West Medford
Massachusetts
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The Mystic Players
Although the original Mystic Players was formed by a group of amateur thespians from Trinity Methodist Church on June 10, 1930, a few who remember say that the urge to start such a group was born during their participation in Medford's colossal production of "A Pageant of the Mystic" in 1930, which capped the 300th anniversary celebration of the founding of Medford.
The present Mystic Players were assembled in 1971, as a guild, under the auspices of the Medford Arts Council. Their first production was a musical, "They Would Be Gentleman," under the direction of Brother Santoro C.F.X. of Malden Catholic High School, which was mounted in the Little Theater in the new High School.
Twice yearly, alternate productions of drama (mystery or comedy) and musicals were presented at the Little Theater until the bicentennial year of 1976. In that year, Arts Council members and Pageant Chairman, City Clerk Joseph P. McGonagle requested the Mystic Players present a revised, limited, indoor edition of the 1930 production, "A Pageant of the Mystic." The only facility large enough to accommodate this event was Medford's fine professional and historically significant Chevalier Auditorium.
Following five successful performances of "The Pageant of the Mystic," the guild decided to form their own organization as a member of the Arts Council. They changed their name to the Mystic Players and elected Joseph Sabia and Lois Carr as co-chairmen. They continued their offerings of a mystery or a comedy, a book musical and a musical review each season at Chevalier Auditorium until the City closed the Chevalier Auditorium in 1980, forcing them to return to the Little Theater at Medford High School. This format continued until their fourteenth season when a second musical was presented in lieu of the Musical Review.
Today, the Mystic Players are currently in their thirty-second season and do four shows a year. Their "Road Show" consists of free song, dance and comedy, performed at local churches, elderly and hospital facilities. The players perform an annual Christmas presentation, including Dickens "A Christmas Carol" and two other shows, usually a Broadway musical and a dinner theater, comedy or occasional drama.
The present Mystic Players were assembled in 1971, as a guild, under the auspices of the Medford Arts Council. Their first production was a musical, "They Would Be Gentleman," under the direction of Brother Santoro C.F.X. of Malden Catholic High School, which was mounted in the Little Theater in the new High School.
Twice yearly, alternate productions of drama (mystery or comedy) and musicals were presented at the Little Theater until the bicentennial year of 1976. In that year, Arts Council members and Pageant Chairman, City Clerk Joseph P. McGonagle requested the Mystic Players present a revised, limited, indoor edition of the 1930 production, "A Pageant of the Mystic." The only facility large enough to accommodate this event was Medford's fine professional and historically significant Chevalier Auditorium.
Following five successful performances of "The Pageant of the Mystic," the guild decided to form their own organization as a member of the Arts Council. They changed their name to the Mystic Players and elected Joseph Sabia and Lois Carr as co-chairmen. They continued their offerings of a mystery or a comedy, a book musical and a musical review each season at Chevalier Auditorium until the City closed the Chevalier Auditorium in 1980, forcing them to return to the Little Theater at Medford High School. This format continued until their fourteenth season when a second musical was presented in lieu of the Musical Review.
Today, the Mystic Players are currently in their thirty-second season and do four shows a year. Their "Road Show" consists of free song, dance and comedy, performed at local churches, elderly and hospital facilities. The players perform an annual Christmas presentation, including Dickens "A Christmas Carol" and two other shows, usually a Broadway musical and a dinner theater, comedy or occasional drama.