Mesa Community College's Theatre and Film Arts Department kicks off spring semester with a fresh coat of paint, a new name and new signage. Formerly the Theatre Outback, the theatre is now named the MCC Theatre. 

The Theatre Outback, which originally opened in 1978, derived its name from the lack of buildings on the southern part of the campus at that time, making the area “out back” in regard to the main campus. No longer “out back," as the MCC campus has grown in size over the years, the facility is now simply known as the MCC Theatre.

The MCC Theatre has been an important venue for the college’s performing arts program and a community landmark. For more than 30 years, the 270 seat theatre has fostered the budding careers of thousands of students, welcomed community forums and hosted the President of the United States.

"The name change to MCC Theatre comes at the the culmination of a very successful, two-year remodel of the facility which originally opened in 1978," said Kevin Dressler, Executive Director of Theatre Activities. "The remodel upgrades the MCC Theatre to a state-of-the-art facility, and the name change marks a new chapter in the life of an important college landmark."

Dressler said this semester offers an exciting mix of productions. Featured plays include The Good Doctor, opening Jan. 24, and Dead Man's Cell Phone, opening April 18.

More information about the history of the theatre can be found here. 

Read about upcoming productions here.

See you at the MCC Theatre!

About Mesa Community College

Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students to succeed in a local and global community.  Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District.

Please direct media inquiries to Dawn Zimmer at dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu or Sally Mesarosh at sally.mesarosh@mesacc.edu  or the Office of Institutional Advancement at 480-461-7445.  IA website:  www.mesacc.edu/ia.