Mac history
Coffee House
Our July Arts Camp, Fantasy Island, sponsored by Fantasy 101.5 was a sell out with a waiting list. Forever Plaid, with John Wright, Travis Thompson, Glen Marble and Warren H. Gore opened at the MAC in August of 1999. It was our first musical and it was sponsored by First National Bank. David Pennington provided 50s memorabilia for the gallery complete with a juke box with 50s music.
September of 1999 saw MRC adopt by-laws for the group and go to officers rather than Managing and Artistic Directors. It was decided that, since the group was growing, they would be better served by dividing responsibilities among officers. Karen Wainwright was elected President with Tina Croy as Vice President. MRC's meeting time was the third Sunday of every month and that is when they meet today.
Blythe Spirit was in October of '99 with Bill Nickels in the gallery. A window was donated by James Threet and was put in the gallery.
TAG had its first Coffee House. The MAC had a float in the Old Timers Day parade with Hardee's and Fantasy 101.5—we placed third. November brought a Holiday Bazaar to the Arts Center. We had a multitude of venders who enjoyed the event. Bruce Watson directed our first big musical, Cinderella, which was also our first experience at having sold out audiences and scrambling to put in chairs. We used many children for this show. We had nine sold out performances—a good Christmas present! The show was sponsored by Peoples Bank and they had a dinner preceding the show. College Street third graders decorated Cinderella trees for the gallery.
Run for Your Wife was directed by Charlie Winton for our February 2000 offering. This was another top notch cast for a British farce. March saw the MAC host its first wedding reception. On Sunday, February 20, 2000 the gallery at the MAC was officially named the Martin Gallery, honoring Shelvy Martin and her mother, Helen. They, and others like them, had a vision and worked toward it. Because of the work done by all of these individuals, we are able to have an Arts Center.
