As part of our educational opportunities at Midland Community Theatre, we offer the performing company, The Pickwick Players, for young people ages 13 to 18. The Pickwick Players has a long and distinguished history at MCT, beginning in 1968. Since that time, Pickwicks has received the Winnifred Ward Prize as the outstanding children’s theatre company in the United States. It was also chosen by the Southwest Theatre Association as the recipient of its 1992 Amateur Children’s Theatre award. The Pickwick Players has represented the United States at the International Festival of Youth Theatre in New Zealand and the World Festival of Children’s Theatre in Turkey. They also toured productions to Russia, Ireland, and England.

Interested young people may audition to join the Pickwick Players. Auditions are held each year in May. Students who wish to audition are required to present a memorized, one- to two-minute monologue. In addition, they will be asked to learn a song and a dance combination during the audition and perform these as well.

If selected for the company, each student is expected to commit to the program for at least one year. Pickwick classes are held twice a week. All Pickwicks are eligible to audition for the three plays that the company produces each year for local schools and the general public.

Pickwicks is also a service organization, with opportunities to teach at the theatre or outreach classes, to perform at such community events as Septemberfest and Celebration of the Arts, and to assist with fundraising activities that benefit the organization.

Arts Educations through classes, performing, and touring is the goal and heritage of MCT’s Pickwick Players.

If you have questions about Pickwick Players or want more information, please call Bill Williams, Pickwick Players director at 682-2544, Extension 3023.