Main Street Theatre Works Kicks Off Summer Season with THE EXPLORERS CLUB

Main Street Theatre Works (MSTW) kicks off its 2016 Summer Season at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson, with The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin. The Explorers Club is a comedic look at Victorian adventurers who ponder the mysteries of science and nature, while genteelly getting blotto. What better opportunity for you to pack a picnic dinner, your favorite beverage and take in all the crazy adventures of these infamous explorers. The Explorers Club runs every Friday and Saturday, June 24th - July 23rd. Doors open at 6:30 for picnics; show starts at 8:00. Patrons are encouraged to come early with their dinners, chairs and jackets. The Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre is located at 1127 North Main Street in Jackson.?

It's 1879 and London's prestigious Explorers Club is in crisis ~ Their acting president, Lucius Fretway, (Christopher Celestin), wants to admit a woman explorer, a Miss Phyllida Spotte-Hume (Amber Lucito). True, this female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered the legendary Lost City of Pahatlabong, but the decision to let a woman into the club would shake the very foundation of the British Empire. Phyllida brings with her one of the tribesmen from the Lost City, a very wily and colorful Luigi, (Scott Divine) to meet the Queen. This in and of itself is most impressive to the other explorers (Scott Taylor, Mike Sicilia, Paj Crank and Brandon Rapoza), but things get out of hand, literally, at the royal presentation. When Sir Bernard Humphries (Earl Victorine), private secretary to Queen Victoria, comes to the club to investigate this international incident, war of sorts is declared. A deserted explorer (Joshua Behn), an Irish assassin, an angry mob, and lots of mixed cocktails fly in the face of civility and tradition in the Explorers Club.

Time Out NY raves, ". . .the most impressive act of mixology belongs to playwright Nell Benjamin, whose comedy recipe goes a little like this: two parts Blackadder, one part Monty Python, a dash of Shaw, shake wildly and garnish with fresh feminist ire."

The Explorers Club runs June 24th - July 23rd.

Main Street Theatre Works is a professionally-oriented theatre company, performing in the heart of Amador County. Now entering its 22nd season, MSTW continues to be dedicated to bringing professional and community theatre artists together to produce classical and contemporary plays, striving for a balance that stimulates both artists and audiences.

The setting for the amphitheatre is truly spectacular. Located on the Kennedy Mine property, patrons walk past an old tailing wheel (used when the mine was in operation), across an old bridge, into a grass-covered, terraced bowl, surrounded by majestic oaks. There the stage is set for picnicking and enjoying professional quality productions. You are truly sitting on a gold mine, enjoying theatre under the stars.

Performances are Friday and Saturday nights, with gates opening at 6:30, show starting at 8:00. Patrons are encouraged to come early with picnics, chairs and jackets. The Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre is located at 1127 N. Main Street in Jackson.

Performance Dates and Times

Fridays and Saturdays

Gates open at 6:30pm for picnics. Show starts at 8:00pm.

The Explorers Club

June 24th - July 23rd

Ticket Prices

Adults - $20.00

Seniors: $17.50

Students/Children 18 & under - $12.00

Family Pack (2 adults/2 students) - $54.00

Tickets available at the gate, Hein & Company in Jackson, Amador Chambor of Commerce, Amador Council of Tourism, or on-line at

www.mstw.org