| Master Arts
Theatre Mission Statement Master
Arts Theatre is an independent, non-profit, community theatre guided by a Christian
world-view. Master Arts' mission is to develop artists and to engage audiences in theatre
that is enriching, encouraging, and enlightening, thereby positively impacting West
Michigan.
Master Arts offers four main stage shows per year, a second stage
production and two summer youth productions. In addition to our stage productions, we
offer summer camps for youth, regular classes for children through adults, and a number of
touring troupes that perform in a variety of venues.
Master Arts has been active in dramatic arts ministry since 1985.
As we constantly move forward, Master Arts continues to build a bridge between the arts
and the church.
History Highlights
| 1985 |
Beginning
In 1985, nine people, sitting in a living room, had a dream: A
community arts organization that could provide preparation and opportunities for local
Christian artists to serve the church and community through the visual and performing
arts.
With a typewriter on a card table for Ev Beyer, whose home this dream began, and a
sectional sofa as a working area for Pris McDonald, Master Arts Company began its unique
ministry.
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| |
Touring Troupes
During the first year, two touring troupes were formed. The first
was called The Parable performed by Dave Taylor, Nancy Goodrich, Dan Denk, and
Pris McDonald and made its debut at Grace Youth Camp near Hart, Michigan. The second
troupe was a Readers Theatre Christmas production entitled Emmanuel which was
performed in several churches that first year.
Touring Troupes still
active today.
Click Here for More Information on the Touring Troupes |
| 1986 |
Street Theater
First Street Theater
troupe performed.
Street Theater still very active today.
Click Here for More Information on Street Theater |
| 1987 |
Pris
McDonald appointed as Executive Director has served ever since. |
| 1988 |
Workshops & Classes
First monthly
Workshop Training Session for interested artists.
Master Arts still provides Fall and Winter Classes in Drama.
Click Here for More Information on our Fall and Winter Class
Schedules |
| 1989 |
Master Arts Festivals
First of three annual area
wide Master Arts Festivals was held.
First stage play produced by Master Arts as part of the Festival:
The Book of Job
arranged for the stage by Orlin Corey
designed by Irene Corey
and directed by Pris McDonald |
| 1991 |
College credit was offered for Mime
& Directing Church Drama courses. |
| |
Arts Day Camp
First five-day Arts Day Camp held for youth. These
camps have been offered each year since, introducing children to the joys of participation
in Mime, Drama, Praise Dance, and Visual Art.
Arts Day Camp has be
held every year since.
Click Here for More Information on Youth Summer Schedule |
| 1992 |
First stage
play produced for public (no Festival): Fiddler on the Roof
book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by: Jerry Bock,
based on Sholom Aleichem's stories by special permission of Arnold Perl
and directed by Pris McDonald
One or more productions
offered yearly ever since.
Click Here for More Information about What is in Current Production
or Click Here to see the list of plays produced since 1989 |
| 1994 |
Grand Village Mall
Moved to Grand Village Mall performed
J.R.R. Tolkein's
The Hobbit
dramatized by Patricia Gray
directed by Pris McDonald
The Hobbit was performed to full houses with additional
performances needed. |
| 1996 |
Youth Summer Stock
First two-week Youth Summer Stock program by and
for youth. These two week summer stock programs, offering training
in all aspects of the production, including box office, costuming, make up, lighting and
sound, as well as performing in a full length stage play. The first was
Winnie-the-Pooh
dramatized by Kristin Sergel
from the stories of A.A. Milne
Youth Summer Stock now offered yearly.
Click Here for More Information on Youth Summer Schedule |
| |
Season One
First year for a schedule of four productions per
year
special rates for Season Subscribers.
Fall - The Music Man
Christmas - Amahl and the Night Visitors
Winter - Tartuffe
Spring - Shadowlands
Click Here for
More Information about Season Subscriptions |
| 1999 |
The Mall was
sold. Continued operating in an office on Baldwin Street, Jenison. |
| 2001 |
75 - 77th St SW
Renovate a facility located at 75 Vee Street SW in Grand Rapids,
MI. Open new theater with
Snoopy!!!
based on the comic strip "PEANUTS" by Charles M. Schulz
music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady
directed by Pris McDonald
assistant director/choreographer Cassie Holmes
Eventually the street name was changed to 77th St SW |
| 2003 |
Second Stage
Summer of 2003, Master Arts started Second Stage. Second Stage was
designed to do things we would normally not do on the main stage. Perform pieces we would
like to use as traveling teams, repeat shows Master Arts has done in the past and would
like to do again, to experiment with something new and to train new directors. The first
Second Stage was Leslie Nadwodnik's directorial debut
The Sunshine Boys
written by Neil Simon
directed by Leslie Nadwodnik |
| 2003 |
A long time dream for Master
Arts became a reality on Friday, November 14th, when the Board signed the final
papers to purchase the current location at 75 77th St SW. Master Arts had been operating
and performing in borrowed, rented or leased space since its beginning in 1985. The
acquisition of our own facility provided permanency and set the stage for great
possibilities for the future. |
| 2005 |
20th Anniversary Celebration
with Jeannette Clift George
Jeannette Clift George is the
founder of A.D. Players. Her film debut was in the World Wide Picture The Hiding Place,
portraying Corrie Ten Boom. Ms. George is equally well-known as an author, playwright,
Bible teacher and national speaker.
Special Guest Speaker: Diet Eman


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| 2009 |
Winter
Youth Production
Noticing the growing interest by youth to perform in a play and the choice of
plays with minimal youth parts, Master Arts decided to began a Winter Youth Production,
March 2009. The goal of the Winter Youth Production is to involve as many youth as
possible. The first was
Doctor Dolittle
by Hugh Lofting
dramatized by Olga Fricker
directed by Walter Williams
 |
| 2010 |
25th
Anniversary
Master Arts celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a three day event, August 28
- 30, 2010.
Saturday
Pig Roast, Games and Special Performances:
Highlights:
Family Feud, where the categories were Master Arts oriented. i.e. How many
Master Arts productions used live animals.
A special performance of "The Parable" by Dave Taylor, Dan Denk,
Nancy Goodrich and Pris McDonald. This was the first piece ever performed under the
umbrella of Master Arts and these were the four who performed it then.
Sunday
Praise Celebration
Special Guest Speaker: Paul Patton, Spring Arbor University
Monday
Challenge Golf Tournament
Highlights:
At the Highlands!
Winner of our first Golf Challenge: Team of Jim Rummil, Randy Mietland and Roy
Black
|
Click Here for
Pictures of the Building:

MAT Affiliations:
Greater Grand Rapids Arts Council
Community
Theatre Association of Michigan (CTAM)
Christians In Theatre Arts (CITA)
Contact us! |