Mill Mountain Theatre

What began as a summer stock theater in a vacant resort inn high up on a mountain became one of the most respected regional theaters in the country.

Roanoke's Mill Mountain Theatre is a year-round professional theater with two stages that presents world premieres, dramatic classics, musicals, touring and youth-geared productions, as well as offering educational classes and community outreach programs.

Mill Mountain Theatre has served the Roanoke region for almost 40 years. Some of its offerings include:

Centerpieces — a free monthly showing of one-act plays. Bring a bag lunch and join the crowd in tasting a bit of the theater. One Wednesday a month at 12:15 p.m., call for dates. Families are welcome.

No Shame Theatre — essentially an open-mike night for playwrights, and audience participation is expected. Scripts are accepted starting at 10 p.m. There are a few rules: "The work has to be original, five minutes or less, and it can't break anything," according to the theater's Web site. No Shame happens every Friday night at 11 p.m. at Waldron Stage.

In fall 2008, Mill Mountain Theatre's playbill includes "Spitfire Grill," in October, and "A Simple Gift," Dec. 3–28.

Mill Mountain Theatre
Where: Downtown Roanoke, in the Center in the Square building
Box office: (540) 342-5740 or visit: millmountain.org