Our History

The Full Story

Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre (MCMT) is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to produce and stage amateur theatrical productions and related recreational, educational, and public service activities. The company began as Richland Light Opera Company in 1948 with the dream of Jack Quinn, Mina and Blake Miller, and Jeanne Bowen to bring a production of The Mikado and No, No, Nanette to Richland. The company transitioned from light opera to musical theatre with its 1953 production of No, No, Nanette. As MCMT continues to grow, we have selected more modern shows to add to our repertoire while keeping musical theatre classics and light opera in our show rotation.

Due to increases in royalties, theatre rental, and all of the production elements you see on stage, each show produced by MCMT now costs from $40,000 to $60,000. This cannot be accomplished through ticket sales alone. We depend on the support of the community for the necessary resources to produce quality theatre. In addition, grants and donations have allowed us to provide discounted tickets to students, veterans, and senior citizens. There are always at least as many people behind the scenes as you see when the curtains open, and countless individuals have been trained in the theatre arts through participation in production activities. Please continue to support MCMT as we introduce more participants and audience members to the thrill of live theatre and nurture a love of the arts.

First Production: The Mikado (Spring 1945)
Date of Incorporation of RLOC: February 7th, 1958
Original Board Members: Jean Callen, Rosemary Purcell, Elizabeth Jones, Robert Purcell, John Corley
Purpose: To produce and stage amateur theatrical productions, and for such other recreational, educational and public service activities as may be related thereto