What does membership include?
Membership benefits include two-for-one ticket prices for selected performances at participating theatres (by showing an MCTA membership card at the box office). Membership also includes social and theatre gatherings and a free subscription to the monthly newsletter Back Stage. The newsletter provides much information about current productions, productions scheduled for the rest of the year and often the next year, and upcoming theatre auditions. It also contains information about children's theatre in Monterey County - classes, workshops, and productions at theatre schools plus productions at local public and private schools.

What are the benefits of membership to the producer?
Back Stage, the monthly newsletter, includes sections on current productions, auditions, a monthly calendar of plays, a master calendar of plays scheduled for future months, articles about the history of the theatres, and many other articles about the various theatres, actors, directors and tech-persons. Sometimes the newsletter is one of the first places where the producer announces the theatre company's schedule for the next season. This helps theatre companies avoid an overlap of the productions they present each year. The MCTA maintains a web site which provides information about current and upcoming productions and auditions to persons both local and those planning to visit or move to Monterey County. In addition, the MCTA has recently created a detailed brochure about the member theatres which is placed in hotels and motels, visitor centers, theatre lobbies and many other places in Monterey County. And the annual MCTA General Auditions provide producers an opportunity to learn about actors as potential cast members for their future productions. Producing members have equal representation regardless of size.

What are the Audition Workshop and General Auditions?
Annually the MCTA holds an Audition Workshop and General Auditions to provide an additional opportunity for the actor to make himself/herself known to many Monterey County producers at one time. This event is once a year, usually in the winter. Membership is required to attend the Workshop, which is held on a separate night prior to the Auditions and helps the actor prepare for the General Auditions. The General Auditions, open to any interested persons, are attended by producing members scouting for actors for future performances.

How does the MCTA provide information about Monterey County Theatre to people outside of the local area?
MCTA designed a brochure, "A Guide to Live Theatre in Monterey County," which is placed in numerous locations around the county. It includes the names, street and mailing addresses, and phone numbers of member theatres, a description of each theatre and a map showing the location of all member theatres. The MCTA also maintains a very thorough and up-to-date web site on live theatre in Monterey County. This includes all the information from the latest newsletter, a collection of recent newsletters, descriptions of all the member theatres, links to local theatre web sites and other theatre-related sites, and lots of photographs. It's currently linked to a variety of tourist information sites and hopes to significantly add to those links. Besides providing information for local theatre patrons, it provides a wealth of theatre information for individuals and groups planning future visits to Monterey County. It can be accessed at www.pblum.com/mcta.

How can I find out more about the MCTA?
There are many ways that you can find out more about MCTA. You can attend a monthly meeting, mixer or MCTA activity. Also, visit our web site (www.pblum.com/mcta) or phone 831/372-0895 (Terry Blum, MCTA Director of Communications).

How do I join MCTA?
Annual dues for membership are $15 for individuals and $50 for producers. Membership may be obtained by sending your annual dues to: MCTA, P.O. Box 2531, Monterey, CA 93942.