Artistic Resident for the Orlando Repertory Theatre, with directing credits like Willy Wonka Jr., Just Like Us, When Pigs Fly, Voice Your Choice, Does My Head Look Big in This?, Tut Tut!, and The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet. Michelle was also the Associate Artistic Director for the inaugural season of UCF’s Pegasus Playlab 2018, a play development showcase of new work by emerging playwrights.

 

As a playwright, Michelle has developed plays for The REP’s Writes of Spring program, a writing competition which takes creative writings from K-12 students to create a play. Her play When Coquis Sing was produced as a part of The REP’s celebration of International Women’s Voices Day 2018, and she is currently working on a commission from Endstation Theatre Company and Kids’ Haven. On the weekends, you will catch this Florida native hiking this new Virginian landscape with her husband Pat and dog, Kibi. MichelleLoRicco.com  

Shrek The Musical TYA Begins Rehearsal at Mill Mountain Theatre

Mill Mountain Theatre begins rehearsal today for ‘Shrek The Musical: Theatre For Young Audiences Version” and performs August 1st through 12th on the Trinkle MainStage. Characters you know and love are brought to life by MMT’s cast of 30 performers, featuring youth actors from the Roanoke Valley, as well as Mill Mountain Theatre’s Apprentice Company.

 

Once upon a time, as all fairytales begin, there lived an ogre named Shrek. His swamp was invaded by castoff characters from other fairy tales. To reclaim the swamp, Shrek must rescue a princess, and in the process, he falls in love with her. Adapted from the animated feature film, this musical is perfect for the whole family!

 

Be sure to secure your seats to ‘Shrek the Musical TYA’ running August 1-12 on the Trinkle MainStage. Tickets range from $15-22 and can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.  

In conjunction with this production, MMT will distribute free books to student audience members, as part of their initiative connecting theatre to literacy.

 

Shrek The Musical is sponsored by Roanoke Valley Orthodontics, Lanford Brothers Co., Business Solutions, Inc., Davis H. Elliot Company, Woods Rogers, The Rotary Club of Salem, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Carilion Clinic, Kathryn B. McQuade Foundation, Kroger, The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke. Grantors include: Actors Equity Association, Blue Star Theatres, Center in the Square, National Endowment for the Arts, City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, Theatre Communications Group, Virginia Commission for the Arts, WVTF Radio.

 

The cast of Shrek features 30 young artists: Parker Addison, Taylor Barenbaum, Olivia Bloch, Emma Bush, Sarah Clemmer, Hannah Conner, Noah Davis, Cody Edwards, Adalynn Eller, Simon Elliott, Tela Espelage, AnnElese Galleo, Skylar Gay, Mia Gearhart, Olivia Goodman, Leila Haley, Hannah Hill, Ryan Koch, Haley Lynch, Caroline Moledor, James Moledor, Jasper Moore, Sawyer Mullins, Mikayla Parker, Cameron Reynolds, Graham Roudebush, Griffin Shaver, Paige Smeltzer Isaiah Swanson, and Madeline Mae Walker.

 

The creative team of Shrek is led with Direction and Choreography by Travis Kendrick, Music Direction by Seth Davis, Lighting Design by Martha Carter, Scenic Design by Jimmy Ray Ward, Costume Design by Cole Spivia, Prop Design by Matthew Shields, Producing Artistic Direction by Ginger Poole, Stage Management by Jessica Humke, Assistant Direction and Assistant Stage Management by Roberto Mendez, Assistant Stage Management by Breanna Strife, Pre-Show Choir Coordinated by Reilly Lincavicks, Technical Direction by Karen Gierchak, and Sound Engineering by Savannah Woodruff.

 

Get your tickets today by calling the MMT box office @ 540-342-5740 or by visiting millmountain.org  ‘Shrek the Musical TYA’ runs August 1-12 on the Trinkle MainStage.

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory Summer Coffeehouse

It’s time for Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory’s Summer Coffeehouse, and this year it’s on the TRINKLE MAINSTAGE at 6pm on Saturday July 14th!

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory students, past and present, are coming together for an evening of music and performing. Meet the cast of ‘Shrek The Musical TYA,’ and many more!

WHEN: July 14th
TIME: 6:00pm
WHERE: Trinkle MainStage (1 Market Square SE, Roanoke, Virginia 24011)
COST: Free

RSVP to the FaceBook event herehttps://www.facebook.com/events/162720841259572

24-hour Play Festival Overnight Sensations returns!

6 playwrights + 6 directors + 6 casts + 24 hours =
6 new ten minute plays and a fun night of theatre at MMT!
Saturday, July 7 at 8:00 pm
on the Trinkle Main Stage
FREE and open to the public
General seating.
Since 2006, the Hollins Playwright’s Lab and Mill Mountain Theatre have teamed up to present a fun-filled night of entertainment with our “micro-brewed” 24-hour play festival, featuring the world premiere of six original 10-minute plays.
Pre-selected casts of local actors and celebrities — including returning favorites JP Powell (My Radio), Natalie Faunce (WSLS’s Daytime Blue Ridge), Mike Allen (Roanoke Times) and five actors from Mill Mountain Theatre’s apprenticeship program — rehearse with one of six directors to fully stage these new works at 8:00 pm!
Playwrights for this year’s Overnight Sensations include three members of the award-winning Hollins Playwright’s Lab (Sean Abley, Jessica Burton, Erica Zephir), local favorites Ben R. Williams and Dwayne Yancey, and guest playwright Jay Reiss.  Directors include four Hollins Playwright’s Lab students (Kavin Grant, Kate Leslie, Lauren Brooke Ellis, Amile Wilson), guest director Katerina Yancey, and our very own Bob Moss (Off-Broadway Living Legend).
Always fun, always packed, and most importantly, ALWAYS FREE!  We look forward to seeing you in the audience!

*Please Note: Overnight Sensations is not affiliated in any way with The 24 Hour Plays, a nonprofit corporation organized under the New York Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.

Mill Mountain Theatre Begins Performances of Spring Awakening: June 21

Tony Award-Winning Rock Musical About Communication Breakdown and Teen Sexuality Invites Opportunity for Thoughtful Discussion After the Performance.

Preview Performance June 21. Opens June 22 on Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Stage

Mill Mountain Theatre opens Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s Spring Awakening on June 22, with a discounted preview performance on Thursday, June 21. The performances will take place on MMT’s Waldron Stage, at 20 Church Ave SE in Downtown Roanoke.

The Company of Spring Awakening

To enhance the theatrical experience and invite discussion that this difficult and controversial piece may present, the following events will take place in the theatre following the performances on June 21, June 23 and June 30.
June 21: Continuing the Ghostlight Project: In January 2017, Mill Mountain Theatre joined hundreds of other theatres around the country in affirming our status as a light in our community, committed to protecting inclusion, participation and compassion for everyone. Join us after the performance to light our ghostlight in honor of this renewed commitment.

June 23: Cast Talkback: Hear from the cast of Spring Awakening after the 7:30 pm performance about their experiences working on the show, with an informal Q & A to follow.

June 30: Hard Conversations: Talking and Listening to Young Adult Voices (panel discussion): In an era where face-to-face conversations are often replaced by texts and tweets, in a time where people are feeling more polarized than ever, how do we break down barriers and have hard
conversations with each other? Our panel of teen and young adult leaders and activists from our community discuss their struggles and successes in communicating their messages in today’s world. Featuring Louis Garcia, Patrick Henry High School student and founder of the Roanoke Valley chapter of Students Demand Action, and John Livingston, Vice President of HokiePRIDE at Virginia Tech.

Spring Awakening is a rock musical about teenagers caught between the tumult of adolescence and the frustrating lack of experience with sex, pregnancy, abortion and suicide, guilt, innocence and death, all with wailing guitars, driving percussion and tortured young voices. The musical,
based on a 19th century German play, won 8 Tony Awards in 2006. This production contains mature language and content. Viewer discretion is advised.

Spring Awakening will be presented on June 21 (discounted preview performance), 22-23, and 27-30 at 7:30pm, and June 24 at 2:00pm on the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://millmountain.org/shows/, by calling 540-342-5740, or Tuesday-Saturday from 9:45am-4:45pm and Sunday from 12:45-4:45pm at the Box Office, located in the lobby of Center in the Square. Tickets are $20 or $15 for preview performances.

For more information on the 2018 Mill Mountain Theatre season and to purchase season tickets,visit https://millmountain.org/tickets/.

Mill Mountain Theatre To Present Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s Spring Awakening

Thought Provoking Exploration of Coming-Of-Age, Sexuality, & Censorship In A Folk-Infused Tony Award Winning Rock Musical

 Opens June 22 on Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Stage

Mill Mountain Theatre will continue its 2018 Waldron Fringe season with Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s Spring Awakening, which will preview on June 21 and open on June 22 on Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Stage.

 

Spring Awakening is a rock musical about teenagers caught between the tumult of adolescence and the frustrating lack of experience with sex, pregnancy, abortion and suicide, guilt, innocence and death, all with wailing guitars, driving percussion and tortured young voices. The musical, based on a 19th century German play, won 8 Tony Awards in 2006.

 

Continuing the Waldron Fringe Series goal of providing intimate, thought-provoking, and contemporary work in the Roanoke community, director Travis Kendrick describes Spring Awakening as dealing with topics that are still taboo in many places. “I think in 2018 it’s just as relevant subject matter as in 1890.” The original 1890 German play was banned when it was produced and was censored twice in New York, only adding to the already present themes of censorship and expression in the show. “It’s a tragedy of circumstances. It’s a tragedy of truth-withholding. The heart of the argument in Spring Awakening is that when young people are denied permission to express themselves or be told the truth, crisis rises.” Despite the dark themes in the musical, Kendrick expressed the positive message of this provocative show: “Melchior says, ‘In the end we only have each other—we must build a different world.’ Despite it all, there’s hope.”

 

Mill Mountain Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening will feature the 2018 Summer Apprentice Company of college students as well as local high school students and industry professionals. This diverse cast exemplifies the themes of childhood versus adulthood in the musical. The Apprentice Company can also be seen in A Year With Frog And Toad and Shrek The Musical – TYA Version this season.

 

This production contains mature language and content. Viewer discretion is advised.

 

Spring Awakening will be presented on June 21 (discounted preview performance), 22-23, and 27-30 at 7:30pm, and June 24 at 2:00pm on the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online at https://millmountain.org/shows/, by calling 540-342-5740, or Tuesday-Saturday from 9:45am-4:45pm and Sunday from 12:45-4:45pm at the Box Office, located in the lobby of Center in the Square. Tickets are $20 or $15 for preview performances.

 

For more information on the 2018 Mill Mountain Theatre season and to purchase season tickets, visit https://millmountain.org/tickets/.

MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE TO PRESENT FREE TOURING PRODUCTION OF A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD – TYA VERSION

Mill Mountain Theatre 2018 Apprentice Company Tours the Roanoke Valley
Promoting Literacy And Theatre With A Free Production For Young Audiences

Opens June 2 at Heights Community Church

ROANOKE, VA – May 25, 2018 – Mill Mountain Theatre will continue its 2018 Young Audiences season with Robert & Willie Reale’s musical A Year With Frog And Toad – TYA Version, which will open on June 2 at 10am at Heights Community Church and tour around the region offering free performances.
The Mill Mountain Theatre 2018 Summer Apprentice Company will perform this show around the region at schools, libraries, parks and neighborhood venues to delight families. Admission is free, and free books will be distributed to young audience members as part of Mill Mountain Theatre’s initiative connecting theatre to literacy. A Year With Frog And Toad is appropriate for children of all ages.
This charming musical, the first children’s show to reach Broadway, was nominated for three Tony Awards in 2003. A 60 minute one-act play, A Year With Frog And Toad depicts a year in the life of two amphibian friends and a host of other woodland characters. As said by director Christopher Castanho, “though the story features all animal characters, the scenarios and experiences that they go through are relatable for people of all ages: making new friends, facing your fears, taking responsibility…We’ve all had so much fun bringing Frog, Toad, and the other forest creatures to life, and we can’t wait for you to join us!”
A Year With Frog And Toad will be performed on June 2, 6, 8-9, 11, 13-15, 19-21, 23, 26-27, and 29-30. Tickets are free for all ages at the door. For more show information and for a complete show schedule visit https://millmountain.org/production/year-frog-
toad/.
A Year With Frog And Toad will be performed by Mill Mountain Theatre’s 2018 Summer Apprentice Company, which is comprised of five college students studying to pursue a professional career in the arts. The Apprentice Company can also be seen in Spring Awakening and Shrek The Musical – TYA Version this season. For more information on the 2018 Mill Mountain Theatre season and to purchase season tickets, visit https://millmountain.org/tickets/.

Saturday, June 2nd- 10am: Heights Community Church
Wednesday, June 6th- 11am: Downtown Roanoke, Market Square
Friday, June 8th- 10:30am: Williamson Road Library
Saturday, June 9th- 10am: Elmwood Park
Monday, June 11th- 10am: Glenvar Branch Library
Wednesday, June 13th- 11am: Downtown Roanoke, Market Square
Thursday, June 14th- 10am: Hollins Branch Public Library
Friday, June 15th- 10am: Vinton Branch Public Library
Tuesday, June 19th- 10:30am: Gainsboro Branch Library
Wednesday, June 20th- 11am: Downtown Roanoke, Market Square
Thursday, June 21st- 10:30am: Raleigh Court Library
Saturday, June 23rd- 10am: Countryside Park
Tuesday, June 26th- 3pm: South County Library
Wednesday, June 27th- 3pm: Jackson Park Library
Friday, June 29th- 10am: Salem Public Library
Saturday, June 30th- 10am: Heights Community Church

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory Presents 2018 Summer Camp Series

Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory is proud to present their 2018 Summer Camp Series during June 4 – 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 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!

CAMPS:

  • ELEMENTARY/K-2 SCIENCE & THEATRE CAMP: “A WRINKLE IN TIME” Half-Day or Full-Day
  • ELEMENTARY/K-2 MUSIC THEATRE: “THE GREATEST SHOW!” Half-Day
  • PRE-K – 1: FROG & TOAD & FRIENDS THEATRE CAMP! Half-Day
  • TEEN & ADULT DANCE: BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS Half-Day
  • MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC THEATRE: “THOROUGHLY MODERN MUSICAL!” Full-Day
  • MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL ACTING: SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY CAMP Half-Day
  • TEEN & ADULT TAP CAMP Half-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

MMT presents Lucas Hnath’s THE CHRISTIANS

 

Next up in Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Fringe Series is a staged reading of The Christians. The production of Lucas Hnath’s beloved play will play two nights only May 18th & 19th. Former MMT Staff Member Jay Briggs returns after his production of Constellations, earlier this year, to direct this staged reading with a company of five actors.

 

Pastor Paul approaches the pulpit on the day when his megachurch is celebrating paying off its debt. To the surprise of his congregation, his sermon reveals that the church is taking a new direction theologically. Fractured by a dispute over salvation and damnation, this is a play about religious schism in modern America. This play will be presented as a staged reading. (Actors will have scripts in hand)

 

The cast of The Christians features Sean Hinkcle (Associate Pastor Joshua), Tristan Sample (Jay), Amanda Sox (Elizabeth), Danielle Thorson (Jenny), and Scott Watson (Paul). Production is directed by Jay Briggs and Music Directed by Alicia Varcoe.

 

Be sure to secure your seat to The Christians May 18th & 19th @ 7:30pm on the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre. All tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.


Sean Hinckle (Associate Pastor Joshua): Off Broadway: Beneath the Gavel (Stewart, 59E59 Theaters). Off Off Broadway: Hamlet (Hamlet, New York Shakespeare Exchange), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo, Lower East Side Shakespeare Company), Titus Andronicus (Bassianus, New York Shakespeare Exchange), Pushing Daisy (Sketch, Secret Theater). Regional: Playmakers! (Florida Studio Theatre), Oklahoma! (Fred, New Theater Restaurant), Macbeth (Porter, Reduxion Theatre Company). Sean is a resident ensemble member of Bated Breath Theatre Company and works as a teaching artist in New York City. Endless thanks to Mill Mountain Theatre for the opportunity to tackle such an incredible play!

 

Tristan Sample (Jay) is thrilled to be working with Mill Mountain!  His recent NYC credits include: After the End (Paradise Factory) Failure: A Love Story (NSD), Butcher (Stella Adler: Harold Clurman Lab); West Coast credits:  Buyer and Cellar, The Graduate.  When not on stage you can find him at the piano, composing music and writing lyrics.  MFA: New School for Drama.  www.tristansample.com

 

Amanda Sox (Elizabeth) was last seen at Mill Mountain Theatre as Marianne in Constellations, having previously been Ms. Poppenghul in Moonlight and Magnolias. Regional credits include: The Cake (Jen), In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play (Catherine Givings), Christmas on the Rocks (Cindy Lou Who), Richard III (Lady Anne), and Othello (Desdemona) at The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC; A Christmas Carol at Virginia Stage Company; Night of The Iguana at Berkshire Theatre Festival; Rough Magic at The Hangar Theatre. Up next, Amanda will be playing Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest at Lean Theater Ensemble in Hilton Head, SC. She graduated from Elon University with a BFA in Acting.

 

 

Danielle Thorsen (Jenny) is absolutely thrilled to be working with Mill Mountain Theatre. She is a Roanoke native and grew up in the theatre communities around the city, with the Mill Mountain Conservatory being a source of training and inspiration to pursue theatre professionally. She attended Wake Forest University, and after graduation, she lived and worked in Atlanta and Chicago, establishing herself in the theatre communities there. She is now back in Roanoke before tackling the (still to be determined) next big adventure.

 

Scott Watson (Pastor Paul) is overjoyed to return to his favorite Virginian home, Mill Mountain Theatre, and collaborate and play again with such passionate and talented folks!  Previous Mill Mountain Credits: A Christmas Story, 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Odd Couple. Off-Broadway: Taming of the Shrew & Henry V (New York Classical Theatre), Drunk Shakespeare (The Lounge), Going Once, Laughing Twice (St Luke’s Theatre) Regional: Hamlet & Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare on the Sound) Othello & Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Taming of the Shrew (Roxy Regional) Hamlet & The Winters Tale (Adirondack Shakespeare)  Film: Neighbors, When the Moon was Twice as Big, Zombie Apocalypse TV: A Crime to Remember, The Perfect Murder, Shadow of Doubt, Redrum. BA Grand Valley State University in Michigan. www.scottymwatson.com @scottymwatson. Thank you to Ginger, Alicia, Travis, Christopher, Emma, Jay, Amanda and everyone at MMT for all you do!

This production is supported by Friends of the Fringe, an affinity group of theatre-goers interested in bringing contemporary drama to our stages. To join Friends of the Fringe, please contact John Levin at 540-342-5761 or at development@nullmillmountain.org

Following The Christians in the Waldron Fringe Series is Spring Awakening, a fully produced production of the a contemporary rock musical exploring teenagers caught between the tumult of adolescence and the frustrating lack of experience. This 2006 Tony Award winning musical will feature our summer apprentice company with additional guest artists. Visit millmountain.org or call the box office at 540-342-5740 to reserve your tickets today.

Theatre for All Ages with The Tempest and Mother Goose Tales

Mill Mountain Theatre presents exciting programming for their Young Audience Series as two productions: Mother Goose Tales and Shakespeare’s The Tempest run in repertory on the Waldron Stage, May 5-12. Audience members of all ages can see both productions on the same day, as the performances are alternating in the same theater space.

 

Mother Goose Tales (May 5th & 12th at 11am & 1pm)

An original play by Christopher Castanho features all of the Nursery Rhyme characters you know and love, perfect for younger audience members and entire families. When siblings Jack & Jill decide they’re too old for bedtime stories, they suddenly are whisked away to a strange land and have to find their way home. On their journey they meet Nursery Rhyme characters: the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Little Bo Peep, Humpty Dumpty and more, who lead them to the Queen: Mother Goose, who will help them get back home! A collection of well-known fairy tales and nursery rhymes will come to life in song and pantomime. Children from MMT’s Conservatory will perform these classic tales for other children, the production is directed by MMT Outreach Coordinator and Teaching Artist: Emma Gwin.

 

The Tempest (May 5th, 6th, 12th @ 3pm and May 9th @ 7pm)

Sorcerers, sprites and spirits meet villains, and monsters, and kings in Shakespeare’s tragicomedy set on a remote island complete with a shipwreck. Romance and a raging storm end in revelations, redemption and marriage as Shakespeare’s plays so often do. MMT’s shortened adaptation of the original script by Travis Kendrick is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for Middle and High School students, acted by MMT Conservatory students, and directed by Resident Creative & Teaching Artist: Christopher Castanho

 

In conjunction with these productions, Mill Mountain Theatre will distribute free books to student audience members, as part of their initiative connecting theatre to literacy.

 

Sponsors of the 2018 Young Audience Series of performances include: Roanoke Valley Orthodontics, Lanford Brothers Co., Business Solutions, Inc., Davis H.Elliot Company, Woods Rogers, The Rotary Club of Salem, Carilion Clinic, and Kathryn B. McQuade Foundation. Grantors include: City of Roanoke Arts Commission, City of Salem, Friendship Foundation, Star City Reads, Turn the Pages Foundation, Center in the Square, Theatre Communications Group, National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts.

The Tempest and Mother Goose Tales open on Saturday, May 5th on MMT’s Waldron Stage (20 Church Ave, SE). Performances of The Tempest: May 5th, 6th, 12th @ 3pm and May 9th @ 7pm. Mother Goose Tales will perform May 5th & 12th at 11am & 1pm. Admission is ‘pay-what-you-can’ at the door. No advance tickets will be sold for the listed performances above. Visit millmountain.org for more information

Now Seeking: Education Associate at Mill Mountain Theatre

Job Title

Education Associate

Reports To

Director of Education

Please submit resume/c.v to ginger@nullmillmountian.org

Job purpose

The Education Associate (EA) exists to assist the Director of Education (DoE) in the implementation of Mill Mountain Theatre’s education initiatives and outreach programming.  As the only equity professional theatre in the Roanoke Valley, Mill Mountain Theatre feels a special responsibility for training the next generation of theatre artists and building an appreciation of the art form in the next generation of audiences.  The EA will serve on the front lines of this effort as one of the primary teaching artists for classes in our in-house Conservatory classes and Outreach programs, as well as assist the DoE with administrative duties as needed.

Start date: August 19th, 2019

  • Teach for Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory (MMTC)

As one of the primary teaching artists for Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory, the EA will be responsible for teaching a full course load during fall classes, spring classes, and summer camps. The EA will devise and execute lesson plans as well as prepare students for end of term class showcases. The teaching course load includes classes in music theatre, dance, acting, and creative movement for children Pre-K through adult.  EA may be asked to teach classes and master classes in their areas of specialty. The EA will collaborate with DoE to set and plan curriculum for MMTC classes and educational outreach programming. MMT is specifically looking for an Education Associate with training and practical experience to teach music theatre and foundational dance classes.

  • Coordinate Community Engagement & Outreach Programming

The EA assists the DoE in the evaluation of all existing programs for community and educational engagement, as well as the development of new initiatives to serve the community and broaden Mill Mountain Theatre’s reach.

The EA will be responsible for teaching all off-site Outreach Programming, which takes Conservatory-style classes outside of the theatre’s walls in partnership with local organizations. The EA will devise and execute outreach lesson plans.

  • Assist with Mill Mountain Theatre Education productions

Mill Mountain Theatre’s Education program produces several productions each season for MMT’s Theatre For Young Audiences season and Apprenticeship Programs. The EA may be responsible for collaborating on and/or assisting with one or more of these productions, as determined by the Director of Education. (Involvement may include directing, choreographing, designing, or other areas of specialty.)

  • Assist in the administrative duties of Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory

In support of the DoE, the EA will perform administrative tasks related to Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory. These tasks may include class scheduling, class and curriculum planning, correspondence, record-keeping, special event planning, social media management, and projects in collaboration with the Director of Development.

  • Cultivate existing partnerships / Initiate new partnerships

As a growing education program, the EA will be responsible for cultivating existing partnerships and collaborations with community organizations, as well as initiating new partnerships that expand MMT’s reach and contribute to providing theatre arts programming to communities that would otherwise not have access.

  • Contribute to a growing department

The EA will work in conjunction with the DoE to vision new programming and initiatives, and to strategize their implementation. The EA will also serve on the Artistic Planning Committee to assist the Producer in planning future seasons for MMT, including but not limited to Conservatory programming.

 

Skills & qualifications

  • Education: Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree (preferred: Theatre, Musical Theatre, Theatre Education, or related field)
  • Thorough understanding of theatre as an art form and professional discipline, with an emphasis in training and experience in music theatre and dance
  • Excellent time management and communication skills
  • A passion for connecting and engaging with communities
  • Ability to teach a wide variety of theatre classes (acting of all levels, foundational dance, musical theatre) in addition to developing Outreach Programming
  • The ideal candidate will also have the following characteristics:
    • A willing capacity to remain flexible and shift course as necessary
    • An active and energetic mind and demeanor
    • A positive attitude
    • A strong attention to detail
    • A compelling sense of collaboration
    • A strong work ethic
    • Ability to derive deep satisfaction from community building and enrichment
    • Ability to work independently and be a self-starter within a small Education team

Working conditions

Mill Mountain Theatre operates on a flex work schedule. This job will require regular work on nights and weekends.

 

Physical requirements

This job requires physical engagement with students in a classroom and/or rehearsal setting. The applicant should be comfortable working on their feet for significant stretches of time.

Full-Time Position. Start date: August 19th, 2019

Please submit cover letter and resume/c.v to ginger@nullmillmountian.org

Local Students Work With Professionals in MMT’s A CHORUS LINE

The cast and creative team of MMT’s A Chorus Line have been hard at work bringing this Pulitzer-Prize and Tony-Award winning musical to life on the Trinkle MainStage April 25th – May 13th. With music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr & Nicholas Dante, A Chorus Line tells the personal stories of 17 dancers auditioning for 8 spots in the chorus of a new Broadway musical.

 

Four of those dancers are Patrick Henry High School students Chloe Cannon (Freshman), Nathan Derrico (Senior), Cameron Reynolds (Junior), and Cathleen Turner (Senior). Derrico and Turner hold previous performances on the Mill Mountain stages, meanwhile Cannon and Reynolds are making their exciting Trinkle MainStage debut in the award-winning musical.

The young performers spoke of how much they’ve learned in their first week of rehearsals. “This entire cast is full of professionals, they’re incredible. It’s always such a learning experience working with everyone, seeing how they take it all in.” says PH Senior Cathleen Turner (Tricia/ Val U/S). MMT’s production of A Chorus Line is Patrick Henry Junior Cameron Reynolds’ (Roy) first time working on a professional musical “It’s an opportunity that I’ve never had before, I’m just taking it all in.”

 

Considered a landmark celebration of the American Musical, A Chorus Line follows the lives of 17 Broadway dancers vying for a spot “on the line.” Through epic song and dance, the performers describe the families, jobs, and tough times that shaped their lives and careers. Set on a bare stage, audiences will get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a performer trying to make it on Broadway.

 

PH Senior, Nathan Derrico (Frank) spoke about how the rehearsal process is different than any other projects he’s worked on. “It’s a big learning experience, getting to work with people who know how to do a show like this. It’s a lot faster paced than things I’ve done in the past. It’s fun!” Freshman Chloe Cannon (Vicki) just finished Patrick Henry’s production of Into The Woods as Cinderella, “I’m learning a lot of new things, especially just from watching the professionals in rehearsal.”

 

Chloe Cannon (Lois) is a freshman at Patrick Henry High school. She has been taking ballet since she was three years old and currently trains with Southwest Virginia Ballet. Chloe’s love for theatre has grown so much each year and continues with every show she’s in. She recently played Cinderella in Into the Woods at Patrick Henry High school. Chloe is beyond thankful for being given this opportunity to work with amazing people in such a phenomenal show!

 

 

 

Nathan Derrico (Frank) is excited to join Mill Mountain Theatre in his first main stage production! He is currently a senior at Patrick Henry High School and takes classes through Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory. He is hoping to attend college for musical theatre this fall. He would like to thank his friends, family, and teachers for their loving support on his journey.

 

 

 

Cameron Reynolds (Roy) is a sophomore at Patrick Henry high school. He has enjoyed doing In The Heights, Grease, Heathers, and Little Shop of Horrors. He plays several instruments and has been singing and dancing for most of his life. He wants to thank his family for their time and support and Mill Mountain for such a wonderful opportunity.

 

 

 

 

Cathleen Turner (Tricia/Val US) – Cathleen is excited to be returning to Mill Mountain Theatre for her 8th and last main stage production of high school! Some of her favorites have been 42nd Street, White Christmas, and Children of Eden. Cathleen is a senior at Patrick Henry High School who is eager to graduate and attend college in the fall in hopes of pursuing musical theatre. She enjoys spending her free time with Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory where she has spent a large portion of her childhood growing through all aspects of theatre.

 

Reserve your ticket with a 10% discount- for all four of the Trinkle MainStage productions of A Chorus Line, Shrek The Musical TYA, West Side Story, and The Christmas Cup at: https://millmountain.org/tickets/subscriptions/

The cast of Mill Mountain Theatre’s A Chorus Line features Stevie Bovo (Al), Sam Brackley (Paul), Chloe Cannon (Vicki), Nathan Derrico (Frank), David Foster (Larry), Mary Hannah Garber (Val), Andrew Gleckler (Mark), Kristin Guerin (Sheila), Lawrence Hailes (Richie), Tyler Jimenez (Greg), Guy Mannick* (Mike), Lizzie Markson (Diana / Dance Captain), Caitlin McAvoy (Bebe), Diane Meck (Connie), Niklaus Miller (Bobby), Hamilton Moore (Zach), Caitie Moss (Kristine), Lizz Picini* (Cassie), Lyndsay Ricketson (Maggie), Cameron Reynolds (Roy), Megan Tatum (Judy), Cathleen Turner (Vicki U/S Val), and Richard Westfahl (Don).

The creative team of A Chorus Line features Alicia Varcoe (Director), Kristen Brooks Sandler (Choreographer), Seth Davis (Music Director), Ginger Poole (Producing Artistic Director), Sammy Brown* (Stage Manager), Jimmy Ray Ward (Scenic Designer), William Webb (Lighting Designer), Sera Bourgeau (Costume Designer), Matthew Shields (Props Designer), Ayme Gierchak (Sound Designer), and Jessica Humke (Assistant Stage Manager).

*Sammy Brown, Guy Mannick, and Lizz Picini appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Get your tickets now to A Chorus Line running April 25 – May 13 on the Trinkle MainStage at Mill Mountain Theatre. Tickets range from $20-38 and can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.

Mill Mountain Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line is sponsored by BB&T Bank, Catawba Capital Management, Innovative Insurance Group, Howell’s Motor Freight Inc., Avis Construction, Business Solutions, and Elk Hill Advisors Inc. Special grantors for A Chorus Line are Center in the Square, Actors’ Equity Association, Theatre Communications Group, Art Works, and Blue Star Theatres.

 

Production contains mature language

Award-Winning ‘A Chorus Line’ Dances On The Roanoke Stage

That singular sensation is coming to Roanoke audiences at Mill Mountain Theatre on the Trinkle MainStage April 25th – May 13th. With music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr & Nicholas Dante, A Chorus Line tells the personal stories of 17 dancers auditioning for 8 spots in the chorus of a new Broadway musical.

 

Through epic song and dance, the performers describe the families, jobs, and tough times that shaped their lives and careers. Set on a bare stage, audiences will get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a performer trying to make it on Broadway. “The characters portrayed in A Chorus Line are for the most part based on the lives and experiences of Broadway dancers,” says original Broadway producer, Joseph Papp. “This show is dedicated to anyone who has ever danced in a chorus or marched in step anywhere.”

 

Reserve a seat- with a 10% discount- for all four of the Trinkle MainStage productions of A Chorus Line, Shrek The Musical TYA, West Side Story, and The Christmas Cup at: https://millmountain.org/tickets/subscriptions/

 

A Chorus Line made its groundbreaking debut on the great white way in 1975 and Broadway has never been the same. Unlike most commercial theatre at that time, the musical originated at a non-profit theatre company, and then transferred to a record-breaking run of fifteen years and 6,137 performances at the Shubert Theater. The original production was nominated for twelve Tony-Awards, winning nine including Best Musical, and received the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It remains the sixth longest-running Broadway show in history.

 

Director Alicia Varcoe spoke on the excitement of bringing A Chorus Line to Roanoke. “This musical was groundbreaking for its time, and the heart of this piece is completely timeless. Through these characters at this unconventional audition, we are telling the stories of professional dancers everywhere, including the talented performers that will be joining us onstage at MMT,” she says. “Their raw passion and love The storytelling in A Chorus Line is truly one-of-a-kind when it comes to music theatre, and I think our audiences will not only revel in the amazing song and dance, but truly be touched by the stories of the lives of these dancers.”

 

Mill Mountain Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line is sponsored by BB&T Bank, Catawba Capital Management, Innovative Insurance Group, Howell’s Motor Freight Inc., Avis Construction, Business Solutions, and Elk Hill Advisors Inc. Special grantors for A Chorus Line are Center in the Square, Actors’ Equity Association, Theatre Communications Group, Art Works, and Blue Star Theatres.

 

Get your tickets now to A Chorus Line running April 25 – May 13 on the Trinkle MainStage at Mill Mountain Theatre. Tickets range from $20-38 and can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.
Production contains mature language

Volunteer with MMT at “First Fridays at Five”

Organized in 1989 as a way for young professionals to meet, ‘First Fridays at Five’ have seen two decades of success and in the process they’ve donated well over a million dollars to nonprofit organizations in The Roanoke Valley! If you’re in the mood for some great entertainment, fun, networking or want to support a Mill Mountain Theatre, volunteer to be part of the MMT team!

Mill Mountain Theatre will be one of the participating charities working at the event on May 18th & August 17th. Contact Director of Development, John Levin to volunteer as part of the MMT crew: call 540-342-5761 or at development@nullmillmountain.org

“We are pleased to present our 29th season! Our events are presented by HomeTown Bank! Gates open at 5 p.m. and the event runs to 9 p.m. Events will be held on Franklin Road, SW, between Jefferson Street and Williamson Road.”
~First Fridays Roanoke

For more information about First Fridays, visit: firstfridaysroanoke.com

MMT’s Celestial Cast for CONSTELLATIONS

2017 was Mill Mountain Theatre’s inaugural year of the ‘Waldron Fringe Series’. The series provides an opportunity to produce a collection of groundbreaking contemporary works in the Equity theatre’s more intimate space: the Waldron Stage. The upcoming production of Nick Payne’s 2015 award-winning play: Constellations will be running Feb 22 – Mar 11 with an all star cast and creative team. Come see the show the New Yorker called “A singular astonishment.” Husband and wife duo Jay Briggs (Director) and Amanda Sox (Marianne) return to Mill Mountain Theatre with fellow South Carolina actor Thomas Azar (Roland).

 

Constellations is a spellbinding journey about a simple encounter between a man and a woman that quickly defies the usual boundaries of a relationship, and ends by asking audiences to ponder the differences between choice and destiny. Watch Marianne and Roland’s relationship play out in an infinite number of ways. They meet and go for a drink, or maybe they don’t. Maybe they get married, or maybe their time together will be tragically short. Part science and part romance, this sophisticated love story has been a smash hit across the country and around the world.

Never worry about a show selling out again with your Waldron Fringe Series Subscription, for just $50 you can reserve a seat at all three Waldron productions.

Learn more about ways to save on tickets here:  https://millmountain.org/tickets/subscriptions/

Be sure to secure your seat to Constellations running February 22-March 11 on the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre. Tickets range from $15-20 and can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.

 

Actress Amanda Sox  (Marianne) was last seen on the Trinkle MainStage as Ms. Poppenghul in Mill Mountain’s 2017 production of Moonlight and Magnolias. In addition to being an actress, she is also married to Constellations director Jay Briggs. Having worked all over the country, she was most recently in The Cake at The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, South Carolina. Other regional credits include Christmas on the Rocks (Cindy Lou Who), Richard III (Lady Anne), and Othello (Desdemona) at The Warehouse Theatre; A Christmas Carol at Virginia Stage Company; Night of The Iguana at Berkshire Theatre Festival; Rough Magic at The Hangar Theatre. Up next, Amanda will be playing Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest at Lean Theater Ensemble in Hilton Head, SC. Sox is a proud graduate of Elon University with a BFA in Acting.

 

 

Playing opposite Sox is Equity actor Thomas Azar* (Roland). Azar is excited to mark his Mill Mountain Theatre debut, credits include Shakespeare in Love (Alliance Theatre); In the Next Room, Angels in America, Stones in His Pockets (The Warehouse Theatre), Hamlet, Women Beware Women (Shakespeare Theatre/ACA), Yellow Face (TheatreWorks), Romeo & Juliet, Richard III (California Shakespeare Theater). Film: In a Room at the Edge of Infinity, No Ordinary Love. Web: “The First Five Years”. MFA: Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at the George Washington University. With love to Maegan, Tristan, and Benjamin. www.ThomasAzar.net

 

Following Constellations in the Waldron Fringe Series are The Christians (May 18-19) and Spring Awakening (June 21-30). The Christians will be a staged reading of Luke Hnath’s award winning play detailing the event of Pastor Paul approaching the pulpit on the day when his megachurch is celebrating paying off its debt. To the surprise of his congregation, his sermon reveals that the church is taking a new direction theologically. Fractured by a dispute over salvation and damnation, this is a play about religious schism in modern America. Spring Awakening will be a fully produced production of the a contemporary rock musical exploring teenagers caught between the tumult of adolescence and the frustrating lack of experience. This 2006 Tony Award winning musical will feature our summer apprentice company.

Get your tickets to Constellations now by clicking here or by calling 540-342-5740.  *Thomas Azar appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

 

Year 2 of MMT’s Waldron Fringe

2017 was the inaugural year for Mill Mountain Theatre’s Waldron Fringe Series, providing intimate, thought-provoking, and contemporary work in their 100 seat Waldron Stage. Last season’s offerings included staged readings of The Mountaintop and The Little Lion, and the fully staged musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This year, a staged reading of The Christians, a fully staged musical Spring Awakening, and a fully staged play Constellations rounds out the 2018 Waldron Fringe Series.

 

The new and exciting drama Constellations will kick off the Fringe Series, running February 22nd through March 11th. Science and romance collide in this sophisticated but relatable love story. Constellations is a spellbinding journey about a simple encounter between a man and a woman that quickly defies the usual boundaries of a relationship, and ends by asking audiences to ponder the differences between choice and destiny. Attend Mill Mountain’s production of the play the New York Times called  ‘universal in every sense of the word’. Husband and wife duo Jay Briggs (Director) and Amanda Sox (Marianne) return to Mill Mountain Theatre with fellow South Carolina actor Thomas Azar (Roland), to bring you Constellations.

 

A staged reading of The Christians runs May 18th & 19th. Pastor Paul approaches the pulpit on the day when his megachurch is celebrating paying off its debt. To the surprise of his congregation, his sermon reveals that the church is taking a new direction theologically. Fractured by a dispute over salvation and damnation, this is a play about religious schism in modern America.

 

Spring Awakening is a contemporary rock musical running June 21st-30th. Teenagers caught between the tumult of adolescence and the frustrating lack of experience with sex, pregnancy, abortion and suicide, guilt, innocence and death, haunt this Tony Award winning musical. This fully staged production will feature Mill Mountain’s 2018 Summer Apprentice Company alongside local talent and industry professionals.

 

Never worry about a show selling out again with your Waldron Fringe Series Subscription, for just $50 you can reserve a seat at all three Waldron productions. Learn more about ways to save on tickets here:  https://millmountain.org/tickets/subscriptions/

 

Be sure to secure your seat to the upcoming Waldron Fringe production: Constellations running February 22-March 11 on the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre. Tickets range from $15-20 and can be purchased online at millmountain.org or by calling 540-342-5740.

 

Audition Masterclass at MMT

  • Prepare for those youth auditions on Feb 16th & 17th by attending this FREE Audition Masterclass taught by MMT Staff. Want to bring in your audition material and receive feedback? Don’t have material but want to observe and learn audition technique? Join us on February 3rd from 10:30am-12pm in the 3rd Floor Studio.DATE: February 3rd, 2018
    TIME: 10:30am-12pm
    WHERE: 20 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011 | 3rd Floor Studio
    WHO: Grades K- Adult

    REGISTER: https://millmountain.org/class/audition-masterclass/

    If bringing material:

  • If auditioning for Shrek The Musical please prepare a one minute monologue and a 32 bar musical theatre song. Please bring clearly marked sheet music for the accompanist.
  • If auditioning for A Simple Gift, The Christmas Cup, and/or The Tempest please prepare a one minute monologue.
  • If auditioning for Mother Goose Tales please prepare a short poem or monologue.

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