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Community theatre
finding a place to play By Gina M. Troppa
It's opening night. The audience's polite conversation falls to a hush as the lights dim. They wait in quiet anticipation as the actors gather their composure, while going over their lines one last time back stage. The lights gleam brightly as the curtain opens. Instantly, it all comes together. The sound is immaculate, the actors are right on cue, the stage is incredibly realistic and the costumes are beautiful. This is theatre in Illinois, and you don't have to drive to Chicago to enjoy it. Whether you're an actor, a volunteer or an avid audience member, theatre in Illinois plays a vital role in the cultural and economic development of your town. From community theatres that are entirely volunteer-driven, to a nationally recognized professional theatre, downstate Illinois has a wide array of unique theatrical groups nestled away in its small towns. The Alton Little Theater, Inc. thrives in Alton, a town of about 33,000. Dorothy Colonius founded the theatre in the early 1930s. A group of neighbors and friends started practicing in her family barn and would perform wherever they were welcomed. During the past 60 years, the theatre has continued to grow and now performs in a 280-seat auditorium. Leah Farrar White, Managing Director of the Alton Little Theater, Inc., believes that theatre is something you can do for a lifetime. White says, "I started performing in a local community theatre when I was five and I am still involved. The vast age range allows families to be part of something together. You're doing something you love, as a family. I actually met my husband in community theatre." However, you don't have to be an actor to be a part of com- 10 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org
TOP PHOTO (left to right): Hoard White, Jeff Allsman, Steve Loucks and Genio Deluca ham it up for a publicity shot for the play "Forever Plaid," shown at the The Alton Little Theatre. Alton, a town of 33,000, has supported the local theatre since the 1930s. BOTTOM PHOTO: Jane Schneider and Wayne Winkeler practice a scene from The Alton Little Theatre's showing of "Everybody Loves Opal."
munity theatre. You can build sets, help with costume design and creation, collect props, or read along with actors while they're learning their lines. Theatre really does have something for everyone, and becoming involved is much easier than you may think. "If you want to act, you must audition, but anyone can volunteer to sell season tickets, work back stage, or be an usher," says White. "Volunteers are so important to us." The Monroe Actors Stage Company (MASC) located in Waterloo, a town of approximately 6,500, also understands the importance of volunteer help. "This includes marketing, back stage assistance and technical crews, as well as acting," says Mike Hemmer, Treasurer for the MASC. "Our mission is to bring many kinds of theatrical opportunities to the county." The MASC performs live theatrical productions and even hosts murder-mystery dinner performances. A small group of MASC actors have also performed period-dated roles for a trolley tour of historic homes in near by Columbia. Getting the show from the page to the stage is a process that no theatre can do alone. Every performing arts group depends on their volunteers. A theatre based in Bloomington, called Community Players Theatre, takes volunteering a step further and actively recruits individuals interested in working "behind the scenes." Jason Wiggins, Community Relations Liaison for the Community Players Theatre, says, "We actually have a person on the board of governors whose only duty is recruitment. You can basically send us an e-mail or call the box office, and we'll find something for you." And you don't have to be an expert to help out. "Sometimes people become intimidated with the idea of being in charge. We've developed a mentor relationship between skilled volunteers and those just starting out. We often contact individuals interested in learning a particular aspect of the show, such as the lighting, and we match them up with an experienced volunteer. They act as an assistant and are able to build a comfort level. The next time around, they may be ready to run the lighting on their own," says Wiggins. "I encourage people to just try it out. We're not going to make you go out and do it all alone the first time." Theatre provides the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds. Wiggins says, "I just did a show where I worked with a welder, several insurance agents, and a woman who worked for the Red Cross. I was just thinking, 'Where would I meet most of these people?' My involvement in theatre has allowed me to meet people throughout the community, and that is one of the biggest benefits to me." Meeting people and being in social settings are important for human development, and the arts also play an important role in the AUGUST 2002 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 11
TOP PHOTO: Union and Confederate soldiers square off in a singing duel during a sellout showing of "Shenandoah" at New Salem's Theartre in the Park in June. BOTTOM PHOTO: Local theatre brings families and communities together. Here, a young family watches an outdoor performance of "Shenandoah."
The Community Players also tries to reach younger audiences by performing newer shows that may be more interesting to teens and young adults. In the spring they performed "A Few Good Men," a play that was later turned into the movie with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. "It really attracted a lot of people who normally don't come out to the theatre. We will usually try to put a show in our season that will attract a newer audience. Hopefully they will come to see us rather than going to a movie," says Wiggins. People in one small central Illinois town can pass up the movies for a professional performance of a play or musical. The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan is the only professional theatre between Chicago and St. Louis and operates under a small professional theatre contract with the Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union for actors and stage managers. It is also a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and has been designated as an Established Regional Arts Institution by the Illinois Arts Council. Situated in a town of 4,400, the Little Theatre on the Square plays to nearly 48,000 admissions each season. People come from all over Illinois, as well as Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana. The theatre, which operates from June through August, was founded as a commercial, or for-profit, theatre by Guy S. Little, Jr. in 1957. Mr. Little closed the theatre in 1979 and moved to Milwaukee. After several attempts at revitalization, a short period followed when the theatre was "dark," meaning no shows were produced. Local citizens then founded a non-profit corporation to bring the theatre back to life. Mr. Little returned in 1986 and assisted in the national search for the Little Theatre on the Square's current Executive Director, Leonard Anderson. Unlike local community theatres, the Little Theatre on the Square receives its main support in the form of audience attendance. "We actually don't have a large volunteer group. Our ushers are usually the local middle school and high school 12 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org students and the technical crew members are either professionals, or interns earning college credit," says Anderson. Jill Cathleen Seelhoefer, a senior at Sullivan High School, has worked as a ticket office assistant and part-time house manager for the Little Theatre on the Square since 1999. Seelhoefer is actively involved in theatre, choir, band and piano, making the Little Theatre on the Square an ideal workplace. Seelhoefer says, "The confidence I have gained through numerous performances in show choir, band and theatre have led me to become actively involved in both school and community activities. I cannot imagine my future without music and theatre." Seelhoefer has also had the unique opportunity of performing in a Shakespeare production at the Little Theatre on the Square. Anderson says, "We attend auditions in St. Louis and Chicago arid hold open auditions in Sullivan to cast the actors. We also use a good number of area children when we are doing shows that call for young actors." These unique aspects make the Little Theatre on the Square very different from community theatres. However, the theatre, as a solid cultural entity, certainly adds to the quality of life in the area. Anderson says, "Many patrons will go out to dinner before they come to a show and they will need to pay for babysitters and gasoline. We estimate that we have more than a $2 million economic impact on the area annually." The Little Theatre on the Square also has an impact on area residents in the form of educational programs that are conducted in Sullivan during the school year. About 200 students will participate in acting classes and jazz, ballet and tap dance lessons. Students range from pre-schoolers to senior citizens and come from within about a 30-mile radius of the theatre. Keeping in the same spirit that arts education is important to our youth, theatres throughout Illinois are offering such programs. Many are hoping to light the sparkle in a child's eyes and make them a theatre lover for life. The Quincy Community Theatre offers a program for area youth called the Children's Theatre Program. "To ensure our future we must ignite a flame in our children that will burn forever," is the goal of this program. Children participate in a variety of classes and full-scale productions, ensuring that the theatre will survive for generations to come. The Quincy Community Theatre also has a group called "Stage Kids" for area youth, ages 10 — 15 years old. The group is selected through auditions and presents a musical variety show for area events during the summer. The Quincy Community Theatre has been a part of Quincy since 1923 and performs musicals, mysteries, comedies and dramas. The theatre is a member of the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, the Illinois Theatre Association and the American Association of Community Theatre. Auditions are open to the general public and are held six to seven weeks prior to a performance. Rehearsals are held 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. With a wide variety of ways to become involved and an assortment of talents needed, theatre in Illinois is important to adults and our youth. With your support, theatre will continue to thrive as new stars are born and introduced to the arts. Theatre has a place for you, a "place" to play for a lifetime.
For more information about theatre in your community, contact your local chamber of commerce or visit your area library. And often, if you ask your neighbors and friends, you will find somebody who is actively participating in area theatre and would love to have you involved. • Alton Little Theater (618) 462-6562. www.altonlittletheater.org. • Monroe Actors Stage Company (628) 939-7469. Leave a message requesting information. • Community Players Theatre (309) 663-2121. http://communityplayers.org. • The Little Theatre on the Square Business office (217) 728-2065. For reservations (217) 728-7375 or (888) 261-9675. • The Quincy Community Theatre (217) 222-3209. www.lqct.org. • Theatre in the Park at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site (800) 710-9290. • To find other links to Illinois community theatre go to Gordon Productions www.gordonproductions.com AUGUST 2002 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 13 |
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development of our youth. With looming budget cuts in area school districts, art education could be one of the first things to go. "We feel, as a community theatre, it is our responsibility to expose younger generations to theatre, the arts and volunteer opportunities. This is why we started a 'Theatre for the Youth' program, which is held every summer. We want to get young people involved in theatre," Wiggins says.
