By LEISA GREENE
When you walk up to the door of the MCT Center for the Performing Arts on VIP night, the knights of the round table at sword practice to the right. The maidens in medieval dresses are watching and cheering on the sidelines.
Once inside the foyer, chamber maids serve the guests drinks on tables spread with golden liens and autumn flowers in a rich red. The board of fare: Merlin’s Magic Mushrooms, Dragon Scales, Veggie Swords, Peasant Pot Pies, and Jousting Beef Skewers.
The carpet is out and the MCT provides an exquisite evening full of fantasy and charm on VIP performance night.
Amazingly, all of the fineries for the evening are provided by local business who donate their time, products, and talents to the community theater cause.
Bravo Catering provided their creative and mouth watering spread, Bitterroot Flower shop donated the rich autumn bouquets and decorations, Bitterroot Motors and the Silver Slipper Lounge & Casino provided the bar, as well as Mission Mountain Winery, and Hunter Bay Coffee was served with real cream.
A recent Missoula Community Theatre performance of Camelot.
Socializing with friendly and grateful staff of MCT made everyone lighthearted and feel welcome. The VIP evening brings real glitz and glamour with the comfort and relaxation of an old pair of jeans and soft t-shirt night.
Reciprocity is the theme when Michael McGill says, “It’s about giving back to the community. The local businesses provide everything for you to enjoy this evening. When you are planning a special event please use these businesses to help make it happen. It’s about a strong, growing community.”
To become a VIP for the MCT, you can make a donation of $500 dollars. This donation allows one person to attend every VIP night for the season of shows with a special show put on for the VIP patronage. MCT’s VIP performance is always on the Thursday before opening night and for Miracle on 34th Street The Musical, VIP night is on November 29.
If you can, there is still time to become a VIP for the season and not miss out on the magic!
If your pockets are slim this year, the MCT always is in need of volunteers of any kind; ushers, costume sewers, scene hands, stage hands, painters, concession workers, among many other areas you can donate your time toward. If you have a desire to give and help, or a talent to share, the MCT will get you actively working in community theater.
A group of carolers serenade the MCT First Friday gathering.
This season is the first year the Missoula Community Theater is producing two shows back to back requiring strong female leads: The Marvelous Wonderettes and Steel Magnolias. The auditions for Wonderettes took place on November 18, but you can still lend a hand with this lesser-known show and help spread the word about the musical production.
The MCT is about giving.
They encourage all Missoulians and people in the surrounding areas to come and partake in this season’s First Friday at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts (home of the Missoula Children’s Theatre and Missoula Community Theatre), December 7, 4-8 p.m.
Santa will be in attendance with live music, carolers, and tours of the building. Throughout the evening, there will be drawings and gift giveaways.
Missoula Community Theatre’s Miracle on 34th Street The Musical opens on November 30, December 1-2, 5-9. Tickets are on sale now at the box office: (406) 728-7529, and online at the MCT website. For more info, visit the MCT Facebook page.
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Read more of Leisa’s stories about the Missoula music, drama, and theater scene.
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Call her a big city girl at heart, finding and satiating that appetite in the city of Missoula. Born in Butte and raised in Missoula, she is fascinated by people and looks for interesting characters to write about. Everyone has a story to tell, or not, but the people and places in Missoula are unique.
Moving fast in life (for that big city feel) Leisa’s passions bounce around music, theater, food, art, family, and friends that’s supported by an IV line of dark roasted coffee. Single and a recent graduate from the University of Montana with a BA in Creative Writing, she learned what it was like to be a co-ed in her 40s.
She currently works as an Office Manager at Inter-State Studio and Publishing, working on school photos and yearbooks. Her personal life and nightlife is where she discovers and creates creative non-fiction stories. She has four supportive, loving children: Dustin, Michael, Jalynn, and Mark (adopted through marriage to Dustin) who are all artistically creative in writing, theater, dance, and singing. Leisa likes to think she moves faster than they do.