Melbourne Civic Theatre, then known as Indian River Players, was born in 1951 and is the oldest community theatre in Brevard County. It was incorporated as a Florida Not For Profit Company in 1965. Its first production was Big Hearted Herbert in February of 1952. MCT (then IRP) staged its first three seasons in the municipal auditorium at Trailer Haven. In 1953, Indian River Players began renovation of a partially burned Navy Mess Hall and turned it into a theatre that was their home for over 23 years. When maintenance costs became too high, Indian River Players decided to join the effort to renovate the Henegar Center- changing its name in 1988 to Melbourne Civic Theatre to further identify itself with the community it serves. MCT began operation as the resident theatre group when the Heneger Center of the Performing Arts opened in 1991. In 1999 MCT moved into its own space in the Metro West Shopping Center in West Melbourne, renovating the former Meadowland Library into a theater. MCT staged many a show and dinner theater production at that location until moving into the former Phoenix Theatre location (MCT’s current home) in Historic Downtown Melbourne in the summer of 2006.

From its inception as Indian River Players, MCT has been a melting pot for theatre buffs, not only for acting, but for backstage work: building sets, creating costumes and props, applying make-up, working the box office, ushers, selling concessions, etc. MCT has consistently continued a tradition of providing quality dramas, comedies, mysteries and musicals, but its biggest contribution is the opportunity it affords to community members of all ages to be involved in the magic that is theater. If there is a person who is interested, MCT can find them a job to do! Participation is open to anyone— no prior experience needed! Auditions are open and well publicized and many a Brevard County thespian has gained his or her start on MCT’s stage. MCT (IRP) has won many awards over the years. Some of the most notable are Winner of Florida Theatre Conference in 1980 with The Dumb Waiter and Winner of Florida Theatre Conference in 1990 with Painting Churches. Actress Gillian Wilson won Best Actress. Through its 55 seasons of producing fine entertainment and education for the community, MCT has had its ebbs and flows, changes and moves and many of the usual situations that any volunteer organization goes through. People have come and gone, but without exception they have left behind them a wealth of memories and a healthy dose of the magic that is theatre. As Melbourne Civic Theatre continues to grow in this new century along with the rest of Historic Downtown Melbourne, its goal is to continue in the fine tradition of those who have gone before and to continue enriching the quality of life in Brevard County. Come and join us!