MCT Proudly Supports

It Can’t Happen Here

Available on demand through November 8
Free · No registration required

By Tony Taccone and Bennett S. Cohen, adapted from the novel by Sinclair Lewis
Sound design and music by Paul James Prendergast
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Debuts October 13, 2020 

Written in 1935 during the rise of fascism in Europe, Lewis’ darkly satirical It Can’t Happen Here follows the ascent of a demagogue who becomes president of the United States by promising to return the country to greatness. In 2016, Berkeley Rep unveiled a new stage adaptation of Lewis’ prescient novel, one week after that production ended, the presidential election roiled our nation. Now, Berkeley Rep reprises that production with the same director, but this time as a radio play in four episodes, just in time for the 2020 presidential election. We’re delighted to welcome back much of the original cast including David Kelly as the candidate Buzz Windrip, and to have Academy Award nominee David Strathairn join us as the liberal protagonist Doremus Jessup.

The audio drama is being offered free across the country. Berkeley Rep intends for the project to encourage dialogue and motivate citizens to exercise their civic power and vote.

LISTEN NOW

The production will be available on demand through November 8.

GLT is back!  Despite the horrendous fire in SLV, our intrepid artists continue to create shows just for you, to give you some joy in this dark time.  Park Hall is still standing, untouched.  We hope that y’all are safe and even comfortable in exile, and that we can all get back HOME soon.

MCT Presents Ghost Light Theater

MCT is happily dealing with the sadness of not being able to present live performances by creating digital productions under the banner of MCT Presents Ghost Light Theater. In the theater, a “ghost light” is a light, often a single bulb on a stand, that illuminates the stage when the theater is dark, i.e., when no production is being presented.  It can be simply between performances or when there is a more extended absence of productions.  We thought it fitting for this time.

We have no set schedule, although we have been posting a new entry every week, usually toward the end of each week.  You can see all of the GLT productions HERE or on our YouTube channel, @MCTSHOWS! Feel free to subscribe to our channel or to the Ghost Light Theater Playlist on our channel. We hope you will enjoy the growingly diverse potpourri of work we are creating, and welcome requests and suggestions.

MCT’s Ghost Light Theater Presents The Puzzle with the Piazza

Ghost Light Theater presents something much different for this piece: a full length, staged Zoom reading of a new play, The Puzzle with the Piazza, by Mark Dunn. This heartwarming script focuses in on characters Althea Witlin (Rita Wadsworth), a grandmother to all, who is facing a very serious life upheaval; Leif Morrell (Steve Allhoff) and Connie Morrell (Sarah Marsh), a young couple looking for a sense of purpose in their lives; Mattie Pleshette (Sasha Voight), a young woman recently out on her own, needing support, and Ina Gluck (Marj Young), the somewhat reserved sister of Althea, who finds herself warming to the ragtag team by the play’s end.

Althea, due to health issues, is looking to sell her home and move in with her sister. In meeting with Leif Morrell during a house showing, they descend to the basement of her home, and find her expansive puzzle collection. On a whim, they decide to open up the largest puzzle – a 3,000 piece behemoth featuring Venice’s illustrious canals – and soon, Mattie and Connie arrive to assist them in their gargantuan task: finishing assembling the puzzle before Althea has to be picked up by Ina.

A night spent in “Venice” changes everyone’s lives, and along the way surprising, heartwarming, and funny moments happen as the characters connect. Make sure you stick through to the end to catch the wonderful twist at the end of the play, as it is not to be missed. Life can be so stressful in these times. Join us in spending a “night in Venice” for an escape: a lovely, life affirming reading, one you will surely enjoy.