1. “ Acting requires a creative and
compassionate attitude. It must
aim to lift life up to a higher level
of meaning and not tear it down
or demean it. The actor’s
search is a generous quest fort
that larger meaning. That’s why
acting is never to be done
passively.”
- Stella Adler, The Art of Acting
CNN Ranks
Mabel Tainter
Center for the Arts
as one of the
“World’s Most
Spectacular
Theaters”
Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts
The Menomonie Theater Guild is Menomonie’s oldest
community theater organization. Founded in part to
restore the Mabel Tainter after a many-year closure, the
Menomonie Theater Guild has been instrumental in
uniting actors, directors, musicians and a score of other
creative minds for over fifty-five years. Shows are
prepared and tickets sold at the Menomonie Theater
Guild Studio. It is the mission of the Menomonie
Theater Guild to produce plays for community
enjoyment, to provide dramatic recreating for its
participants and to perpetuate and extend the ideals and
objectives of community theater. This organization will
also encourage the preservation of the Mabel Tainter
building as a historic, authentic and cultural institution.
Menomonie Theater Guild
Summer 2015

2. Stroll Down Memory Lane
Thoughts from our President, Melissa Smith-tourville
In 2013, as a newcomer to MTG (by comparison) I was aware of the
rich history of this organization with which I had signed on to be
Vice President when I joined the Board of Directors. I understood the
responsibility and weight that was on my shoulders. I knew that
there was a community of people who were entrusting me with their
organization. In the two years that I have devoted myself to the work
of the organization, I have had the opportunity to really listen to
those of you who have invested a lifetime in this little theater com-
munity. Many folks my age speak fondly of their time on stage, even
as children and teenagers.
What struck me, as we moved into the significant period of change
that the organization faced last year, was the intergenerational con-
nectedness that is so crucial to the function of the Menomonie The-
ater Guild. As I pondered this idea I wondered how we could bring
this gap of generations together into one room for an event that
would introduce them, reconnect them and bring them together for
an appreciation of their similarities and differences.
I first brought the vision of the Stroll Down Memory Lane Banquet
to our fundraising committee meeting one year ago. We explored
the ways in which we could seamlessly merge the experiences of
many MTG generations into this one event. We considered the thou-
sands and thousands of photos that we had on 35mm slides, photo
prints, CDs and DVDs. We talked about the rich historical documents
that we have carefully saved for decades. We considered the props
that had been around for so many shows. We talked about how the-
ater and food are a common language and we could create some-
thing that would be appealing for all.
One year later I had the privilege of witnessing the vision come to
fruition. We filled half the room at the outset with folks who were
joining us for dinner. Show tunes filled the room until the hum and
buzz of laughter and socializing began to fill the space. Tables lined
the walls with memorabilia that would leave any MTG member
feeling warm and nostalgic. On each of the four large screen
televisions one era of MTG photos rotated together. Among those
photos were identical shows with different casts, costumes, props
and sets that were created by different directors, sometimes decades
apart. Most recently the photos ran this season’s Into the Woods,
directed by Ann Salt and On Golden Pond, under my direction ran
alongside previous versions of the same show, on the same stage.
The feeling was electric.
The tables were masterfully set, the sparkling cider in ice buckets
In this Issue:
 2015 A Stroll
Down Memory
Lane &
Presidents
Report
 The Changes to
Our Board
 Ticket Time!
 Next to Normal
Auditions
 MTG Awards
 WANTED for
Props
 MTG Building
Wish List

3. awaiting the guests. A silent auction called upon our members to donate generously. And there was
the food. Caesar salad, dinner rolls, perfectly seasoned chicken breast, steamed green beans, and
rotini Alfredo. As the dinner came to a close the dessert buffet was unveiled, ushering in the MTG
Annual Meeting. With delight, our members enjoyed a chocolate fountain surrounded by fruit, red
velvet cupcakes, coconut macaroons, cookies and coffee. The room filled to the brim as we began the
annual meeting!
The meeting opened with John Russell, a founding MTG member sharing the story of how our theater
guild came to be. He was followed by what could only be described as one AMAZING performance by
the Show Tuners. This independent a Capella group exclusively covers show tunes. They are made up
entirely of MTG youth theater veterans who represent the next generation of outstanding theater in
Menomonie, Wisconsin! They brought the house down with their a Capella rendition of several
well-known show tunes.
Then, with great joy the MTG Board of Directors announced our upcoming shows and presented the
nominations and winners. In true Tony’s style we assured that every single person nominated and
especially the winners felt confident in our appreciation for their dedication and hard work. We
laughed, we cheered, we heckled, we played. It was magical.
What happened in that banquet room on that Friday night was more than the celebration of all that is
the Menomonie Theater Guild. What happened in that room was a merging of several generations of
people who are endlessly dedicated to sharing their talents and secrets for success and to standing
arm and arm to bring this community the best that community theater has to offer. Just this last
season I said to my On Golden Pond cast, “There are two words in Community Theater: community
and theater. And BOTH are important. We are not just here to assure that we produce amazing
theater. We are also here to assure that we support one another 100% and create community
together!” I am happy to report that my amazing cast did exactly that. I am equally happy to report
that I witnessed exactly this at our Stroll Down Memory Lane Banquet. Thank you to everyone who
was in attendance. Your presence helped to fulfill our dream for brining together generations of MTG.
Blessings,
Melissa Smith-Tourville, President

4. The Changes to Our Board
As the new season is underway our previous season comes to a close. We would like
to thank our dedicated and fantastic outgoing board members and to welcome our
incoming board members.
Bill Johnson We would like to thank you for your years of service
providing sound for our productions. Bill has reached the term limit of
five years in this position, however he is no stranger to the stage as well!
Most recently Bill was featured as Norman in On Golden Pond.
Marion Lang We would like to thank you for all of your hard
work and dedication especially within the past year as the Member at
Large.This transition would not have been the same without you.
Pinckney Hall We would like to thank you for tackling the
daunting position of President and leading our organization during our
transition.We truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication you
have brought to MTG.
Bob Colson We appreciate all that Bob has done with sound for
our organization and we truly appreciate that he has taken over the
position as Member at Large on the Executive Committee.
Josie Salzman We all graciously welcome Josie to the Public
Relations position and we anxiously await to see the magic we know she
will create.
Have you ever been interested in a Board position? We are looking for
both Sound and Lights Positions! If you are interested please stop by
the studio and talk with staff or email us at
menomonietheaterguild@gmail.com
Ticket Time!
Have you ever been confused
about how to get tickets? If so,
let this be a guide for you!
There are four ways to get your
tickets!
1. Stop by our studio box office
located at 502 West 2nd Street
in Menomonie! Make sure to
stop by during our box office
hours:
Tuesdays: 11:00am-3:00pm
Wednesday: 11:00am-3:00pm
Thursdays: 11:00am-3:00pm
Fridays: 11:00am-3:00pm
2. Call our Studio Box Office
during our box office hours to
talk to Box Office Staff and
order your tickets via phone.
Our box office number is
715-231-PLAY (7529). If Box
Office staff is unavailable when
you call please leave your
name, number and a brief
message and staff will get back
to you during the next Box
Office Hours.
3. Order your tickets on our
website
menomonietheaterguild.com.
4. Purchase tickets one hour
prior to the performance at the
Mabel Tainter Center for the
Arts. Please keep in mind that
your desired tickets may not be
available if you wait until the day
of the performance.
If you have any questions,
comments or concerns please
call:
715-231-PLAY (7529)
Or email us at:
mtgtickets@gmail.com

6. 2015 Menomonie Theater Guild
Awards and Recognition
Female Standing Ovation Award:
Kobi Shaw—Witch
Male Standing Ovation Award:
Mitch Ogden—George Bailey
Rookie of the Year Award:
Becky Santine
Gut Buster Award:
Katie Wagner—Little Red Riding Hood
Best Cameo Award:
Rachel Kelm—Milky White
Best Scene Award:
Your Fault/Last Midnight—Into the Woods
Rising Star Award (14 & up):
Alice Langby
Rising Star Award (13 & Under):
Sarah Ottinger
All in Award:
Marion Lang– For endless hours of work for
MTG
Exemplary Stage Parents Award:
Dean and Leah Langby
Risk Taker Award:
Bill Johnson
Mr. or Miss Invisible Award:
Mark Mastalir
Tear Jerker Award:
Bill Johnson and Jeanne Kussrow-Larson
How’d They Do That? Award:
Scott Hearley — On Golden Pond Set
Trail Blazer Award:
Jim Miller
Most Memorable Musical Moment Award:
Agony—Into the Woods
This Magic Moment Award:
Kobi Shaw– when she sang “careful the
things you say..” over the Baker’s story
The Show Must Go On Award:
Susan King: creating 60 costumes in a
month
They Must Be Crazy Award:
Joshua Battles– who went out of his comfort
zone, put up with criticism, practiced his
fingers off and served as the Into the Woods
pit accompanist in amazing fashion

7. HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
MTG Building Wish List:
 Window Washing throughout the building
 A donation to service the vacuum cleaners of the building
 Finisher Carpenter help to install interior door trim
 Hardware sorting in the scene shop
 Volunteers to haul away boxes of scrap lumber for burn piles
If interested in helping with any of these tasks please send your name and
contact information to menomonietheaterguild@gmail.com
WANTED:
A volunteer “handy person” for occasional
help in the props room. No major time
commitment involved. If you are gifted at
wielding a screw gun or hammer, you’d be
a perfect fit! Please contact MTG at
menomonietheaterguild@gmail.com or
(715) 231-7529 and leave a message for
Robin, props chairperson.