As a member of the arts community, Monroe County Civic Theater (MCCT) takes the current situation very seriously. In order to preserve the health and welfare of our patrons and our artists, we have cancelled a revue, suspended rehearsals, readings, and podcast recordings as we continue to monitor the situation.
The Board of Directors is working to continue the operations of MCCT by working remotely from our homes. Meeting via phone and working over e-mail. It is our hope that once we are all past the current situation, and our artists and patrons can gather safely, that we will be prepared to resume our season and continue our mission.
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was presented by the Monroe County Civic Theater on September 12-14, and 15, 2019. It was directed by Steve Heise. It featured musicians from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Musical director, Benjamin Watkins, conducted the orchestra as they performed composer Felix Mendelssohn’s music written to accompany performances. The play was was presented at the Waldron, Hill and Buskirk (3rd street) Park in Bloomington, Indiana.
Photos Courtesy of the Indiana Daily Student newspaper:
Special thanks to Christopher Brenneman for photos:
MCCT Board Reading: A Christmas Carol Photo Gallery (2014)
Monroe County Civic Theater presented CHARLES DICKENS’ “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” on December 14, 2014. The play was adapted for radio-on-stage by ANTHONY E. PALERMO. The Musical score was also composed and arranged by ANTHONY E. PALERMO.
“Saturday December 13 at 5 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 14 at Noon at Rachel’s Cafe Come early and stay late for a light lunch or dinner. Tickets are by donation – may give in advance or afterwards at www.mcct.org/support or at your table.”
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Photo Gallery (2011)
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown was performed March 10-13, 2011 at the Ivy Tech John Waldron Auditorium. The play was directed by Sheila Butler. The dancing was choreographed by Callie Rekas.
In February of 2013, the cast reunited to travel to Disney World in Orlando, Florida to perform at the National Performing Arts Festival.
Here are some posts from MCCT’s social media accounts:
“BON VOYAGE and BREAK A LEG to the Monroe County Civic Theater’s traveling company of YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, as they make their way to Disney World for the National Performing Arts Festival!!!”
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown group had an amazing showing at the National Performing Arts Festival in Orlando this weekend. MCCT is extremely proud of Hadley Abram, Cameron Butler, Caitlyn Diekhoff, Alaina Martinez, Devin May, Callie Rekas, Matt Wiedenbener. Cameron got best Male vocalist, Caitlyn got best Female Vocalist and got to sing on Disney stage, Caitlyn and Callie got best Duet, individual rewards for Snoopy (Cameron), Sally (Alaina) and Lucy (Caitlyn). The team performed Snoopy on the Disney stage. Way to go, so glad you represented our theater so well.”
Shown above in Orlando are, from left, Callie Rekas, Alaina Martinez, Hadley Abram, Matthew Weidenbener and Cameron Butler kneeling, Caitlin Diekhoff and Devin May.
“Eric Anderson Jr.’s artful production uses space well, foregoing the stage for most of the performance for the grass in front. This simultaneously brings the actors closer to the audience, and more convincingly presents Shakespeare’s characters racing away from each other, fighting, loving, and sleeping outdoors,”
– Doris Lynch from The Herald-Times
directed by Eric Anderson, Jr
Photos by Richard Mattsson:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Reprise) Photo Gallery (2019)
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was reprised on November 14, 2019 at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana. It was directed by Steve Heise.
The Directors’ Symposium took place in February of 2019 at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium
“MCCT starting to do quick turnaround projects this year is meant to encourage people who can only commit to a week or two. (We want) to train to be quickly productive. And to give authors a chance to hear their words in play,”
The 2nd Annual Madrigal Dinner took place on December 2, 2012 at The Fields Clubhouse.
On Sunday, December 2nd, theBloomington Early Music Festival, otherwise known as BLEMF, together with the Monroe County Civic Theater will be presenting a Madrigal Dinner. The dinner primarily acts as a fundraiser for the festival, but BLEMF Vice President Christine Kypiranides says the dinner is also a revival of a former Bloomington holiday pastime.
“We decided to join forces which is really exciting for us because that allows MCCT to really focus on the theatrical end of it—the jesters, the story, the costumes, and things like that—and really take advantage of the excellent music that comes out of the Jacobs School, since we’ll be utilizing talent from the Early Music Institute,”
– Eric Anderson, Jr.
Monroe County Civic Theater and Bloomington Early Music Festival are joining forces this year and putting on a joint Madrigal Dinner.
Where: At The Fields Clubhouse in the Apartment Complex on Fenbrook Ln.
When: Sunday Dec. 2 doors open at 5:00 p.m. for preshow and silent auction.
Tickets: Available at Buskirk Chumley Box Office until Wednesday, November 28 – no tickets sold at door, must get early.
Cost: $55
Preshow includes: Aerial acts and Fire acts by LaCore Valmon Circus and Henna painting as well as strolling musicians and singers.
Dinner entertainment by the BLEMF musicians and MCCT Actors and concert by Early Music Institute at IU.
Please come and support these local groups and buy a ticket and invite your friends to do the same.
www.blemf.org or www.mcct.org for more info
Three Musketeers: All Swash and No Buckle Photo Gallery (2013)
The Three Musketeers: All Swash & No Buckle was performed July 26-27, 2013 at the Windfall Dance Studio. It was directed by Crystal White.
“‘Musketeers’ is a farce that I have been comparing to the 1993 Disney version, instead of the Dumas novel. My take has been to bring the story out of the 17th century and make it accessible for a modern audience,”
– Director, Crystal White.
Here are some photos from the performance:
25th Anniversary Shakespeare in the Park Festival – Community Readings of all Shakespeare’s Plays (2014)
“Monroe County Civic Theater will perform “Hamlet” June 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. and June 8 at 2 p.m. at Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park. In addition, a reading of each of Shakespeare’s 36 other plays will be held at various locations across Bloomington, starting today with “Much Ado About Nothing” at Rachael’s Cafe and continuing through next week. Readings are open to anyone who wishes to volunteer. The festival is free and open to the public, with donations accepted.”
– from The Herald-Times’ reviewer Emily Ernsberger (2014)
Shakespeare schedule
“Hamlet” will be a full production of an early version of
Shakespeare’s play by the Monroe County Civic Theater. Other listings
below are readings by volunteers.
FRIDAY
• “Much Ado About Nothing,” 7 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
SATURDAY
• “Two Noble Kinsmen,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King John,” 11:30 a.m., Windfall Dance Studio.
• “Two Gentleman of Verona,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “King Richard II,” 4:30 p.m., Windfall Dance Studio.
• “Julius Caesar,” 7 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
SUNDAY
• “King Henry IV, Part 1,” 11: 30 a.m., Windfall Dance Studio.
• “The Tempest,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “Comedy of Errors,” 4:30 p.m., Project School.
• “Antony and Cleopatra,” 4:30 p.m., Windfall Dance Studio.
• “Romeo and Juliet,” 7 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
MONDAY
• “Pericles,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King Henry IV, Part 2,” 11:30 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “The Winter’s Tale,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “King Henry V,” 7 p.m., Cardinal Stage.
• “Macbeth,” 7 p.m., Rose Firebay in Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center.
TUESDAY
• “Merchant of Venice,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King Henry VI, Part 1,” 11:30 a.m., Monroe County History Center.
• “Love’s Labours Lost,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “Corialanus,” 4:30 p.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “Othello,” 7 p.m., Rose Firebay.
WEDNESDAY
• “Cymbeline,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King Henry VI, Part 2” 11:30 a.m., Monroe County History Center.
• “All’s Well That Ends Well,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “As You Like It,” 7 p.m., Rose Firebay.
THURSDAY
• “Twelfth Night,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King Richard III” 11:30 a.m., Monroe County History Center.
• “Troilus and Cressida,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “Titus Andronicus,” 4:30 p.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King Lear,” 7 p.m., Rose Firebay.
FRIDAY, June 6
• “Merry Wives of Windsor,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “King Henry VIII,” 11:30 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “Taming of the Shrew,” 2 p.m., Rachael’s Cafe.
• “Hamlet,” 7 p.m., Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park, 331 S. Washington St.
SATURDAY, June 7
• “Measure for Measure,” 9 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
• “Timon of Athens,” 11:30 a.m., Monroe County Public Library.
