The Marin Theatre Company knows theatre. This mid-sized non-profit theater reaches an audience of 35,000 people per year from its 231 seat Boyer Theatre, and you can do the math on that one, no really, you can, because we don’t want to. In the words of the MTC “Smart. Uncommon. Adventurous. That’s who comes to our theater. That’s how we make theater.” So if you’re a SUA (a new acronym all the kids will be using soon) individual, the MTC is a place you’ll want to visit again and again. If you don’t believe us yet, here are 5 Facts About The Marin Theatre Company.
1. Still Alive from 35
The Marin Theatre Company was created in 1966 when 35 theatre loving Mill Valley residents came together under the leadership of Sali Lieberman to create the Mill Valley Center for the Performing Arts. As the MVCPA , they brought film, theater, poetry, dance and concerts of classical, jazz, and folk music to Marin County for a decade. In 1977 (maybe because they were sick of Disco Fever) they decided to to exclusively produce and present theater performances. They changed their name to Marin Theatre Company in 1984, became a professional theatre company is 87,’ and have been delighting audiences with plays by new and emerging American playwrights ever since.
2. League of (Extraordinary) Resident Theaters
The League of Resident Theaters isn’t an organization that bands together to fight the crimes of bad theater (over acting, saying “Macbeth” out loud, disrespecting the stage manager, etc) but they might as well be. Along with Berkeley Rep, ACT, and TheatreWorks, MTC is one of only four members of the League of Resident Theaters in the Bay Area. LORT is a professional association and collective bargaining group for more than 70 prominent regional theaters across the country. And they probably fight crime at night is all we’re saying.
3. Theatre Children Are Our Theatre Future
The MTC knows that if it doesn’t get the youths interested in live theater now, they might get stuck behind the bright shiny screens of their various systems and handheld devices forever, so they’ve decided to do something about it. Every year, they serve 8,500 kids with their education programs, in-school residencies, after-school classes, student matinees, and a Family Series of plays for younger audiences. Hopefully soon, the MTC and other local theaters will be where all the kids will be traveling to on their hover boards.
4. Harold & Mimi (No, Harold Didn’t Finally Leave Maude for her Younger Sister)
Two MTC premiere plays 9 Circles by Bill Cain and I and You by Lauren Gunderson, have won the prestigious Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for best world premiere produced outside of New York City (the Bay Area of the East). The only other theater in the country to have produced two plays receiving the honor is Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Take that LA!
5. A Great Cause Gets Kids Applause
After you’ve withstood the crowds of Black Friday and the slow internet speed of Cyber Monday to buy your TVs, and down comforters, and whatever the new Tickle-Me-Elmos are, join MTC for #GivingTuesday; an international 24-hour online campaign that raises money for nonprofits all over the world. MTC hopes to raise $2,500 for its New Play Program to help young playwrights grow and develop their skills through artistic workshops, readings, and playwright residencies.You can be part of helping out a young Shakespeare, or a prepubescent Arthur Miller realize their dream. Nothing keeps kids off the streets better than all day tech rehearsals.