Christopher Castanho

Mill Mountain Theatre's upcoming 2019 season will consist of four main stage musicals on the Trinkle, three shows for Young Audiences, two productions in the Waldron Fringe Series, and two concerts in their Music Series. A brilliant balance of shows that all will enjoy.

Spring Awakening opened to a sold-out crowd last night in West Hollywood's The Lounge Theatre, this being the premiere project for Me + You Productions. The rock musical, known for being groundbreaking on Broadway in 2006, is looked at through a new lens in this production: Gun Saftey. With 100% of proceeds going to Everytown for Gun Saftey, Me + You Productions find the intricate balance of connecting current struggles and honoring the original story.

Me+You Productions is gearing up for their Los Angeles production of the Tony-Award winning musical Spring Awakening. The show will begin its three-week run at The Lounge Theatre in West Hollywood, California, opening on August 24th and closing September 9th. 100% of ticket proceeds from this production will benefit Everytown for Gun Safety, an American nonprofit organization whose aim is to reduce gun deaths in the wake of increased mass shootings.

Mill Mountain Theatre is wrapping up rehearsal for 'Shrek The Musical: Theatre For Young Audiences Version' and gearing up to begin performances this Wednesday, August 1st and continues through the 12th on the Trinkle MainStage. Starring as the Green Ogre himself is Flordia native Ryan Koch. I was lucky enough to sit down with Koch to hear about his experience playing Shrek and found him to be a charismatic and passionate young man.

Mill Mountain Theatre begins rehearsal today for 'Shrek The Musical: Theatre For Young Audiences Version' and performs August 1st through 12th on the Trinkle MainStage. Characters you know and love are brought to life by MMT's cast of 30 performers, featuring youth actors from the Roanoke Valley, as well as Mill Mountain Theatre's Apprentice Company.

Mill Mountain Theatre 2018 Apprentice Company Tours the Roanoke Valley Promoting Literacy And Theatre With A Free Production For Young Audiences. Mill Mountain Theatre will continue its 2018 Young Audiences season with Robert & Willie Reale's musical A Year With Frog And Toad - TYA Version, which will open on June 2 at 10am at Heights Community Church and tour around the region offering free performances.

Mill Mountain Theatre presents exciting programming for their Young Audience Series as two productions: Mother Goose Tales and Shakespeare's The Tempest run in repertory on the Waldron Stage, May 5-12. Audience members of all ages can see both productions on the same day, as the performances are alternating in the same theater space.

Mill Mountain Theatre proudly presents the Award-Winning Musical A CHORUS LINE on the Trinkle MainStage April 25th - May 13th. With music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr & Nicholas Dante, A Chorus Line tells the personal stories of 17 dancers auditioning for 8 spots in the chorus of a new Broadway musical.

An Equity Theatre's program to encourage young playwrights culminates in staged productions of the winning scripts. Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory proudly presents Write Stuff! for it's 2nd Annual Festival. Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory, the onsite, pre-professional training program at Roanoke's Equity Theatre, is hosting their second annual festival of new works penned by local students. The playwriting contest was open to Middle School and High School playwrights, with the winning three being produced as staged-readings. The chosen plays this year are by all female playwrights: Job Switch by Mikayla Parker, Little Sacrifices by Caroline Moledor, and Auditions by Caroline Westphalen. The festival of staged-readings will be this Saturday, February 10, 2018 on the Waldron Stage. Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory students and local talent will act in the plays directed by Mill Mountain Theatre staff.

Actress, Amanda Sox has performed and lived all over the country. This fall she is stepping into the shoes of Jen in The Warehouse Theatre's production of the popular 'The Cake' by female playwright Bekah Brunstetter. I was lucky enough to sit down with Sox to discuss her perspective on the process and thoughts on the piece as a whole.

The play 'Survivor's Guilt or The Jumping Off Point' by Virginian playwright Alex Flanigan will be produced at Liminality Theatre Company in Winchester, VA October 13th-14th. Liminality Theatre Company is a student-run theatre, comprised of Shenandoah University students. Their mission statement details their goal to create work outside the idea of traditional theatre.

Mill Mountain Theatre presents the hilarious Little Shop Of Horrors, October 4th-22nd. From the music & lyrical team that brought you the original animated film Disney's Beauty & The Beast comes a musical of a different style. Part horror comedy musical, part sci-fi spoof; all delicious fun, Little Shop of Horrors has been making audiences all over the country scream with laughter since its debut in the early 80's.

As a professional, year-round, regional theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre has proudly served the southern Virginia region and the industry for more than 50 years. This year they present the hilarious 'LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS', October 4th-22nd. Part horror comedy musical, part sci-fi spoof; Little Shop has been making audiences all over the country scream with laughter since its debut in the early 80's. Producing Artistic Director, Ginger Poole choreographs while Assistant Artistic Director, Alicia Varcoe directs. This cult favorite musical is sure to please our Roanoke Valley audiences- its equal parts funny, frightening and touching, and full of catchy songs.' says Varcoe. 'I'm thrilled to work with such a stellar cast to bring this musical to Mill Mountain Theatre for the very first time.

Hundreds gathered in Mill Mountain Theatre's Trinkle Mainstage on September 14th to hear the fun and exciting news: Mill Mountain Theatre's 2018 Season Announcement. Their upcoming season will consist of four main stage musicals on the Trinkle, four shows for Young Audiences , three productions in the Waldron Fringe Series, two concerts in their Music Series, and a special family event. A brilliant balance of shows that all will enjoy.

This Monday, August 28th at 7 pm the original Off-Broadway cast of 'The Lightning Theif: The Percy Jackson Musical' will reunite for one night only at the Green Room 42 for a special concert event. Lightning Theif Composer and Lyricist Rob Rokicki will host the celebration in honor of the cast album reaching the #3 spot on the Billboard Cast Album award. I was lucky enough to chat with James Hayden Rodriguez, Shenandoah Conservatory alum and cast member of 'The Lightning Theif Musical' about his experience being a part of a show whose subject material has such a cult following, and hear about his career.

Stephen Flaherty's catchy and powerful melodies and Lynn Ahren's poignant lyrics 'It was the music of something beginning, an era exploding, a century spinning. In riches and rags, and in rhythm and rhyme. The people called it Ragtime.' can be heard at Maine's very own Ogunquit Playhouse running now until August 26th. I was lucky enough to sit down and chat with ensemble member Megan Lione to talk about how the story of Ragtime is more important than ever, as it is a piece of theatre that discusses diversity, inclusion, and love. Lione says 'The cast is incredible, all ages and backgrounds. It's really amazing.'

Recent graduate of Florida State University's Musical Theatre program, Trevor Michael Schmidt is currently seizing the day in Music Theatre Wichita's production of 'Newsies' as 'Crutchie' the sickly boy with a big heart. Schmidt has been a company member in MTWichita's whole summer season and is wrapping up his stay in Kansas by telling the Newsboy strike of 1899.

The 'Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival' has been around for 42 years, and during that time over 500 theatre companies and schools have participated. Applicants have included companies from across the country as well as abroad from Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. 'Singularity' by playwright Alex Flanigan will be performing on the festival's first day, August 8th at 6:30 pm.

Ken Davenport, Tony-Award winning Broadway producer, is gearing up for his next project 'Once on This Island' to hit the Great White Way this fall.  When not working on his four other shows on Broadway (Groundhog Day, Kinky Boots, and The Play That Goes Wrong) he writes a blog called 'The Producer's Perspective' giving up and coming theatre artists a behind the scenes look at his role in the industry.

Ohio's very own Short North Stage will be hosting yet another Charles Busch play 'Cleopatra' July 27th - August 6th at the Garden Theater. Having produced other tear-jerking comedies by the 'campy playwright' in previous years, Short North Stage Fan favorites 'Psycho Beach Party', 'Die Mommy Die', and 'The Divine Sister' Artistic Director Edward Carignan is excited