MLT Announces 84th Season

For over eight decades, MLT has offered quality community theatre to our area.  The upcoming 84th season is no exception. The Season will present two Broadway musicals, a heart-warming Christmas classic and a Neil Simon comedy.

The play choices for 2016-17 came from suggestions of the MLT Board and was voted on by MLT Season’s members.

Based on cartoon characters and a popular 1960’s ABC TV series, the season opens Oct. 5th with The Addams Family. The show that made famous the memorable characters of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Wednesday and Lurch are featured in an original musical comedy.  The ultimate Princess of Darkness, Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with a young man from a respectable family- a man the parents have never met.  And to make things worse, Gomez, her father, has to do something he has never done before-keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything changes the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. The show has catchy tunes and is full of fun for the whole family.

The Christmas Holidays are a time we focus on family and our blessings.  The December show is a stage adaptation of the classic film It’s A Wonderful Life starring the inimitable James Stewart and the beautiful Donna Reed. The play is not only a joyous Christmas tale, it’s also a beautiful love story of George and Mary Bailey, a vivid portrait of the Greatest Generation, a story of a man’s descent into his darkest hour where he is trapped by circumstances beyond his control, and his triumphant struggle for a meaningful life.  Featuring a large cast, the play will leave a lasting impression on what true happiness means.

The February show was written by one of Broadway’s most successful comic playwrights, Neil Simon.  He has written such Broadway smash hits  as Barefoot in the Park, Plaza Suite, The Sunshine Boys and Come Blow Your Horn to name a few.  Two of his most eccentric character creations were named Oscar and Felix.  This 1965 Tony Award winning play, The Odd Couple is a story about fussy Felix Unger who becomes suicidal over his impending divorce. When he accepts an offer to move in with his best friend, messy Oscar Madison, Felix drives Oscar crazy with his obsession over his soon-to-be ex-wife. Oscar tries to get him out of his depression by arranging a double date with two whacky British neighbors. When the plan backfires and Felix grows even more despondent, his friend ship with Oscar is put to the test. The play ran for over two years on Broadway and is considered Simon’s crowning achievement.

The Season closes with a story of three unlikely friends that take control of their office and learn that there is nothing they can’t do, even in a man’s world.  9-5, the Musical is based on the Dolly Parton’s sentimental 1980 hit movie. Set in the 1970’s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge is thought provoking and a little romantic. Three females concoct a plan to get rid of their egotistical, lying and bigoted boss. They literally boot their boss and take over the control of the company that always kept them down. It’s a high energy show that has toe-tapping music and uses a large cast of singers and dancers.

Season tickets go on sell this summer.  If you are interested in becoming a Season Member of MLT, call the Box Office at 601-482-6371.