After more than a decade of absence, summer theatre is returning to CMU.

CMU Theatre Artistic Director Jeremy Franklin wanted to bring back summer theatre to the university a couple of years ago. He said many community members stopped him on the street to voice their disappointment about the lack of community theatre. He said residents recognized him because he acted and directed at The Cabaret Dinner Theatre before it closed in 2008.

“I was giving advice to people who wanted to help community theatre thrive again in Grand Junction,” Franklin said. “There used to be five professional theatre companies in town. They’ve all since gone away. I decided that I should put the money where my mouth was and stop telling other people how theatre should be revived. I then started talking to the staff on campus about bringing back summer theatre.”

Theatre Department Head Tim Pinnow said that summer theatre took a long hiatus for several reasons.

“They stopped summer performances because the theatre was being remodeled and the staff wanted a break because they worked every month for years and years,” Pinnow said.

Franklin said that theatre is on its way back up.

“I think we have what it takes to have sustainable summer theatre at CMU,” Pinnow said. “We already have sponsors. The community is excited about this and I think the summer theatre will bring in more tourists.”

CMU’s summer theatre will be called the “Mesa Repertory Theatre.” The season will start off with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged” on June 7 and “The Fantasticks” will start June 8. The plays will be performed on alternating nights on June 7-16 at the Mesa Experimental Theatre in the Moss Performing Arts Center.

The plays will be semi-professional. According to Franklin, the performers will have extensive training on how to perfect the craft of performing in front of a live audience.

Auditions for both plays will be from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. March 31 at the Mesa Experimental Theatre. Callbacks will be from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. April 1. Auditions are open to students and community members. All individuals involved with Mesa Reparatory Theatre will receive a stipend or college credit for their involvement. To find out more about the auditions, visit www.coloradomesa.edu/theatre/currentstudents.

Mesa Reparatory Theatre is looking for individuals to work backstage. Resumes can be emailed to Pinnow at tpinnow@coloradomesa.edu.

Tickets prices for the summer Mesa Repertory Theatre are $6 for students and $15 for non-students. To purchase tickets, visit www.coloradomesa.edu/moss/theatretickets, go to the box office or call 248-1604.