HILLSBORO — Myers Dinner Theatre is thrilled to announce its 2024 mainstage season under new ownership.
This exciting lineup will feature plays and musicals filled with fairy tales, zany comedy, heart-warming stories, mystery and more. Titles this year include, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” “Love, Sex, & The I.R.S.,” “Nunsense II: The Second Coming,” “9 to 5, The Musical,” “The Andrews Brothers,” “Don’t Hug Me,” “Dial M for Murder” and Meredith Willson’s “Miracle on 34th Street.”
“In addition to creating theatrical experiences of professional quality, we believe our 2024 season is about forming a bond within a community,” said Dion Stover, artistic director. “We theater professionals foster a sense of belonging and community amongst one another to create a ‘theatrical’ family. Many of the shows this season are about characters thrust into situations where they need to come together as a community or a group to solve a problem. We hope you will join us and become a part of our community and theatrical family.”
Opening the season is Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” This enchanting classic musical, directed by Stover, will open on Friday and continue through March 9.
Cinderella, forced into a life of household chores by her wickedly cruel step-mother and step-sisters, dreams of a better life. The town crier announces a royal ball at which the prince of the kingdom intends to find a bride, and Cinderella wishes she could attend. When her step-sisters and step-mother go off to the ball, a Fairy Godmother appears and magically grants Cinderella’s wish.
At the ball, Cinderella and the prince meet and instantly fall in love, but she abruptly excuses herself at midnight, leaving only a glass slipper on the palace steps. After an extensive search throughout the kingdom, the prince and Cinderella are magically reunited and blissfully married.
This popular musical will feature some newcomers to the MDT stage, along with some returning actors. New to MDT are Victoria Behny (Cinderella), David Couter (The Prince) and Danika St. Denis (Portia). Some returning MDT alumni are Teresa Lynn Ross (evil step-mother), Jamie Rediger (Joy), Samantha Bagdon (Fairy Godmother), Benjamin Elliott (King Maximillian) and Liz Daily (Queen Constantina).
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” was the most widely-viewed program in the history of the medium to that time.
MDT producers, Mark and Misty McGrady, plan to transport the audience back in time to 1957, when millions of viewers gathered in their homes to behold one of the greatest spectacles during the golden age of television. Guests will experience the Hillsboro of a bygone era through vintage memorabilia.
The nostalgia continues into a themed menu, inspired by the “new” culinary phenomenon — TV dinners. Selections will include: pot roast, meatloaf, pork loin and turkey and dressing, all entrees that could be found in TV dinners, but which will be prepared from scratch.
Special “Princess Tea Party” performances are scheduled for Feb. 24 and March 2. These matinee shows, which feature a Cinderella meet and greet, will include fare geared toward younger audiences at a reduced price. A special Valentine’s evening performance will feature most of the TV dinner offerings, plus chocolate-dipped strawberries and pork steak in red sauce, known around Hillsboro as “Red Meat.”
Wednesday matinee seating for meals is at 11:30 a.m. and curtain at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday evening performances will have seating for meals at 6 p.m. with curtain at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees will have seating for meals at noon and curtain at 2 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased by phone at 765-798-4902, ext. 2, or by visiting the MDT website at www.myersdt.com.
Performance dates vary, so consult the online calendar for show dates and times. Theatre prices are $59.54 for dinner and show, $47.50 for students (ages 4-18), and show-only for $39.50. Prices do not include taxes, handling fees or gratuity for waitstaff. Season tickets; group pricing; bus parking are also available.
Myers Dinner Theatre is located at 108 Water St., Hillsboro, and is handicap accessible.
