Page 7 - BusinessWest November 24, 2025

“One of things
we found with
The Buddy Holly
Story is that we
could get people
to come to the
theater who had
never been to the
theater before
and maybe had a
notion that it was
a highbrow thing
that couldn’t be
part of their lives.”
gram that, as its name suggests, provided grants to shuttered ven-
ues ranging from theaters to aquariums to museums.
And while the theater was dark, those at the Majestic found
ways to stay engaged with subscribers and the community at large
through online programs such as “Behind the Curtain,” a series of
interviews with actors and directors who had done shows at the
Majestic, providing a backstage perspective.
Shows of Force
The Majestic now hosts between 250 and 300 shows each sea-
son, which begin in September, said Dziura, noting that the simple
strategy is to “create as much art as possible.” Each season features
five subscription shows as well as Home for the Holidays and a
packed summer schedule that includes more than 100 performanc-
es, including a children’s theater.
In putting together that five-show slate, organizers strive for
diversity and a solid mix of plays and at least one musical, a lineup
crafted to appeal to both subscribers — who provide a rock-solid
base for the theater company — and single-ticket sales.
“Danny has programmed it so that there’s something for every-
one — a comedy and a drama and sometimes a whodunit,” she
explained, adding that this year’s slate is no exception.
The season started with Once – The Musical, which tells the
story of an Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant who form
an unlikely bond over their shared love of music. Currently running
is Steel Magnolias, a comedy set in a small Southern beauty salon.
In January, The Hound of the Baskervilles, a parody of the Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle classic, will begin its six-week run, followed by
a ‘two-hander,’ an two-person performance called Dear Jack, Dear
Louise, described as heartfelt and comical play that unfolds through
the letters exchanged between a young Army doctor and a nurse
during World War II. The season concludes with Come From Away,
an uplifting musical that tells the true story of 7,000 passengers
who were stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland
after the events of 9/11.
Each year’s schedule is crafted to provide variety, but also more
opportunities to bring new people to the theater and bring back
those who have already found it.
“Being a nonprofit theater in a small community in an area that
is not particularly known as a cultural hub is a challenge,” Eaton
said. “One of things we found with The Buddy Holly Story is that
we could get people to come to the theater who had never been to
the theater before and maybe had a notion that it was a highbrow
thing that couldn’t be part of their lives.
“We changed their minds,” he went on, adding that this might
be the unofficial mission statement for the Majestic. “I’ve always
maintained that, if I can get 10 new people to come to theater for
the first time in their lives, I’ll get seven of them to come back, and
I’ll get five of them to become subscribers — and that’s held true in
many respects.”
Looking ahead, the simple goal is to keep changing minds about
theater, said Kadis, while also maintaining and growing the sub-
scriber base and attracting audiences of all ages. He noted that the
average age of attendees is roughly 65, and it has been this way for
some time, meaning the theater group has managed to retain sub-
scribers who joined years ago and add new, younger ones as the
original subscribers move into their 70s and 80s.
Terry LaCasse, the Majestic’s managing director, agreed.
“There’s a multi-generational appeal here,” he noted. “I remember
my first week here ... I was introduced to a parent, a grandparent,
and a child at one of the shows. They were sitting in the back, and
they said, ‘we’ve had these seats for years, and we’ve passed then
down from generation to generation.’”
That story, and others like it, speak volumes about what the
Majestic has become over the years in terms of a cultural institution
and tradition.
“The Majestic is a true-to-form community anchor,” said LaC-
asse, speaking for all those at the table, adding that it promotes the
arts, supports local businesses, and makes this region more of a
destination.
And that’s why the show has gone on for nearly 30 years — and
counting. BW
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Business W est << FEATURE >>
NOVEMBER 24, 2025
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