The popcorn was flying again last Saturday night during the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” at the Yucca Theatre. The Summer Mummers production acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season Mummers sells approximately $100,000 in popcorn alone. According to MCT, revenue generated from the production goes towards season shows, education programs, and general operations.
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Spectators wait for the start of of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” from the balcony of the Yucca Theatre Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Midland. Guests who sit in the balcony are spared from the popcorn madness below as no popcorn throwing is allowed on the upper levels. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
The heroes of the melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” make their first appearance of the show during the Saturday, July 31, 2021, Summer Mummers performance at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers is currently the longest continuing melodrama in the United States and is now on its 73rd season. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
From left, Jason Kelliher, the hero sidekick, Ben Spencer, the hero, and Chris Carroll, the Don, prepare backstage in their dressing room before the start of the Saturday, July 31, 2021, showing of Summer Mummers at the Yucca Theatre. The Summer Mummers production is typically double casted, allowing most of the volunteer cast members to work various positions throughout the theatre during the summer and in some cases letting others take vacations. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Stage manager Lauren Darnell passes the time by scrolling through her phone before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Pianist Mike Sherrod wears an umbrella hat to shield himself from falling popcorn as he plays the intro music to Summer Mummers Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers is currently the longest continuing melodrama in the United States and is now on its 73rd season. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators wait in their seats for the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers will be running every Friday and Saturday night until September 4 and tickets can be found at mctmidland.org. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Volunteer Alan Roy delivers a tray of popcorn to spectators before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. The Summer Mummers production acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season Mummers sells approximately $100,000 in popcorn alone. According to MCT, revenue generated from the production goes towards season shows, education programs, and general operations. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators wait for the start of of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” from the balcony of the Yucca Theatre Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Midland. Guests who sit in the balcony are spared from the popcorn madness below as no popcorn throwing is allowed on the upper levels. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators order from the bar before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. The Summer Mummers production acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season Mummers sells approximately $100,000 in popcorn alone. According to MCT, revenue generated from the production goes towards season shows, education programs, and general operations. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Bartender Lydia Willis, left, takes and order from a customer before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. The Summer Mummers production acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season Mummers sells approximately $100,000 in popcorn alone. According to MCT, revenue generated from the production goes towards season shows, education programs, and general operations. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Volunteer Connie Barnes bags popcorn before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Barnes has been volunteering at Summer Mummers since 1984 and in her words has “done it all” from assisting backstage, working the bar, preparing popcorn and even acting in the show. Summer Mummers is the longest continuing melodrama in the United States and is currently on its 73rd season. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
A Spectator carries bags of popcorn back to his seat before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Chris Thibodeaux tosses up a handfull of popcorn before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers is currently in its 73rd season and is the longest continually running melodrama in the United States. The show acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season they raise around a quarter of a million dollars. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Popcorn litters the floor before the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Popcorn can get as deep as 12 inches or more in certain places and cleaning companies are contracted to clean it up following the night’s end. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators start a “popcorn war” with each other at the start of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. The Summer Mummers production acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season Mummers sells approximately $100,000 in popcorn alone. According to MCT, revenue generated from the production goes towards season shows, education programs, and general operations. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators watch a video gag at the opening of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers will be running every Friday and Saturday night until September 4 and tickets can be found at mctmidland.org. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Cast members chat backstage just before the start of the Saturday, July 31, 2021, performance of Summer Mummers at the Yucca Theatre. Each volunteer actor and dancer in Summer Mummers puts in between 60 to 120 hours of rehearsal time before opening night and the entire body of volunteers from actors to dancers and those running the front of house dedicate over 13,000 hours each summer. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
The villains of the melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” make their first appearance of the show during the Saturday, July 31, 2021, Summer Mummers performance at the Yucca Theatre. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Texas Tech fans throw up the “guns up” hand sign for a college gag during the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators watch one of the opening scenes of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators laugh at one of the opening scenes of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers is currently in its 73rd season and is the longest continually running melodrama in the United States. The show acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season they raise around a quarter of a million dollars. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Spectators laugh, taunt, and throw popcorn during one of the opening scenes of the Summer Mummers melodrama “Bootlegging Boobery in the Basin or M’Yah, See?” Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Yucca Theatre. Summer Mummers is currently in its 73rd season and is the longest continually running melodrama in the United States. The show acts as a summer fundraiser for the Midland Community Theatre and each season they raise around a quarter of a million dollars. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
Popcorn sits in a giant vat waiting to be bagged up by the Summer Mummers pop corn crew, the Jiffy Poppers, before the start of the Saturday, July 31, 2021, performance at the Yucca Theatre. Each night the Jiffy Poppers pop approximately 1,250 pounds of kernels, most of which ends up getting thrown around the venue. Going through such a high volume of popcorn each night, Summer Mummers makes about $100,000 in popcorns sales each season alone. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American)
