Pratt Music Theatre

Pratt has a long history of interest in theatre. In the summer of 1990, after directing and producing three successful musical productions at Pratt Community College, L. Keith White and Paula Vandenberg White, along with a few others, shared their visions, developed a long range plan, gained not-for profit status and PMT was born. Mike Johnston, Cindy Keller and Joan Hodges were original board members. “Oliver”, the premier production, was produced in September, 1990 with a cast of about 40 from 12 surrounding communities and performed to a combined audience of over 900. In the beginning PMT was helped by a three-year rural arts roll-out grant from the Kansas Arts Commission. Since that initial grant, PMT has continued to operate strictly on ticket sales and support from local businesses and individual patrons and a tremendous amount of volunteer help and gifts in kind.

PMT is governed by a Board of Directors of area citizens representing a variety of professions and several area communities. Paula Vandenberg White is producing director/choreographer of PMT.

In the first three years, PMT presented three main musicals per year but afterwards cut back to two productions so as to not burn out the large group of volunteers who help produce the shows. The shows are presented in Liberty Middle School Auditorium in Pratt, which seats approximately 450, and often are played to sell-out crowds.

Pratt Music Theatre strictly adheres to an open audition policy. All are invited. Auditions are held with no prepared material needed. The cast is selected from those who audition. Rehearsals are held on the weekends for 7 to 8 weeks at PMT’s rehearsal studio at 408 ½ South Main in Pratt.

During many shows a group of cast members participate in our “school tour” day where a 30 minute “teaser” performance of the show is presented at the elementary schools in Pratt and often in other towns. This is not only confidence building and fun for the performers but is educational for those students in the schools by exposing them to music theatre..