MAT holds open house to celebrate, educate, seek volunteers

Members of the local acting troupe are holding an open house Saturday, both to show the community what it is they do and to see if people would be interested in volunteering.

"We have wonderful volunteers but would love to have more. There is sure to be some aspect of MAT that any volunteer would enjoy, " said Andi Daniel, marketing director of Montana Actors' Theatre.

The troupe was started by Havre High School English and drama teacher Jay Pyette, who brought his Northwest Ensemble Theater back to Havre from Oregon, where he received his master's degree in drama.

In 1997, Pyette changed the name to Montana Actors' Theatre, and the amateur company has grown exponentially since then.

Now with three branches — as well as Havre, MAT has companies in Missoula and Great Falls — the actors put on regular productions in their local theaters as well as touring between towns, with plans in place to start touring to other communities, too.

As well as regular productions in Havre, with the troupe just finishing its production of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" this month and rehearsing for its production of "Hollywood Arms" for May and June, MAT also holds youth and children's activities in Havre over the summer.

The open house, set for 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. in the theater in Cowan Hall on the Montana State University-Northern campus, will show the background work that goes into a production. That includes set design and construction, costuming, and lighting and sound, as well as rehearsals.

The people attending the open house in the morning also will be able to watch a rehearsal for an upcoming production.

Members of the troupe also will be giving tours of the theater, refreshments will be served and door prizes awarded during the open house.