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SPOTLIGHT
ON THE ARTS - December 2002 by Deanna Mascle Showtime in Muhlenberg
“I would like for people to know that MCTI, though based in a rural area, is a leading theatre in the state. The quality of our productions ranks up there with any community theatre in the state. Outside critics and adjudicators give us high marks. MCTI is quality theatre,” says Karen Willis, Arts in Education Coordinator and one of the group’s founding members. A local newspaper ad brought together about 15 area residents interested in starting a theatre group in August 1980. As a result, Muhlenberg Community Theatre, Inc. was organized. The group staged its first production that October. Then the group set its sights on the Palace Theatre. After purchasing the Main Street theater, built in 1901, it took a major campaign to get it renovated. “I’m very proud of what we have here,” she said. “It’s quite a showplace.” Now that MCTI has found a permanent home and staged 87 shows – running the full gamut including comedies, dramas, children’s shows, musicals, dinner theatres, original works and audience participation – the theater group is looking for new challenges but they don’t have far to look. One of those challenges is increasing area residents’ exposure to the arts. In a small, rural county such as Muhlenberg, Willis sees the arts overlooked by many. She is determined to broaden the horizons of as many children and adults as she can. “I am especially proud of our School Time Theatre. Each of our children’s shows are presented during the school day and students are bused in. We provide a study guide based on the KERA goals and core content.” In addition, her goal is to educate residents on the quality of their theater and encourage more to participate as both audience members and production workers. However, welcoming all interested parties does not mean that amateur behavior is tolerated. A grass roots theater, Willis said, the theater still strives to be artistically professional. “We might be a small community, but that’s no excuse for not being professional,” she said. “We are professional. I demand it.” “We are active in the Kentucky Theatre Association and the American Association of Community Theatre. We have won state honors in acting and directing and we participate in the yearly ACT/Fest. Sometimes we enter the one-act competition, but we are always in attendance. These all contribute to our quality,” Willis says. “I am proud that we are constantly improving.” MCTI operates with a core group of 75-80 dedicated workers with a 20-member board of directors. “It is true, like many small arts groups, that far too few are doing far too much.” “We spend the bulk of our theatre time by working on the productions. In addition, we have school day performances of our children’s shows; we have periodic fund raisers; and we participate in community events, such as manning one of the food booths in the recent Central City Music Festival,” she says. MCTI isn’t done stretching its boundaries. One example is the original music drama written for the Kentucky bicentennial in 1992. “Miner’s Memory” is set in 1933 in a small coal-mining town in Muhlenberg County. Originally written as an outdoor musical drama, this factual production features the music of native son Merle Travis and the creation of the thumb picking style of guitar playing. MCTI’s most recent honor will include a presentation at the 2003 Southeastern Theatre Conference Convention in Arlington, VA, March 5-9, 2003. MCTI has hopes and plans for the future. While proud of the Palace Theater, the group would like a larger facility. “The Palace has a very small stage, no wings or backstage area. The 20x25 stage automatically limits our choices of shows.” A paid administrative staff is another hope for the future. “We operate with volunteer help, and a small group of dedicated members get swamped with work. An executive/managing director would be nice.” One way to finance these plans is to locate more corporate funding. “We have a reasonable response from businesses but we need some large corporate donors.” They would also like to build a broader base of members and audience. “Our children’s shows help this aspect. Also, we appeal to different age groups by the variety of productions we offer. ” But when it comes to pride there is
no room for improvement. “I am proud of MCTI for many reasons.
I have seen it grow by leaps and bounds.” Deanna Mascle is a
staff writer for The Lane Report. |
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Copyright 1996-2002, by Kentucky Business Online. All rights reserved. Editorial content is copyright 2002,
Lane Communications Group The Lane Report is a trademark of Lane Communications Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
Located
in the heart of the Western Kentucky Coal Fields, Greenville is not
the place you’d expect to find award-winning theater. However,
that is where you’ll find Muhlenberg Community Theatre Inc. operating
in the Palace Theatre. And make no mistake, MCTI is quality, award-winning
theater.