Coming soon to a theater near you!

Last updated: August 30, 2021

Get ready for a vibrant new season at the Chuck Mathena Center. Interactive entertainment, classical ballet and big-name bands are just some of the acts in store for 2017-2018. So grab that calendar and fill up those dates!

Families and kids

School may be out, but creativity never goes on vacation. First graders through high schoolers are invited to audition for a special summer show, complete with professional staging and production!

Everything starts with the arrival of the Missoula Children’s Theatre at the Chuck Mathena Center (CMC). Their latest performance— “Peter and Wendy” — has sets, costumes, and scripts. All it needs is actors. Do you have any living at your house?

Bring your budding stars for auditions on July 24. Tryouts will last 10 a.m. to noon. After that, rehearsals go all week until the grand performance July 29.

This is the real deal. For any child or teen with imagination, “Peter and Wendy” will bring the creative process to life, from start to finish.

Prefer to watch rather than act? “B— The Underwater Bubble Show” on Oct. 3 resembles something from Cirque du Soleil. Mysterious and sensational, it colors the imagination with
sand art, soap bubble tornadoes, snow cannons and more. Tickets are available July 31.

Musicals

If you like “Grease,” you’ll probably fall for “The Marvellous Wonderettes: Dream On.” Set in 1969, the story follows students and their beloved teacher’s retirement. The upbeat performance features classics like “Build Me Up, Buttercup” and “I Will Survive.” Tickets are available now for the Aug. 26 showing.

Bands

Remember The Drifters? Meet the legendary doo-wop group on Sept. 23, when they’ll reveal their latest album. A pre-show dinner will be available, too. Tickets go on sale July 24.

Also gracing the stage are The McKameys. Since 1954, this family has shared their faith through record-setting songs. Join them on Nov. 17 for an uplifting, joyous evening. Add a pre-show dinner to make things even more special! Tickets will be available Sept. 23.

Ever heard of the 3 Redneck Tenors? These classically trained singers cover anything from pop and Broadway ballads to Gospel. In between, they inject plenty of humor. If that’s hard to picture, take their advice and imagine “Duck Dynasty goes to Carnegie Hall.” Tickets go on sale Feb. 12, 2018 for the April 14, 2018 show. Pre-show dinners will be available as well.

Dailey & Vincent of Grand Ole Opry fame will arrive June 15, 2018. These bluegrass greats have multiple high-profile awards to their name, including several Grammy Award nominations. Tickets for the show (which can include a pre-show dinner) will be available April 16, 2018.

Entertainment

Messy, colorful “Artrageous” broadens those stage horizons with music, dancing, and paint—- lots of it. Watch as colors leap and splatter to sound right before your eyes! Whimsical effects and puppetry are also part of the mix. Tickets will be available January 15, 2018 for the March 17, 2018 show.

“Dan Kamin: Comedy in Motion” keeps the art of vaudeville alive and well. A gifted performer, dancer and comedian, he dazzles audiences with his one-man shows. Kamin also works closely with the Hollywood film industry. He developed those creepy alien movements for “Mars Attacks!” and trained stars like Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. Tickets will be available Feb. 26, 2018 for the April 26, 2018 show.

Ballet

Tchaikovsky’s lush music makes “Swan Lake” a timeless classic. Add gorgeous athleticism from Moscow Festival Ballet to this spellbinding fantasy, and you’re in for a rare treat. Tickets go on sale March 12, 2018 for the May 11, 2018 performance.

Drama

“It’s a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre” puts an imaginative spin on Frank Capra’s classic movie. This time, you’re taken to a fictitious radio station, where voice actors are scheduled to reenact the drama. Unfortunately, a blizzard prevents anybody from arriving. Only the technicians are left to save the day. But will that be enough? Tickets will be available Oct. 9 for the Dec. 7 show.

“The Passing of Pearl,” a local production by Vain Colby, follows the story of three Memphis women and their beloved diner. After the restaurant’s owner dies, the characters reminisce about times gone by. Tickets go on sale Dec. 4 for the Feb. 3, 2018 show. You’ll want to reserve your spot early; this 4PALS play always sells out, even in out-of-state venues. The script has even been purchased for a possible movie!

Special

Get ready for a joint benefit for the CMC and an autism program. On March 31, the theatre will have silent and live auctions, dancing, music and a cash bar. Bid on special items like paintings from “Artrageous”! The Palisades Restaurant, which specializing in fresh contemporary cuisine, will provide catering.

That’s a wrap

So what show speaks to you? No matter your preference, expect an evening of top-notch entertainment. State-of-the-art sound systems and updates make the CMC one of West Virginia’s best performance halls.

If you visit Mercer County, try to stay for a show. With everything from “bluegrass to ballet,” you’ll always find something entrancing.