MAT season opener is Death by Chocolate

The local acting troupe is revving up for its next season, and kicking it off with its annual fundraiser, in a new location with a new play and some new features.

Montana Actors' Theatre is holding its Death by Chocolate fundraiser in the Havre Central Gymnasium at St. Jude Thaddeus School this year. The doors open during Festival Days, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

MAT founder and artistic director Jay Pyette, who is co-directing the Death by Chocolate murder mystery with Patrick Ulano, said the move was a matter of space. The Student Union Building Ballroom at Montana State University-Northern was a little cramped for the event.

"It's a whole new event this year," Pyette said. "Moving the event to the St. Jude's gym has allowed us to expand what we're doing a bit."

Once again, the murder mystery play will have the audience guessing who done it, and who was the victim, in a game of Parker Brothers' Clue with a local twist - all of the characters and settings will be local.

"The audience members will need to decide who did it, where, with what - again, not the usual weapons," Pyette said. "And, very importantly, who was the victim - although the 'deceased' is also the narrator for the night."

The different location also will host a different eating opportunity. Hors d'ouevres have been the selection at previous Death by Chocolates, but Pyette said Jeff and Norma Ralph and the St. Jude's Booster Club will serve a full meal.

"And, of course, chocolate," Pyette said. "Lots of chocolate."

In addition to the locally made desserts - audience members sample chocolate desserts and then bid on their favorites in a silent auction - the bar will have a new chocolate selection as well. Pyette said Havre's Triple Dog Brewery will be premiering a new chocolate porter at Death by Chocolate.

"All in all, it's going to be a great deal of fun with auctions, raffles, live entertainment, and great food and chocolate," he said.

One of the auctions will be for sponsorships of the plays in the upcoming season, with the first play, "Seven," directed by Dana Pyette and Rachel Dean, running right after Festival Days on Sept. 25-27.

The next production, directed by Anthony Cammon and Casey Pratt, is "On Borrowed Time," opening in October, followed by the Christmas production: "The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical," directed by Pam Veis.

The first production in the new year will be "9 Circles," directed by Jay Pyette and opening in January.

A special event will be held in February to celebrate Valentine's Day, then the end of the month will see MAT's premiere of the classic musical "Grease," directed by Donald Mayer.

"Over the River and Through the Woods," directed by Audrey Barger, follows with an opening production in April, and Bethany Mason's direction of "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" will close out the regular MAT season with productions starting in May.

That will, again, be followed with MAT's youth production and children's theater camp.

Pyette said he is pleased with the oncoming lineup.

"We have a great season coming up with quite a bit of diversity," he said. "We're presenting a couple of feel-good shows with those directed by Anthony Cammon and Audrey Barger, and some pretty dark, but hilarious, humor with 'Lieutenant of Inishmore.'"

"We've got 'Grease,' which everyone knows, and we're bringing back the entire crew from 'Trailer Park' for the Christmas musical," he added. "All in all, it's going to be a great year. We have our seasoned directors taking on the bulk of the shows, and I think we're going to have something for everyone."

Tickets for Death by Chocolate are $35 each or $50 for a couple and are available at Angie's Wildflowers at 205 3rd Ave. in Havre or online at http://www.mtactors.com.