The Black Box Theatre

Black Box Theatre 12-Hour Play Competition, May 3

Sign Up Deadline: April 27

The popular Black Box Theatre 12-Hour Play Competition is back at MCC this spring. The Competition challenges groups of 2-6 people to write, rehearse, and perform a ten-minute play within 12 hours. Groups will arrive at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, and work through the day until performances begin at 7 p.m. that evening.

There is a cash prize awarded for the winning play. Food and beverages will be provided throughout the day. There is a $25 entry fee per group. Be prepared to stay all day. The competition is open to the public.

Interested groups can sign up here through April 27 »

The competition will be held at The Black Box Theatre at MCC. Park in Parking Lot C and enter Building E.

For more information, email jgeller@mchenry.edu or call (815) 455-8746.

Auditions

The Black Box Theatre at MCC is proud to announce auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace, the classic black comedy by Joseph Kesselring! Auditions will be held in The Black Box Theatre from 6–9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, August 25 and 26, with callbacks held on Thursday, August 28, from 6–10 p.m.

Participants are asked to prepare a 2–3 minute comedic monologue.

The play is open to MCC students and community members of all backgrounds and experience levels. All roles are open. We encourage actors of all ethnicities, genders, and body types to audition.

Rehearsals will be held beginning September 3, 2025, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, from 6 – 9:30 p.m. The production will start October 31 and run three weekends in November: November 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16.

Sign up to audition for Arsenic and Old Lace »

The Black Box Theatre at MCC proudly announces its spring 2025 production of Legally Blonde the Musical (book by Heather Hach and music by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin).

Based on the film Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde the Musical tells the story of Elle Woods, a Delta Nu sorority girl with a love of fashion and style, as she follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School in an attempt to win him back. Elle realizes her worth extends beyond her pretty face and bubbly personality as she works to prove herself to others. Defying the “dumb blonde bimbo” stereotype, Elle holds true to her values and challenges the norms of Harvard Law.

MCC’s production of Legally Blonde the Musical will be directed by Jay Geller with choreography by Maggie McCord and musical direction by Michael Hillstrom, lighting design by Nicole Weber, costume design by Carol Foreman, technical direction by Chris Adkins, scenic painting by Holly Adkins, assistant directors Spencer White, Chelsea Boesiger, stage manager Mailin Contreras, and social media coordinator Josie Hannon-Geller.

Meet the cast and crew of Legally Blonde the Musical

Top row left to right: Jeffrey Ringpis, Elijah Freundl, Addie Keller, Grace Corwine, Reed Norlie, Emily Kunash, Nathan Bodecker, Macky Leech, Kai Roberts

Second Row: Chelsea Boesiger, Jake Seelye, Mary Pawlicki, Morgan Tolentino-Siazon, Adelynn, Kuhlmeier, Vienna Logan, Izzy Griffin, Stephen Pickering, Kae Schaefer, Liam O'Callagan

Third row on floor: Clara Muniz Grijota, Amanda Lauteri, Bridget Nugent, Kelsey Waughon, Kruthi Aiyer

Photo by Christy Sturm

Performances

Legally Blonde the Musical opens on March 7 and runs on March 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23.
Evening performances are at 7 p.m., and Sunday performances are at 2 p.m.
There will also be an evening performance on Sunday, March 16, at 7 p.m.

Reservations

Tickets are $15 for students, MCC employees, seniors, veterans, and MCC alumni and $20 for the general public.

Legally Blonde the Musical contains some adult subject matter.

Call (815) 455-8746 or email jgeller@mchenry.edu to reserve seats! Tickets can be paid for at the door by cash or credit card.

The Black Box Theatre is located in Building E. Please park in Lot C and enter Building E; the theatre is directly to the right.