Final curtain falls on Mighty Carlson Art Players

By Gail Boehm, Star-Times

gboehm@capitalnewspapers.com

he end of an era has come to Juneau County with the final bow of the Mighty Carlson Art Players, or MCAP, which officially disbanded Jan. 12.

Over two dozen local actors and actresses performed in the community theater group since 1985, according to Dawn Logan, actress. She said MCAP was named after Larry Carlson, one of the founders.

Terry McGinley, actor, said, "We were never afraid to plagiarize anything, and it was a play on Johnny Carson’s routine Mighty Carson Art Players on the ‘Tonight Show.’ We had been riding Johnny’s coat tails since then."

McGinley said the idea grew out of a get-together at Deb and Larry Carlson’s house while they were canning dill pickles. "Someone said, ‘Let’s start a theater group,’" McGinley said, "and we did."

Logan said the troupe performed plays, mystery dinners, as well as summer variety shows known as Summer Stock in several different locations.

She added, "McGinley donned a tuxedo and functioned as the master of ceremony bringing humor and insights about Juneau County during the Summer Stock productions.

McGinley said, "I bought the tux when I played in the MCAP production of "The Nerd" and it was my favorite role." He said the tux paid for itself and was in every show in addition to a kidney-shaped table that had a recurring appearance on stage.

McGinley said he missed the very first play, "Best Laid Plans," in March of 1985 because he skied in the Suldal Ridge Classic at the time. That fall, he played Dr. Waldo Lennimer in "How Green Was My Brown."

In addition, McGinley and Larry Carlson co-authored a play, "The Lovebirds," which debuted in Mauston. McGinley said, "When Deb and Larry moved to Burlington, it was also then performed there."

McGinley and Logan both said they could not have been as successful for 25 years without community support for their art form.

They said they were very appreciative of the performers who graced the stage, the Mauston High School staff who let them use the stage, the back stage crew and others who helped productions run smoothly and cost- effectively.

McGinley said, "We made our own costumes, paid royalty fees each time the performance was held and charged from $3 to $5 for each ticket, and we usually broke even."

MCAP is now retired but not forgotten. They will be remembered with a lifetime membership plate at the Boorman House, which is the Juneau County Museum and home of the Juneau County Historical Society located on North Union Street in Mauston.