Our upcoming 2018 season will consist of four main stage musicals on the Trinkle, four shows for Young Audiences, three productions in the Waldron Fringe Series, two concerts in their Music Series, and a special family event. A brilliant balance of shows that all will enjoy.
Producing Artistic Director, Ginger Poole, speaks on MMT’s recent growth and their 2018 season “Mill Mountain Theatre has quadrupled programming since 2013. We could not be more excited about all the different components to this 2018 season, from classics to newer works, to tours and concerts. With programming on 2 different stages, Mill Mountain Theatre has something for everyone!”
Trinkle Main Stage
Four big-cast shows of drama, comedy, music, and family fun, all with impressive production quality.
A Chorus Line, April 25-May 13: Hopeful, heartbreaking and hilarious, A Chorus Line tells the personal stories of 17 dancers auditioning for 8 spots in the chorus of a new Broadway show. Through song and dance they describe the families, jobs, and tough times that shaped their lives and careers. Unforgettable songs by Marvin Hamlisch include “What I Did For Love,” “At The Ballet,” and the joyous finale, “One.”
Shrek The Musical TYA, August 1-12: Once Upon a time, as all fairytales begin, there lived an ogre named Shrek. His swamp was invaded by castoff characters from other fairytales. 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 one-hour Theatre for Young Audiences adaptation will be cast with talented local children and teens, many from our MMT Conservatory program. In conjunction with this production, MMT will distribute free books to student audience members, as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy.
West Side Story, October 3-21: Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this classic follows warring families of teenaged gangs and star-crossed lovers, desperate for somewhere to be together forever. The romantic and violent story is told through choreography based on the Jerome Robbins original Tony Award-winning dances, with the music of Leonard Bernstein and the words of then beginner Stephen Sondheim. Since its Broadway debut 60 years ago, it has remained a shining example of the best of this truly American art form. This production of West Side Story is MMT’s contribution to the global celebration of composer Leonard Bernstein’s centennial.
The Christmas Cup, December 5-23: The love between a young girl and her wise grandmother is brought to life on stage from the pages of a story by Nancy Ruth Patterson, Roanoke’s beloved author and educator. The story revolves around a beat up old milkshake cup where Megan collects a year’s worth of scrimped money. Her meager savings and the anonymous gift she buys with them are a metaphor for this season of love and generosity.
Music Series
Two musical concerts, with four fun-filled nights of well known tunes.
An Evening With Andrew Lloyd Webber, June 1 & 2: Over the past 50 years, much of the most memorable theatre music has been the creation of English composer and impresario, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Knighted by the Queen in 1992 for his service to music, Lloyd Webber composed The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, the recent School of Rock, and many others. MMT’s intimate concert format encourages you to hum along to your favorites.
A Taste of Country, August 24 & 25: We live in the birthplace of country music and all grew up with those songs and singers – from Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Dolly Parton to Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Alan Jackson. MMT invites you to savor a taste of the rich history of our nation’s authentic soundtrack in an evening of trucks, dogs, the open road and love – lost and found.
Waldron Fringe Series
Three productions of new or newly revived shows with a strong dramatic impact that reaches for audience engagement.
Constellations, February 22 to March 11: Science and romance collide in this sophisticated 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.
The Christians, May 18 & 19: 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)
Spring Awakening, June 21-30: 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.
Young Audiences
Four delightful productions, three in the Waldron, and one in the community, all encouraging literacy and for children to read.
Write Stuff, February 10: MMT’s program to encourage young playwrights culminates in staged productions of the winning scripts. The competition is open to middle- and high-school students and the deadline for submissions is Dec. 31, 2017.
The Tempest, May 4-12: 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, an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for Middle and High School students, will be acted by MMT Conservatory students. In conjunction with this production, MMT will distribute free books to student audience members, as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy.
Mother Goose Tales, May 4-12: A collection of well-known fairytales and nursery rhymes will come to life in song and pantomime. Children from MMT’s Conservatory will perform these classic tales for other children. In conjunction with this production, MMT will distribute free books to student audience members, as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy.
A Year with Frog and Toad, June 2-30: This charming musical, the first children’s show to reach Broadway, is a year in the life of two amphibian friends and a host of other woodland characters. Songs about flying, swimming and sledding will take young audiences into a fantasy forest of new friends and adventures. MMT will perform this show around the region at schools, libraries, parks and neighborhood venues to delight families. Admission is free and, MMT will distribute free books to student audience members, as part of our initiative connecting theatre to literacy.
Special Event
A Simple Gift, November 9-10: Roanoke educator Nancy Ruth Patterson’s delightful story is about 10-year-old Carrie O’Connor, who wants to be an actress. After starring in her class play at her New York City school, she convinces her parents to let her audition for a theater in North Carolina that is doing a play based on a book written by her mother! A plucky audition gets Carrie in the cast, but before opening night she makes a blunder so big it threatens to topple the whole production. Then everyone learns about making amends for mistakes. Join the MMT Family in a special tribute to Nancy Ruth Patterson’s career-long creativity and devotion to our community.
Season Subscriptions
Season subscriptions are available now on their website, or by clicking HERE. There are many different packages within subscriptions:
Trinkle Productions – Package includes: A Chorus Line, Shrek the Musical-TYA Version, West Side Story, and The Christmas Cup.
Music Series – Package includes: An Evening with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and A Taste of Country.
Waldron Fringe Series – Package includes: Constellations, The Christians, and Spring Awakening.
All In Package – Package includes: A Chorus Line, Shrek the Musical-TYA Version, West Side Story, The Christmas Cup, An Evening with Andrew Lloyd Webber, A Taste of Country, Constellations, The Christians, and Spring Awakening.
All other ticketed productions are available to add on to any package.
Subscribers have access to reserved seats to our general admission shows
Group Sales
Groups of 10 – 50 people enjoy 10% off their ticket price, while groups of over 50 people enjoy 15% off their ticket price.
Present your group ticket stub to a list of restaurants to receive 10% off of your food bill.
