Montana Actors' Theatre announces its full season for 2018-19 season

Rachel Dean of Montana Actors’ Theatre announced the acting troupe’s upcoming season — including the bombshell that Hollywood icon Ed Asner is acting with MAT in Havre in October — Wednesday during a break in local blues-rock band Shovels and Shotguns’ performance at Town Square in the final Sounds on the Square of the season.

Dean said the activities kick off with the annual fundraiser Death by Chocolate Sept. 15 in St. Jude Parish Center.

“We play games, have a show, we talk about all the shows of the season. … We eat lots of chocolate, lots of good food. We hope you will join us,” she said.

Then Ed Asner will act with local actors Oct. 12-13 in the satirical comedy “God Help Us.”

Dean then invited people to head to Missoula with MAT for its annual production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in October.

The troupe then heads into its production of the penny dreadful-based musical “Sweeney Todd,” which will be produced off-site in the Atrium Mall, she said.

In November MAT is bringing back something it started last year with its 24-hour play festival.

“If you did not come last year, that was an amazing time for us,” she said. “Something new for us.”

Dean said the festival brings together writers, directors and actors who have 24 hours to write and rehearse a 15-minute show. Last year’s event had five productions

“It was amazing, the stuff that came out with that, so you will want to come out and experience that with us,” Dean said.

She said in December, MAT is continuing its new tradition of putting on a panto — “it’s kind of a fractured fairy tale” — during the holiday season. This season, the panto will be Peter Pan, she said.

“That is a great show for the kids,” she said. “Bring the family in December

In January, the troupe is putting on two classics in repertory, alternating the performances each week, with productions of “Death of a Salesman” and “The Glass Menagerie.”

This year, MAT is using  a different take on its bringing a cabaret to Havre for February — this year MAT is producing the musical “Cabaret.”

In March, MAT will produce “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” and a dinner theater with “The 39 Steps” that will perform in Havre, Chinook, Malta and Lewistown.

“So we are truly Montana Actors’ Theatre,” Dean said.

That is followed with another classic, she said, “Cyrano de Bergerac” in May.

Then the troupe heads into its youth-focused summer, with the youth production of “She Kills Monsters” and the KidsMAT summer acting camps, Dean said.