Live theater is back at Montgomery County Community College. Spring student performances will be held on stage at both campuses this semester. This year’s performances are sure to leave audiences on their feet in thunderous applause.

The curtain will rise first at Blue Bell Campus, as MCCC Theatre & The Drama Club presents Everybody, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Theater Assistant Professor Tim Gallagher. Everybody is a modern adaptation of the fifteenth-century morality play, Everyman.

Performances will be held April 20 at 7 PM, April 21 at 12:30 PM and 7 PM, April 22 at 7 PM, and April 23 at 2 PM in the Black Box Theatre.

Gallagher said this play asks many thought-provoking questions of the audience.

“I like any play that challenges our understanding of the world. This play challenges us to revisit our understanding of our experiences here. And it does so with a hopeful message,” said Gallagher. “That’s what most interests me about theater. How do we challenge our beliefs and expectations and how do we find hope in our world after we leave the theater? It’s also a really fun play.”

The Pottstown campus is also seeing some drama. W.E.S.T. PHEST ’23 is six short plays by Philadelphia playwrights, directed by Jessica Dalcanton, Dyana Kimball, and Rob Heller.

Performances will be held April 27-29 at 7 PM and April 28 at 12:30 PM.

Gallagher said there’s no theme that unites the six plays other than each playwright is from the Philadelphia area.

“They run the spectrum from an inmate during the last few days before the death penalty, to a bunch of really inept supervillains, to people in serious situations, to people in goofy situations. The common thread is Philadelphia area playwrights, who have much to say about the world and we celebrate that.”

He said the festival is a great opportunity to experience several different flavors of theater in one night, as each play is short in run time. The longest of the six hovers at around 15 minutes.

“What I love is it’s a wild ride. They’re each different and not particularly long. If you like changing things up, this is a perfect evening of theatre. They are just the right length. Kind of like snippets of various podcasts,” Gallagher said.

“As an audience member, you get to live in a world for a little while, then change gears. I love how these plays are succinct but still leave an impact on us.” They get to the conflict; we get to experience that for a brief time then move on. It’s fun to experience.”

Tickets for both performances are $12 for adults, and $7.50 for seniors and children.

To purchase tickets, visit Montgomery County Community College’s website.

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