Montana Actors’ Theatre’s Jay Pyette, left, and Patrick Ulano rehearse “The Pillowman” Thursday evening at the Little Theatre at Montana State University-Nothern Theater.
The local acting troupe is bringing its neighbor to Havre for a weekend of comedic improvisation, essentially kicking off its next season that officially starts the day of Halloween.
The Great Falls troupe of Montana Actors’ Theatre will bring its improv show to Havre tonight and Saturday, two weeks before the Havre troupe’s season begins.
For the first time, MAT also is offering season tickets, with a $75 price tag to see all six plays.
“Really, what it does is, it gives you one of the shows free, ” said MAT Executive Artistic Director Jay Pyette.
The troupe’s plays normally cost $15 for adults, with free admission for Montana State University-Northern students with a valid student identification card.
The Great Falls troupe’s improv performances, set for 8 p. m. tonight and Saturday with the doors and backstage lounge opening at 7:30 p. m., are in the home stage for the Havre troupe, the Little Theatre in Cowan Hall on the Northern campus.
Pyette said the improv performance has gotten good reviews and is in high demand. The troupe has been touring it at the request of groups and organizations in Great Falls, he said.
“It’s kind of like an adult ‘Whose Line Is It, Anyway? ’” Pyette said, adding that the shows are not graphic but often include some adult humor.
The improv show is $10 a ticket, sold at the door, with Northern students again gaining free admission with a valid ID.
The season tickets will be sold at Angie’s Wildflowers and on the MAT website at http://www.mtactors.com.
Pyette said people might want to get their season tickets in time for the first show, Martin McDonagh’s 2003 play “The Pillowman. ” MAT is breaking normal tradition by opening the show on a Wednesday — Oct. 31 — before starting its usual weekend run. He said opening the fall show on Halloween seemed appropriate.
“It’s got kind of a spooky theme to it, ” Pyette said. “It’s not really a Halloween show, per se, but it’s got that theme to it. ”
MAT slated “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show, ” “Annie, ” “Dog Sees God, ” “A Steady Rain” and “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” through the rest of its 2012-13 season.
