End of WIZARD and Opening of DIXIE

We're down to the final performances of WIZARD OF OZ. It's been a good run of our 2010 opening musical, but it didn't always look like that. Initial sales were slow, and Cue Cards did not fill the performances like they have in past opening musicals. About three weeks before opening, we wondered if this show would sell-out performances, and started some additional advertising - the leads walked through the mall on consecutive Saturdays in costume and took pictures with families and passed out flyers about the show. We send out flyers to some area schools - buy an adult ticket and get a youth ticket for free. We printed extra posters and spread them all over town. We asked the cast to post on their Facebook and tell family and friends to come see them in the show.

In the end, it looks like someone worked. Starting opening weekend, we've had waiting lists for empty seats - this usually happens at the end of a run of the show but not on opening weekend. As a result, every performance has been very full and we've had some wonderful crowds see our opening musical. As a result, membership sales are catching up to our "pace" and we might even reach our goals. Considering the fact that the economy has hit us harder in 2010 than in past years, this is a great sign for our financial success in 2010.

Our second production of the 2010 membership season is THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB. Check out the seasons for almost any community theatre in 2009, 2010 or 2011 and you will see this show on their season. Why? It's a comedy and it has five women in it. We're blessed to have a great director (Jane Moore) and an outstanding cast - Patrice Compton, Charlotte Dameron, Liz Koeninger, Gail Theobald and Jena Tumlin. They've been working on the show in Mabee Theatre II since late January and they are ready for you to come see it and laugh along with these ladies. Box Office Manager Laura Abbott describes it as "Steel Magnolias" meets "Same Time, Next Year". If you haven't already filled our your Cue Card, send an e-mail to the Box Office at boxoffice@mctmidland.org and reserve your seats!