What an extraordinary year it has been for Meadville Community Theatre. Thanks to the generosity, enthusiasm, and steadfast support of our community, we celebrated our very first full season in the Penny Smith Theater — a milestone that marks not only a new chapter for MCT, but a renewed commitment to the arts in our community.
Walking into the Penny each night this season, seeing audiences fill the seats, hearing laughter echo through the lobby, and watching performers shine onstage has been nothing short of inspiring. This beautiful new home has allowed us to dream bigger, create more boldly, and welcome more people than ever before. None of this would have been possible without the donors, volunteers, businesses, and community partners who believed in us during the transition and helped make last season such a tremendous success.
2026-2027 Season
As we look ahead, we are thrilled to announce our 2026–2027 season, Perilous Journeys — a collection of stories filled with adventure, humor, mystery, and heart. We open with “The Shark Is Broken” by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, a behind-the-scenes comedic dive into the making of Jaws. Later in the season, we proudly present a brand-new musical written by our own Josh Searle-White, “The Finnish Line.” Audiences can also look forward to “Beware the House on Haunted Hill!” by Matthew Byrd and Kathryn Funkhouser, the heartfelt comedy “Dog Mom” by Tate Elizabeth Hanyok, the beloved classic “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain, adapted for the stage by Laura Eason, and the cult favorite “Little Shop of Horrors” by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. It promises to be a year of unforgettable theatrical adventures.
While the Penny has given us a vibrant new space, our work is far from finished. We are still actively building the infrastructure that will allow MCT to thrive for decades to come. Continued fundraising remains essential as we complete the next phase of equipping our theater — from lighting and sound enhancements to staging, seating, and the technical tools that bring each production to life.
Crawford Gives and Membership
Please make your donations through Crawford Gives on August 19-21, 2026. By donating to MCT through Crawford Gives, you not only earn the benefits and rewards of being an MCT member, but you see a percentage of your donation matched by the Crawford County Heritage Foundation partners.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, our volunteers, our performers, and everyone who calls MCT home, thank you for the generosity you’ve shown us — not just last season, but throughout our journey. We are honored to create art with and for this community, and we look forward to sharing another unforgettable season with you.