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CITA |
| mission statement, history, affiliations |
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| Master Arts
Theatre Mission Statement Master
Arts Theatre is an independent, non-profit, community theatre guided by a Christian
worldview. Master Arts' mission is to develop artists and to engage audiences in theatre
that is enriching, encouraging, and enlightening, thereby positively impacting West
Michigan.
Master Arts offers four main stage shows per year, a second stage
production and two summer youth productions. In addition to our stage productions, we
offer summer camps for youth, regular classes for children through adults, and a number of
touring troupes that perform in a variety of venues.
Master Arts has been active in dramatic arts ministry since 1985.
As we constantly move forward, Master Arts continues to build a bridge between the arts
and the church.
History Highlights
| 1985 |
Beginning
In 1985, nine people sitting in a living room had a dream: A
community arts organization that could provide preparation and opportunities for local
Christian artists to serve the church and community through the visual and performing
arts.
With a typewriter on a card table for Ev Beyer (in whose home this dream began) and a
sectional sofa as a working area for Pris McDonald, Master Arts Company began its unique
ministry.
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| |
Touring Troupes
During the first year, two touring troupes were formed. The first
was called “The Parable” performed by Dave Taylor, Nancy Goodrich, Dan Denk, and
Pris McDonald; and made its debut at Grace Youth Camp near Hart, Michigan. The second
troupe was a Readers Theatre Christmas production entitled “Emmanuel” which was
performed in several churches that first year.
Touring Troupes still
active today.
Click Here for More Information on the Touring Troupes |
| 1986 |
Street Theatre
First Street Theatre
troupe performed.
Street Theatre still very active today.
Click Here for More Information on Street Theatre |
| 1987 |
Pris
McDonald appointed as Executive Director – has served ever since. |
| 1988 |
Workshops & Classes
First monthly
“Workshop Training Session” for interested artists.
Master Arts still provides Fall and Winter Classes in Drama.
Click Here for More Information on our Fall and Winter Class
Schedules |
| 1989 |
Master Arts Festivals
First of three annual area
wide Master Arts Festivals was held.
First stage play produced by Master Arts as part of the Festival:
The Book of Job
arranged for the stage by Orlin Corey
designed by Irene Corey
and directed by Pris McDonald |
| 1991 |
College credit was offered for “Mime”
& “Directing Church Drama” courses. |
| |
Arts Day Camp
First five-day Arts Day Camp held for youth.
These camps have been offered each year since, introducing children
to the joys of participation in Mime, Drama, Dance, and Visual Art.
Arts Day Camp has been
held every year since.
Click Here for More Information on Youth Summer Schedule |
| 1992 |
First stage
play produced for public (no Festival): Fiddler on the Roof
book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by: Jerry Bock,
based on Sholom Aleichem's stories by special permission of Arnold Perl
and directed by Pris McDonald
One or more productions
offered yearly ever since.
Click Here for More Information about What is in Currently
in Production
or Click Here to see the list of plays produced since 1989 |
| 1994 |
Grand Village Mall
Moved to Grand Village Mall – performed
J.R.R. Tolkien's
The Hobbit
dramatized by Patricia Gray
directed by Pris McDonald
The Hobbit was performed to full houses with additional
performances needed. |
| 1996 |
Youth Summer Stock
First two-week Youth Summer Stock program by and
for youth. These are two week summer stock programs, offering training
in all aspects of the production, including box office, costuming, make up, lighting and
sound, as well as performing in a full length stage play. The first
program was:
Winnie-the-Pooh
dramatized by Kristin Sergel
from the stories of A.A. Milne
Youth Summer Stock now offered yearly.
Click Here for More Information on Youth Summer Schedule |
| |
Season One
First year for a schedule of four productions per
year
– special rates for Season Subscribers.
Fall - The Music Man
Christmas - Amahl and the Night Visitors
Winter - Tartuffe
Spring - Shadowlands
Click Here for
More Information about Season Subscriptions |
| 1999 |
The Mall was
sold. Continued operating in an office on Baldwin Street, Jenison. |
| 2001 |
75 - 77th St SW
Renovated a facility located at 75 Vee Street SW in Grand Rapids,
MI. Opened new theater with:
Snoopy!!!
based on the comic strip "PEANUTS" by Charles M. Schulz
music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady
directed by Pris McDonald
assistant director/choreographer Cassie Holmes
Eventually the street name was changed to 77th St SW |
| 2003 |
Second Stage
(Now called Summer
Stage)
Summer of 2003, Master Arts started Second Stage. Second Stage was
designed to do things we would normally not do on the main stage.
These include activities such as performing pieces we would
like to use as traveling teams, repeating shows Master Arts has done
in the past and would like to do again, experimenting with something new,
and training new directors. The first
Second Stage was Leslie Nadwodnik's directorial debut:
The Sunshine Boys
written by Neil Simon
directed by Leslie Nadwodnik |
| 2003 |
A long time dream for Master
Arts became a reality on Friday, November 14th, when the Board signed the final
papers to purchase the current location at 75 77th St SW. Master Arts had been operating
and performing in borrowed, rented or leased space since its beginning in 1985. The
acquisition of our own facility provided permanency and set the stage for great
possibilities for the future. |
| 2005 |
20th Anniversary Celebration
with Jeannette Clift George
Jeannette Clift George is the
founder of A.D. Players. Her film debut was in the World Wide Picture The Hiding Place,
portraying Corrie Ten Boom. Ms. George is equally well-known as an author, playwright,
Bible teacher and national speaker.
Special Guest Speaker: Diet Eman
  
  
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| 2009 |
Winter
Youth Production
Noticing the growing interest by youth to perform in a play and the choice of
plays with minimal youth parts, Master Arts decided to began a Winter Youth Production,
March 2009. The goal of the Winter Youth Production is to involve as many youth as
possible. The first was
Doctor Dolittle
by Hugh Lofting
dramatized by Olga Fricker
directed by Walter Williams
 |
| 2010 |
25th
Anniversary
Master Arts celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a three day event, August 28
- 30, 2010.
Saturday
Pig Roast, Games and Special Performances:
Highlights:
Family Feud, where the categories were Master Arts
oriented. i.e. "How many Master Arts productions used live
animals?"
A special performance of "The Parable" by Dave Taylor, Dan Denk,
Nancy Goodrich and Pris McDonald. This was the first piece ever performed under the
umbrella of Master Arts and these were the four who performed it then.
Sunday
Praise Celebration
Special Guest Speaker: Paul Patton, Spring Arbor University
Monday
Challenge Golf Tournament
Highlights:
At the Highlands!
Winner of our first Golf Challenge: Team of Jim Rummil, Randy Mietland and Roy
Black
|
Click Here for
Pictures of the Building:
MAT Affiliations:
Community
Theatre Association of Michigan (CTAM)
Christians In Theatre Arts (CITA)
Contact us! |
Testimonials
Presentations
“Thank you very much for a very moving and
entertaining presentation. Your stories added so much to our luncheon.”
Mary Tracey, Ladies Literary Club, Grandville.
“My wife and I
were deeply moved by all facets of your presentation. We want to thank
you for reviving the wonder and awe of what occurred on Good Friday.”
Pastor John Romanosky, Sullivan Community Church, Ravenna, MI
“The five volunteers… were wonderful. They put on an excellent show. The
prisoners really enjoyed the show and how they became involved by the
volunteers, allowing them to participate.”
Bill Morrow, Program
Director, Deerfield Correctional Facility
“Thank you so much for
putting on day camp. I enjoyed it a lot! I learned so much and had fun
in the process. I was sad when it ended…”
P.S. Please thank all the
teachers.
Casey Caraway
“We had the Master Arts here last
night and they are awesome! Everything Lynn… said is true about this
group. What a great program and wonderful people to work with…”
An
email sent after a program at the Walker KDL Library
“Thank you
so much for donating your time and talents to help make our 10th
Birthday at the zoo a success.”
Nancy, Western Michigan Ronald
McDonald House
“The group did a great job, especially involving
the children. One of our board members was so impressed, she offered to
pay the… fee.”
Christian Reformed Recreation Center.
“We were
deeply moved by your presence at our Sunday Service at Moline CRC. We
truly felt God’s presence though your performance.”
“I would just
like to thank you so much for the program that was done for our
Mother-Daughter Banquet at First Cutlerville CRC. The entire process
from my first inquiry to the final booking and performance was handled
with such courtesy and professionalism.”
Laurie Bosma
“I just
had to let you know—Master Arts sets a standard of excellence that gave
us all a target to shoot for.”
Ray Allore
“We wanted to thank
you for coming to be part of the Festival de Jesus at Roosevelt Park
Community CRC… We appreciate your participation.”
“Thank you very
much for the wonderful performance given at our Annual Family Picnic at
Indian Trails Park… All of our families reported they had a wonderful
time… and thoroughly enjoyed your performance.”
Char Greer, Area
Child Amputee Center
“On behalf of Wedgwood Christian Services,
I’d like to thank you for helping to make our jubilee… a great success.
You were an encouragement to both our clients and staff who attended
your session.”
Pastor Patrick O’Donnell, Chaplin, Wedgwood Christian
Services
Actors
“For the past several years, one
thing I always look forward to is Youth Summer Stock. Each year keeps
getting better and better. During Summer Stock, I had an amazing time
and made friends who I will never forget. I grew as an actor and
relished the chance to create a whole new character. I can tell you for
sure I am disappointed that this year was my last year. However, the
memories and experiences will stick with me forever.”
Jonathon Burns,
Youth Summer Stock 2007
“I hope Master Arts is continuing to give
as many blessing to others as it did for me. You gave me an opportunity
to witness in a form very comfortable to me. And I will always remember
the times we shared.”
Ellen Lovely
“Thank you so much for
having me in the show! It was one of the high points of my semester”
Claire
“I have had many personal troubles over the last six years
and I have never felt more supported and ministered to as I have through
the people and the mission of Master Arts. I know that without this
support, my life struggles may have been unsurpassable – and it is my
firm belief that God allowed me to walk through the doors of Master Arts
to find the healing and growth I needed to overcome some difficult
situations.”
AD
“Thank you for the world of theater – you
opened a new door in my life.”
Elizabeth Joy McDaniel
“You
have given much to me and my family… great drama, opportunities to
participate and support: deep life ling friendships: and strengthen walk
with God.”
From a newsletter sent December 1995
“The
opportunities I’ve has here have filled the ‘something missing’ in my
life. I am thankful every day that God led me to Master Arts.”
From a
newsletter sent December 1995
“This is a nurturing, challenging
place where I have experienced the joy of working with people who create
a quality product and share the love of Christ doing it. In many ways,
Master Arts is more than a company—it’s a family.
From a newsletter
sent December 1995
The Theater
“We appreciate the
fact that we never have to worry that there will be anything
inappropriate said or done on stage… We also like the intimacy of the
small theater… ”
Gary and Maxine Kuipers
From an article
entitled: Too Much Profanity, Nudity in Theater
“It seems the only
theatrical company that believes in productions where the quality of
writing does not need artificial “enhancement” is Master Arts Theatre. A
patron can be assured of entertainment without embarrassment.”
The
Grand Rapids Press, Thursday, March 28, 2002, Joyce M. Abbgy
“Master Arts affords the artist the arena in which to grapple with the
grassroots of our faith. This safe place which allows this exploration
serves as a catalyst for the deepening of our faith through the medium
of the arts. The freedom to explore ideas and thought, and even
religious beliefs in new and creative ways serves to deepen the meaning
that lies hidden in them. That creative freedom is life to the artist.
That is the way the artist deepens his or her faith. That is the way he
or she is drawn to the Source – God.”
Julie Henshaw
“John and
I were talking last night about what a great time Abby has had doing
Cheaper by the Dozen and how much we appreciate the environment Master
Arts provides. I have had no problems dropping her off knowing that the
people that she is with there and the leadership are healthy and
wholesome… Thank you… for your leadership and for providing an
opportunity for young actors to gain valuable experience in a wonderful
Christian atmosphere.”
Marty LaBarge
“We’re so thankful for
Master Arts Theatre, for the positive, Christian mentors who work there
whom our son has had the privilege of studying under. MAT is a safe
place to explore your theatrical interests. It is a caring community of
people and the staff chooses wholesome, family-friendly scripts to
perform. Thank you for your vision of what a community theatre could be
and for making the vision a reality.”
Ken and Heidi Trumble
“A
great big “thank you” from Word of Faith, and me personally, for your
continuing dedication to see Christ lifted up though the medium of the
performing arts.”
Ray Allore, Wolf Drama
“To have the
opportunity to minister through the medium of drama is a humbling and
awesome experience.”
From a newsletter sent December 1995
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