MAC History
Millennium Players
The first production by the Millennium Players occurred on Nov 15,16,and 21-24 1996; Barefoot in the Park with cast members David Jernigan, of Manchester, Heidi Eland, Cynthia Ryan, and Sam Buckalew, of Murfreesboro, and veteran actor-columnist Weldon Payne, of Manchester. The show was directed by Rebecca Durham as her senior project in theatre at MTSU. Even though previously sold season tickets were honored, the show made slightly more than needed to break even.
December 1996 brought the two man—multiple parts comedy, Tuna Christmas. Jennie Rainwater directed Johnny Cotham and Warren Gore. The show netted $2,000 and did extra performances. Meg Garret arranged for a gallery show of the works of Cornelia Ilgner to be on display to coincide with Tuna Christmas.
Prior to each performance attendees were encouraged to join the Millennium Players at a cost of $5 for the year. Membership allowed the member to vote in elections, make plans, brainstorm, and have fun as a dedicated group of theatre goers.
January of 1997 brought the Blue Moves, modern dance troupe to perform. They were one of the groups that performed at the first Gala. The MAC had a Yard Sale that netted $600. This was also the time that a newsletter, The MACourier, was started.
February of 1997 brought Arsenic and Old Lace to our stage. It opened on Valentine’s Day and starred Dianne Bancroft-Billings, Weldon Payne, Phil Chessor, Charlie Winton, Stuart Fulkerson, David Butner and Josh Sneed of Tullahoma, David Jernigan, Stacey Lester, Todd and Doug Bancroft-Billings, Darby Sizemore, and Nicholas Kirkpatrick. The show was directed by Glendale Swann. With this show, day shows for students were offered at a cost of $3. The show shared the spotlight with the gallery display of Don Northcutt. Clogging Classes with the Simmons and ballet and tap classes with Joan Bart continued at the MAC, and the Millennium Players became the Millennium Repertory Company. The group already had plans to perform professional quality plays! The MAC experimented with showing movies. A full theater screen was donated by the Shelbyville Movie Theater and the movie Shane was rented. Unfortunately the concept did not go over with the community and that was the only movie presented.
