Local Theatre Announces 33rd Season

Montana Actors’ Theatre (MAT) announced the launch of its 33rd season and wishes to inform the public of the upcoming shows as well as some changes in time and cost. They have ten shows and various special events on the schedule for the coming year. The curtain will rise for their season opener, An Enemy of the People on October 17.

The 2024-25 Season plans to feature the following productions:

• October – An Enemy of the People – Produced by Valley Furniture

• November – The Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow cast

• November – Women of Rock – Produced by Jon and Claire Stoner

• November – One Act Play Fest – Havre High School

• December – The Sound of Music – Produced by Gary and Leo’s IGA

• February – Hill Country Revue Too – Produced by Lewis Heating and AC

• March – The Foal Monty – MAT’s Touring Dinner Theatre– Produced by Red Rock Power

• March/April – Oliver! HHS Theatre – Produced by ILG Technologies and Havre Hardware and Home

• April – The Prisoner of Second Avenue – Produced by Steve and Julie Mariani

• June – The Tempest – MAT Ren Faire - Produced by Les and Terri Kaercher, the Atchison Family, and Joe and Danielle Woods.

One major change that will occur at MAT this year is Curtain Time. All evening shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m., although matinees will still begin at 2:00 p.m. Furthermore, the theatre is introducing a special promotion, half price Thursdays. Any Thursday performance of any show is half the regular ticket price.

The season opener, An Enemy of the People is an adaptation by Arthur Miller from Henrik Ibsen’s play of the same title. That production will run from October 17-19 and again from October 24-26 at the MSUN/MAT Theatre.

Miller adapted Ibsen’s 1882 play in 1950, using it as a way to confront the beginnings of McCarthyism and its assaults on a writer’s capacity to tell the truth. In Miller’s version, a small Norwegian town has just begun to win fame and wealth through its medicinal spring waters. Dr. Stockmann, resident physician, discovers that the waters are poisoned. On receiving proof of this, he immediately reports to his associates but is shocked to find that instead of being thanked, he is looked upon as a dangerous crank, motivated by a desire to prove that his fellow townsmen are wrong and to bring ruin upon them.

Dramatists Play Service further describes the plot of Miller’s adaptation: “As the people who run the local paper do their utmost to urge secrecy and compromise, the determined doctor realizes that the honesty and idealism he has counted upon to make the truth prevail, simply does not exist in the face of selfish “practical” interests. The press will not report his findings; the officials refuse to give him a hearing; he loses his position and the townspeople boycott him; and every weapon of blackmail, slander, and eviction are brought against his family. At the end, the townspeople, gather around the doctor’s home and throw stones through the windows. Stockmann addresses his family: ‘But remember now, everybody, you are fighting for the truth and that is why you’re alone. And that makes you strong.’”

Ticket prices online will essentially remain the same, with adult mainstage tickets priced at $17 flat with no fee. In past years, they were $15 with a $2 online purchase fee. Tickets at the door will increase to $20. MAT is encouraging people to purchase tickets in advance. MAT’s last ticket price increase was ten years ago.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.mtactors.com or locally at Bear Paw Meats, The Computer Center, Havre Chamber office, or in the mall at & Company Apparel. Advance tickets are available for purchase until two hours prior to show time.

Next up is The Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow Cast Performance, which opens at 7:30 p.m. on November 1.