McKinney Repertory Theatre (MRT) is a special place. They stage five performances a year in the McKinney Performing Arts Center, located in the Historic Collin County Courthouse on the Square in downtown McKinney.
The venue is filled with charm and nostalgia. Dale Gutt, MRT Board of Directors President, excitedly points out that the original judge’s bench is still behind the stage. “The venue is historic, but active,” he explains.
Community theater is unique because it incorporates all the arts through set and costume design, musical elements, and more. “It provides a unique opportunity to connote and create,” says Gutt, who’s also an actor in the shows.
MRT’s passionate volunteers are gearing up to celebrate 20 seasons of shows and are working on a lineup of exciting plays to commemorate the occasion. “We also want to highlight all of the incredible talent here in the area,” says Davina Gazo Stampfel, Executive Director of MRT. “We’re putting out an RFP for a local artist to design the posters for our 20th anniversary season.”
There’s no denying the sheer joy of watching a live show. Viewers escape from the stresses of everyday life and are transported to another world. There are few experiences that offer the kind of interactiveness that smaller venues provide: a two-way energy, a real connection. “There’s a symbiotic relationship between actor and patron,” explains Gutt. “It’s authentic and different every performance,” Stampfel affirms.
Theater is about far more than staging plays. It’s an opportunity for performers of any age, skill, and background to share their talents and create something wonderful. “If you're interested in participating in community theater in any way – from ushering to costuming — we welcome you,” says Marilyn Latham, MRT Board Vice President.
Community theater is a reminder of what’s good and beautiful in the community, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and wonder of the arts.
More information about McKinney Repertory Theatre, including their upcoming show schedule and volunteer information, is available at mckinneyrep.org.
Upcoming Shows
Neil Simon's
"Rumors"
May 5-6 & 12-13
Agatha Christie's
"Murder on the Orient Express"
July 28-29, August 4-5 & 11-12
“There’s a symbiotic relationship between actor and patron.”