Mendocino Theatre Company returns with ‘Visiting Mr. Green’
MENDOCINO, CA » Closed for the past two years due to COVID restrictions, this coming April 28, the Mendocino Theatre Company will present its first full production of the season to a live audience. Pamela Allen, the Executive Director of the theatre company, noted, “This is our first full production since March of 2020. We have never before been closed that long.” While closed to the public, the theatre company adopted multiple approaches to sustain itself financially and artistically during the long hiatus.
Pamela Allen explained, “We got quite a few grants, and the Community Foundation of Mendocino was so helpful.” Allen added that the non-profit company was financially stable since it had previously placed its Martha Wagner Estate Endowment into savings. A few government grants specifically for COVID assistance also provided support. Allen credits the community for keeping the company afloat. “We have these wonderful donors that love us and keep us going.”
The theatre company did hold two events in November of 2020 to honor their donors and also conducted an online, virtual fundraiser, which was very successful. Some of the collected funds were spent during closure to upgrade the interior space. Over the past summer, the HVAC system was upgraded to increase air filtration. Additionally, an air scrubber now takes viruses out of the air. New seats were installed, partially funded by an anonymous donor, so the theatre had no outof-pocket expenses. Seating capacity was reduced from 70 to 65 to provide a more comfortable space for a full house.
While refurbishing took place, the actors in the theatre company continued their performance workshops via Zoom. Recently, auditions for upcoming plays were held by Zoom. Allen said, “We learned how to use what in 2020 was a new platform for us. It was the only way to reach out to the people for a while. Thank goodness that platform existed at that time.” Other access to media kept the company busy with public performances despite COVID restrictions.
Allen explained how the radio station KZYX provided the company with a two-minute spot on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 pm. Called “MTC’s One Minute Radio Theatre,” the company recruited the community to send their one-minute radio plays for consideration. Submissions came from all over the country, and the writers’ ages ranged from five years to eighty years old. Allen explained its appeal, “It makes theatre more accessible to a broader range of people in the community and outside the community.”
The theatre company also airs one-hour radio plays on KZYX every fifth Thursday at 7:00 pm,
called “Reading on the Radio Series.” The series highlights early twentieth-century plays now in the public domain. Ten of the plays, many of them comedies, have already aired. The Mendocino Theatre Company has continued to fulfill its mission of bringing art to enrich the community, nurturing local talent, and maintaining a creative environment.
Central to its mission, the company will be presenting its youth production, “Lockdown,” on June 23-26. Afterward, a recorded version will be available for a twenty-fourhour period of streamingon-demand.
Allen stressed that they have been “trying to reinvigorate our youth program over the last few years.” Zoom workshops have reconnected teens to the company, and some teens responsible for the technical work of the upcoming stage production will be professionally mentored by adults. Allen sees interaction with teens as a benefit to everyone involved. “They’re very creative. They don’t have preconceptions of how things should be. It’s wonderful to be around them.”
Now that the company has completed its indoor safety protocol upgrades, five plays are slated for the stage from the end of April to the beginning of December. The production of “The Moors” will be directed by Roxy Seven, a native of this area who now lives and works in Los Angeles. Following the fifth play will be a performance by clients at Parents and Friends, the company’s community partner, this year. They have already visited the theatre and have practiced improvisation with the company actors. In the meantime, they will be writing and preparing to tell their personal stories on stage in three public performances.
The theatre company is opening its season with the comedy “Visiting Mr. Green” by Jeff Baron and directed by Ricci Dedola. Allen describes the play as the “perfect vehicle for veteran actor Bob Cohen, a beloved member of our company. He is an extremely talented actor as well as director.”
Also featuring Gus Mayeno, Allen said the play presents the right mixture of comedy and drama without asking too much of the audience. “Now it feels right,” said Allen. “It’s about family and friends. It’s about acceptance. It’s about being closedminded. It’s a lot of things that fit into these times. It’s heartwarming. It’s funny, but there’s a bit of drama. There’s quite a conflict there.”
From a practical standpoint, Allen sees this play choice as easy to manage, given the theatre’s safety protocols. With only two dressing rooms, the two actors can quickly socially distance themselves without having to share space. With a smaller cast, there is a less likely chance that cast members will become ill during the run of the performance. Allen added, “So it’s easier; a heartwarming way to welcome people back.”
The Mendocino Theatre Company has established specific COVID protocols for all theatre-goers. All of their staff, performers, and stage crew are vaccinated. Audience members must show proof of vaccination to enter. Inside the theatre, CDC accepted masks must be worn at all times over the mouth and nose.
Bathrooms are cleaned thoroughly before every performance, and hand sanitizer will be available in the lobby.
Food and beverage choices will be limited and may be consumed in the lobby or outdoors. You can view the season’s schedule at mtc.org or call the box office at 707-937-4477. The theatre is located at 45200 Little Lake Street, Mendocino, CA.