Mill City Theater Group Hosting Open House

By Susan Bush
12:00AM / Monday, July 25, 2005

Some members of the Mill City Productions theater group.

North Adams – A city-based non-profit theater initiative is seeking new members to act, dance, or work behind-the scenes, and is hosting a July 29 open house for interested individuals.

Mill City Productions organizers will be on hand at the St. John’s Episcopal Church parish house on Summer Street from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to offer information about the initiative and a planned production. The open house will be held on the second floor of the parish house.

Liz Urban serves as the theater group’s president. Urban is involved in community projects such as the Greylock Theater Project. David and Sheri Simon of North Adams are among the troupe’s organizers.

“We’re hoping to be able to make an announcement about a production for the fall,” said Sheri Simon during a July 25 interview. “It will likely be a musical, so we’ll need actors, dancers, singers, and we need people who want to build sets and people willing to learn to run lights and sound.”

The production company launched about 18 months ago and has one performance under its acting belt; “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” was performed earlier this year and “went off without a hitch,” Simon said.

“The community support [for the show] was wonderful,” Simon said.

Mill City is focused on involving community residents of all ages and abilities in an arena of theatrical expression and education.

“We’d like to see families on board,” Simon said. “I think a lot of parents would like to see their children involved with theater. We can use all kinds of help; if people don’t want to be on stage, they could be involved with ticket sales or be prop handlers. I’ve had moms whose children decide to participate say ‘I can bake cookies,’ and I say ‘great.’ I was a ‘drama mom,’ and I loved it.”

People of all generations are encouraged to visit during the open house, and performers of all ages, including children, will be needed for the fall production, Simon said.

“We do want to expand and we do want to include children,” she said.

The company mission is “to provide an opportunity for all persons of all levels of ability and experience to learn, teach, practice, and perform dramatic art in a supportive and nurturing environment,” according to information provided by Simon.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for community residents,” said Simon. “We’ve been going for over a year and we’re loving it.”

Additional information about Mill City Productions is available by e-mailing Simon at simonsez@adelphia.net or by calling 413-663-7879.

Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net or by calling 802-823-9367.