MCPA announces Mainstage season

FINDLAY — The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts (MCPA) will celebrate its decennary Mainstage season by kicking off on September 25 with the wildly popular Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon," that has won nine Tony Awards, a Grammy, an Olivier Award and many other accolades around the world. "We kick off with one of the most outrageous, irreverent and downright hilarious musicals of all time," MCPA executive director Heather Clow told the expectant audience at a season reveal party Tuesday. The Book of Mormon debuted in March 2011 and was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame. "It's wildly inappropriate but ridiculously smart." Then Straight No Chaser is set to grace the Center's stage on Oct. 17. "These nine vocal wizards have taken the world by storm, armed with nothing but their voices, a ton of talent, talent, swagger and a ton of seriously contagious fun," said Clow, commenting on their ability to smoothly blend very different music genres. "… It feels like hanging out with your nine best friends." To bring in the Christmas season, MCPA will play host to "Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol" on December 4. "(It) is a heartwarming holiday musical full of soul, spirit and snowy mountain charm," Clow said about the show. Similar to the original, "Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol" features Ebenezer Scrooge that needs to rediscover the reason for the season but unlike Dickens' character who is a mean business man in London, this new version reimagines Scrooge as a "greedy mine owner" in 1930s Appalachia. "Just like the original, (Scrooge) gets Christmas Eve visits from some spirits with unfinished business and a mission to thaw his icy heart," Clow said. Starting in 2026, Richard Thomas will bring famous American writer Mark Twain to life in "Mark Twain Tonight!" on Feb. 22. "The legendary one man show… has been hailed for decades as a masterful portrayal of humor, heart and no-nonsense take on human nature," Clow said. Thomas is most known for his work on Ozark, Our Town, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Waltons. "He is witty, dry, observant and completely engaging," Clow later reported that MCPA will be Thomas' last show before he moves to Broadway. Closing out the season on Apr. 8 is Grammy-winning performer, singer, composer, mandolinist Chris Thile that has performed with Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Fiona Apple among many other celebrated artists and musicians. "(Thile) is a full-blown genre-bending force of nature. He's won Grammys, been awarded the MacArthur Genius Grant… He plays Bach with the same fluency that he plays bluegrass," Clow reported. Along side the Mainstage Series, MCPA announced the 2025-26 line of up Live @ Armes and the Wildcard Series. Live @ Armes series brings to Findlay what the Center calls a "fresh wave of nostalgic folk, contemporary bluegrass, indie soul, country blues, and roots-noir from around the world." The Center calls the Wildcard series a "passport to global artistry and fresh discoveries — all without leaving town." The Live @ Armes line up includes: • Aug 21: Billy Pilgrim • Sept. 18: Abigail Lapell • Oct. 23: The Cody Sisters • Nov. 6: Goldenoak • Dec. 11: Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band • Jan. 8: Olive Klug • Feb. 5: Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road • Mar. 19: Phillip-Michael Scales • Apr. 9: Ruen Brothers • May 14: Nigel Wearne The Wildcard series line up includes: • Oct. 8: Quique Escamilla • Nov. 19: Windborne • Jan. 28: Christine Tasman Et Les Imposteures • Apr. 29: Bella's Bartok Tickets for the Mainstage season are available for members now until 11 a.m. June 13 when season tickets will be made available to the public. Ticket sales for individual shows will start June 19 for members and June 25 for the public. Live @ Armes and Wildcard series tickets are available now as individual shows or season passes. More information on shows and tickets sales can be found online at https://www.mcpa.org.