MST Continues to Raise the Bar with its 2012 Season

MST_Season_Logo-111x177Marin Summer Theater (MST) is promising its best season yet in July 2012 with productions of Spring Awakening, The Importance of Being Earnest and Legally Blonde, The Musical.

This will be MST’s first season as an independent non-profit after operating under the San Marin Music Booster umbrella for the last three seasons. The San Marin Music Boosters and San Marin High School continue to support MST through facilities and equipment. MST is indebted to the Boosters and the school for their unwavering support throughout the last four years.

Spring Awakening will open the MST 2012 season and is a rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play, Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy, and passion that leaves audiences breathless and been hailed as the "Best Musical of the Year" by the New York Times, New York Post, Star Ledger, Journal News, New York Observer, and USA Today. Spring Awakening is the Winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Spring Awakening is about young people dealing with grown-up issues,” said Patrick Nims, MST’s Artistic Director. “Teens in transition from youth to adulthood face pressures that are the same today as they were in 1891 Germany.  This show speaks with the voice of youth about love, longing, frustration and the choices that they face.”

Spring Awakening will be presented at The Pacheco Playhouse in Novato, California through a special partnership with Novato Theater Company. MST is very excited about the opportunities this partnership will provide.

The Importance of Being Earnest, subtitled A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, will be the MST’s second production and is considered by many to be the wittiest play ever written in the English language.  It revolves around the most ingenious case of "manufactured" mistaken identity ever put into a play. Two flippant young men, in order to impress their beloveds, pretend that their names are “Ernest,” which both young ladies believe confers magical qualities on the possessor.

Earnest is brilliantly funny and was the play most requested by our audiences.” said Nims. “It is a comedy that skewers courtship and polite society while remaining charming and romantic.  Oscar Wilde’s words are smart, sassy and hilarious.  I know that our company will do a stunning job with this work of genius.”

Last, but not least, MST will close the 2012 season with the North Bay premiere of Legally Blonde, The MusicalLegally Blonde is about a sorority girl from Los Angeles who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend for a more serious girl. She then hits the books and gains admission to Harvard Law to prove to him that she is the girl for him. This is a must-see musical for the entire family.

Legally Blonde is based on the popular movie starring Reese Witherspoon, and we are thrilled to be the first theater company in Marin to produce it,” said Nims.

“We are working to have some exciting guest artists with New York credentials join us again this season,” said Nims. “but it is too early for an official announcement.  We will also present a special Gala to help raise money for scholarships. Because of donations given last year we hope to offer ten scholarships in 2012.”

MST will officially kick off it’s the 2012 season with auditions on March 24 and 31, 2012 at San Marin High School.  Any student actors, singers, or, dancers between the ages of 13 and 23 are eligible to audition. Designers, technicians and musicians are required to submit applications by March 31 and will be interviewed in April.

Due to its sensitive subject matter, only actors over 18 or those with specific parental permission may audition for Spring Awakening.  “There are great parts for all of our company members in Earnest and Legally Blonde,” says Nims, “but the Spring Awakening cast will be limited to our mature performers only.”