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The Engine House Theatre
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On Memorial Day weekend in the
summer of 1983, the renovation of the locomotive repair building
in the Old Coal Mine Museum was completed and the rebirth of Melodrama
in the Ortiz Mountains christened the newly constructed stage.
Every summer since that day the tradition of classic, victorian,
and western melodramas have been presented in Madrid, New Mexico
every weekend throughout the summer entertaining audiences of
all ages. This may well be the only theater in the world with
a full-sized steam engine nosing onto stage (and is often used
to "run over" the Hero or Heroine tied to the railroad
tracks)!
MADRID MELODRAMA was created to preserve a very important piece
of theater history by presenting classic style performances of
VIRTURE vs. VILLAINY. Melodrama was first developed in the 1700's
in France - was perfected in England, and came to the United States
in the early 1800's where it received instant popularity on "showboats"
along the Mississippi and in the mining towns of the Old West
as "traveling shows" developed. 
The
action was big enough and the story line simple enough (Good vs.
Evil and Virtue triumphant) as to be understood by all and audience
participation was allowed (sometimes to the detriment of the show
and costumes). The underscoring of the action with piano accompaniment
became such a popular way of presenting a production that it even
carried into the silent movie era (where it was expanded upon
to include organs and even full orchestras) and on to today's
favorite style of melodrama - The SOAPS! Just as Jazz is an American
original, MELODRAMA is grassroots theatre which became a direct
reflection of American society and national character.
Done in the style that melodrama was designed
to be presented, the MADRID MELODRAMA resists the slap-stick style
performances often seen from other groups and relies on the cliches
and "larger-than-life" characters written into the script
to carry the humor throughout the show and, of course, audience
participation is still allowed. You get to CHEER the Hero, SIGH
for the Heroine, BOO! HISS! and throw marshmallows at the Villain!
Wonderful FAMILY entertainment that shows - as in the "lottery
of life" - everything is possible; the chance is always there
- there is hope for all.
