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The Crested Butte Mountain
Theatre was born in the summer of 1972 by an energetic,
talented group of people who had the vision to
see a remote community provide some of its own
unique culture. That might be the proper way of
saying that a group of energetic, hard-core mountain
folk conceived of an idea to try and infuse their
small community with even more fun, fantasy, and
freedom than already existed at the time. The first
show was Dark
of the Moon
and was played against the backdrop of a full moon
rising from behind Crested Butte Mountain. Imagine
how spectacular! Spectators sat on blankets in
the grass, enthralled by the astonishing event
unfolding before them. On stage were their friends
- acting, singing, playing, and dancing. That same
winter, they produced A Cry of Players
in the dilapidated, drafty Old Town Hall.
When Old Town Hall was condemned in the winter
of 1975, the Mountain Theatre lost its home (a
familiar situation when trying to keep a theatre
company alive). The players used any space they
could find to continue performing. Under
Milkwood was
performed in local living rooms. But it was so
popular that it had to play in three different
locations, including the historic Depot,
and finishing its run in the Gothic Building
at the base of the ski area.
The Mountain Theatre moved back into the semi-remodeled
Old Town Hall for the 1976/77 winter season,
which some remember as the Winter of Un, or
the winter of no snow (seriously, nary a flake).
It marked its return to the space
with a memorable production of The Lion
in Winter.
That production starred long-time resident and
theatre great, Tom Mallardi, who passed away
in 2002 and after whom the Theatre's current
home is named: The Mallardi Cabaret Theatre,
formerly Old Town Hall, a renaming that the Crested
Butte Town Council was more than happy to allow.
Between this 1976/77 season and 1997, CBMT moved
around a bit, sharing Old Town Hall with the
CB Town Council, performing at the Center
for the Arts and the Princess Theatre, which
is now the Princess Wine Bar, and continuing
the tradition and producing great plays, both
compelling and comedic. In 1998, CBMT secured
the Old Town Hall as a somewhat permanent home,
leasing the space from the town, and allowing
the company to produce major productions at the
Center for the Arts and an increasing number of smaller performances at Old Town Hall.
In Crested Butte Mountain Theatre's 34 year history,
we have produced close to 200 plays.
For a complete list of plays, click here.
CBMT continues to offer a creative outlet for
diversely talented people in the community:
actors, writers, directors, dancers, artists,
musicians, crafts people, technicians, and
more. We attempt to involve as many people
as possible who have the energy, desire, and
much-cherished sense of community. Although
some may say they also need to "find
the time" to get involved, we find that
time seems to find them if their heart
is willing. CBMT repays the community's overwhelming
trust and support with quality entertainment
throughout the year and through its community
outreach programs, including Teens on Stage.
Through its Arts in Education Program, CBMT is
committed to bringing Crested Butte's next generation
into the theatre. Youth theatre programs are
aimed at exposing children to a wide range of
ideas and experiences while insuring future participation
in the theatre both on and off the stage. It's
no secret that the arts in education programs
are being cut dramatically throughout the country;
nor is it any surprise that a community like
Crested Butte is able to see a lack of education
for their children and find the wherewithal to
address that lack of their own volition. The
Mountain Theatre's support of these programs
through the Community School Drama Club and Teens
on Stage Program has resulted in critically acclaimed
productions of Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet
Prince of Denmark, Shakespeare to Seinfeld, A
Midsummer Night's Dream,
Moliere's The Learned Ladies, and O'Brien's The Disappearance of Daniel Hand.
And since history continues to create itself, we will strive to update this page with turning points, significant events, and corrections or updates to our history. |
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