Quarter Report

Today is March 31st, and that means we are 1/4 of the way through our 2009 season. As a calender year theatre, our "season" follows the new year. Many other theatres have a season like an academic year - opening in the fall and ending in the summer. I think that only about 10% of community theatres have a celender year season, which makes us a little unusual.

So far, it has been a good season - especially considering the economic conditions of both the USA and the Permian Basin. Midland had avoided many of the downturns experiences in 2007-2008 across the US due to the high price of oil. Once that price fell in the fall of 2008, we began to experience our own downturn. Many long-time volunteers have lost their jobs in the oil business, and things are certainly changing in the Permian Basin. However, it appears that people want to be entertained. Our January run of "Improv at the Yucca" was a great success with over 800 people attending over two nights - 350 on Friday night and 450 on Saturday night. This blog has already documented the success of our 2009 opening musical - Les Miserables - and our current production of Moonlight and Magnolias has added two performances. The Pickwick Players are opening Pinocchio this Friday night, so we will again have a two show weekend at the theatre. Spring Break's Fine Arts Camp was sold-out, and the Pickwick teachers entertained and educated our 90 youth with a wonderful week of music, dance, art and drama. Finally, although our AACT production of Half a Lifetime did not advance beyond the Texas competition, I have received many positive comments from those in attendance at the festival about our production.

Things coming up in the second quarter (April - June):
-Pinocchio in Davis Theatre I (April 3-11)
-Rent at the Yucca Theatre (April 24-May 2)
-Auditions for Summer Mummers (April 26-28)
-Knock Knock (2008 McLaren winner) in Mabee Theatre II (May 15 - June 6)
-Summer Theatre School (June 1-25)
-61st edition of Summer Mummers (June 12-September 5)