The Manitou Art Theatre has just announced their schedule for the 2009-2010 season and they’re working hard to keep it fresh, cutting back on the number of encore presentations so they can add a whole host of new shows. They’re also emphasizing music more in a new series called Mainstage Extras (included below) and beefing up their class offerings for both kids and adults.

Steve Barta Trio
October 9-October 11

Pianist Steve Barta, who once toured with Herbie Mann and now makes his home in Colorado Springs, blends his lively jazz compositions with an interactive conversation about music and creativity.

Ten Minutes MAX
October 15-October 25

Always fun, this popular show brings back those long lost days of vaudeville with its fast-paced array of monologues, skits, magic and musical acts performed by some of our area’s best talent.

Don’t Shoot Me! I’m Just the Piano Player
November 13-November 14

Australian pianist David Scheel provides his own unique twist on a Borge-inspired blend of classical music and comedy. This ever-changing show might include anything from a tune played in the style of various composers to a concerto based on the 20 worst songs ever written.

The Accident
November 19-November 22

Australian Jonno Katz presents this one-man show about two very different brothers, melding theatre, stand-up comedy, mime and dance in one high-octane blend.

Me, My Stuff and I
January 14-January 17

Barry Smith, who three years ago performed his humorous, if challenging “Jesus in Montana” at the MAT, returns this year in another autobigraphical comedy, this time documenting his lifelong effort to never throw anything away.

Art Dog
February 11-February 21

The world premiere of what promises to be a hilarious farce about a small-town arts council and its quest to find the “proper” piece of public art.

Best of the Fest
March 11-March 14

The MAT folks will be hitting the road to seek out the best stuff from fringe festivals across the US, UK and Canada. Stay tuned to find out what they bring back.

It’s Cody Rivers’ New Show
March 27-March 28

Those Madcap Desconstructionists return in another idiosyncratic blend of song, dance, puppetry and absurdist sketches. I can’t do better than New York Theatre Wire’s description of their comedy: “[t]he closest experience to it would be seeing ‘Waiting for Godot’ performed by Chinese acrobats.”

Six Women Playwrighting Festival
April 8-April 18

The MAT’s 4th annual offering of the winners — all world premieres — from its nationwide playwrighting contest. With the theme of “Mixed Emotions”, this year’s festival promises to offer plenty of both laugh-out-loud comedy and thought-provoking drama.

As always, the MAT is also putting on a wide variety of shows for the young and young at heart.

And, of course, they’re still letting those nutsos from RiP invade their stage the first Saturday of every month.