Morris Theatre Guild

Dedicated To The Memory Of Bill Marsh.
"Thank's Bill...for everything!" jim welch

Steel Magnolias
Written By Robert Harlin.
Directed By Jim Welch
Assisted By Randy Lowery.

The action centers around Truvy's beauty parlor in the mid eighties and the friends who regularly gather there. The comedy/drama begins on the morning of Shelby's wedding to Jackson and covers events over the next three years, including Shelby's decision to have a child despite having diabetes. We also get a glimpse of the unlikely friendship between Clairee and Ouiser. Annelle's transformation from a shy newcomer in town, to a partying woman, to a born again Christian...and Truvy's relationships with the men in her family. Although the main storyline revolves around Shelby and her mother M'lynn, Shelby's medical battles become the underlying situation in this wonderful comedy/drama about friends...and real life.

Truvy..........Julie Courter
Annelle..........Nathalia Morera
Clairee..........Donna Runion
Shelby..........Erin Wendell
M'Lynn..........Andrea Gustafson
Ouiser..........Judy Miller

Friday May 30th at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 31st at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday June 1st at 3.00 p.m. (matinee)

You may send a check for the number of tickets desired. Please include in your reservation request the date of the desired performance and a telephone number. Checks can be mailed to the attention of Randy Lowery at the Morris Theatre Guild, Inc., 6080 West Gardner Road, Verona , Illinois 60479 . Reservations may also be made by e-mailing Randy at rrlowery@uti.com or by calling (815) 287-2127. Reservation cut-off date is Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at 12:00 p.m. For house buy-outs or other information, call the theatre at (815) 942-1966.

A Poem
These are the pictures of our saddest day yet,
Our hopes and dreams we hope we'll see yet,
"Goodbye Old Girl!"
I wish you could mend.
But ALL of us CAN put her together again.

But we need help from our community.
Just think...how important Community Theatre is.
Because of our little Theatre...think...how many moments were changed in peoples lives.
I'm not talking about the actors or directors necessarily, although that is a reality too.
I am talking to you...our audience.....
Let me ask you this...
How many times have you had a bad day.....and you came to our Theatre and saw a show?
Maybe you had a fight with the boss...your significant other...
Maybe your kid wrecked the car...or...maybe you did...it could be a million situations.
But for two magical hours you forgot.........you forgot your troubles!
These are the magical moments I referred to.
And that is why Theatre is here.
No matter what country, culture, civilization...or century ,
Theatre has been....and always will be here. For us.
It takes us out of ourselves....
For a short time we can be someone else.
We forget our troubles.
On stage or in the audience.
If only for a little while...
Theatre is very important for us all.

FYI.......
The Morris Theatre Guild Inc. did have an insurance policy to cover the replacement
cost of the Theatre as she stood.
We are a responsible organization.
But because our final event was a fire, we must now meet modern code.
Sprinkler systems, bathrooms upstairs to equate our capacity of seating,
Handicap accessibility.....(important!!)
We understand this.....we just never saw this coming. Who ever does?
We checked into this with construction bids, and the cost was enormous.
No one was sadder when our Theatre was razed than me, or my fellow board members.
Many have helped us...and we are eternally grateful.
Just click the link, The Show Must Go On, and you will see.
We want to bring Her back...and continue to entertain and
offer Theatre to opportunities to all in our Communities.
But we still need help..
If You Can.....

The Morris Theatre Guild, Inc.
Had A Lot Of Fun Performing
Once More With Fooling,
The Morris Theatre Guild's Comedy Troupe,
Corn Fest Friday And Saturday Night,
In Baum's parking lot, "Under The Tent."

And Our Thanks Goes Out To ALL the
Grundy County Corn Festival Members and Officers,
Who, Without There Help,
The Morris Theatre Guild Would Have Been Silent This Year.

So Much Thank's goes out to...
Kelli Walker...our talent
Betsy Howie...writer of Callie's Tally.

Judy Miller...stage manager...voice overs...and so much more!!!

Andrea Gustafson....
Our President...Our Teacher...Our Director!!....
Liaison to Kelli Walker, Jim Baum, and the entire
Morris Community Foundation.

The Morris Theatre Guild Will Rise Again!! Thank You Again District 101...YOU ARE GREAT!!

My favorite Director in the MTG.
She worked us, and worked us...
and then she would work us again...
She always wanted the perfect show......
And she ALWAYS got it....!
SHE is the reason I am a director today...
(Thank You Bonnie)

Thank You!
For Your Magnanimous Donation Of
$2500.00
Presented To The Morris Theatre Guild Inc.
Saturday Night, Nov 4th In
The MCHS Auditorium!!!!

Thank You Dave and Nicky Bell!!
Charter Members of The Morris Theatre Guild,
who were actual negotiator's in the original purchase of our Theatre on Liberty Street.
They Donated, $2000.00!!....
Even better news? Their Previous employer NICOR will match that donation!
That's $4000.00!!!
Thank you again Dave & Nicky!!

We will continue to bring live, entertaining shows....
to you,
our audience....that have enjoyed.

" ....... to produce theatrical productions for public viewing, to promote the interest of the public and the membership of the organization in the theatrical arts and to educate all interested persons in the same, to cultivate artistic expression in all members, and to provide a means of realizing that expression ....... "

At approximately 4:53 A.M. on Tuesday October 3rd, The Morris Theatre Guild was dealt a very heavy blow. Fire ripped through our Theatre at 507 Liberty Street. Fire Crews responded from Morris and local communities and the fire was extinguished by 7 A.M. The state fire marshal reported that the building itself is still structural sound, however the building interior and all contents are a total loss. The cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined.

The Morris Theatre Guild Inc, would like to greatly extend it's thanks to Morris Fire Chief Robert Coleman and The Morris Fire Department, as well as other local fire departments from Coal City and Minooka. Without their quick response and dedication, the community of Morris would have lost this valuable landmark. No lives were lost, and no one was injured.
THANK YOU! AND GOD BLESS YOU!

The Fall production of The Bride's Bouquet, is suspended only until another venue can be found to perform at. After all,
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

On the west side of Liberty Street across from the MTG early that morning, tears were shed, shoulders gave comfort, and the cement curb...that only a few days before, was a place of celebration during our 58th Grundy County Corn Festival Parade, became a place to sit and mourn our crippled friend.

The Morris Theatre Guild Inc, is committed to rebuilding our Theatre, and CONTINUING to bring Morris, Grundy County, and surrounding communities entertainment with live theatre.

Of Course as usual, ANY donations will be GREATLY appreciated,
The Morris Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit community theatre.