MILTON ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥” Mountain Roots Community Theatre has been looking for a new home since April 2024 when it moved from its location in eastern Kanawha County, where it had been since 2019.
Now, itÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™s settled in the newly established Misty Rose Building, or the former Milton Elementary School at 1201 Pike St., where the city is installing a community and recreation center.
ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œI think itÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™s a fantastic idea,ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥ Cathy Doebler, artistic and managing director, said of the community center set to open next month.
ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œHaving things that benefit the whole community, having them all in one place is a great idea.ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥
Doebler said Mountain Roots Community Theatre being located in the building will be beneficial because it offers live entertainment and a space to perform without paying exorbitant prices to rent a space. The company asks for half of ticket sales from those using its space to rehearse and perform.
ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œOur goal is never a dark weekend,ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥ she said. ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œWe do scripted plays, musicals. If you have a band and you want to do a concert, weÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™ll give you a stage to do it on.ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥
To transform four kindergarten classrooms into a theater, dressing rooms and a lobby, Doebler said the company has been in the space since June 1 repainting the walls and loading it with costumes and props.
She said the company will also be adding mirrors, softer lighting and chairs and tables for those waiting to enter the show. Next, itÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™ll be bringing in racks to hang clothes and converting one of the classrooms into a scene shop where it can build sets.
The theater will officially open to the public on Friday, Aug. 1, when the company will have its first open mic variety show, ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œAnything Goes!ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥ The variety show, which has become a custom for Mountain Roots, will recur on the first Friday of each month.
ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œAnyone from the community is welcome to come in and do anything,ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥ she said. ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œWe get comics. We get singers. We have had martial arts demonstrations, self defense demonstrations, public speakers, dancers, kids, adults. We had a boy come in and show off how he had trained his dog.ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥
The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $5, but if an audience member chooses to perform, they may enter free.
Performers can sign up at , or they can simply let the company know they want to be in the show upon arrival.
The first production the company is planning will be ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œPeter PanÃÛ·èÖ±²¥ in October, Doebler said, and sheÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™ll be recruiting actors as young as 7 years old. In December, she said theyÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™ll be performing an original play by West Virginia playwright Gary Reynolds called ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥œScrooge and MarleyÃÛ·èÖ±²¥™s Unfinished Business.ÃÛ·èÖ±²¥
More information about the theatre company, including how and when to audition or donate, may be found on its website or Facebook .
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
