Greenville Little Theatre shines
Posted by The Skyliner on October 21st, 2009Rachel Ham
Staff Writer
The city of Greenville is rich with opportunities to experience all types of live music, plays and musicals. The Greenville Little Theatre is just one example of an inexpensive way to see a compelling story performed on stage.
The history of the Greenville Little Theatre can be traced all the way back to 1836. The Theatrical Corps, the forerunner to what people now recognize as the Greenville Little Theatre, performed its first show on March 5, 1836, to a full house.
In 1926, the Greenville Artists’ Guild, made up of 75 men and women, worked together to continue developing Greenville’s culture.
About ten years later, the theatre was able to begin using the Fine Arts Auditorium of the Women’s College which was located where the Little Theatre is currently housed. The same year, 1936, two drama professors from Furman University took the roles of Artistic Directors.
Productions unfortunately came to halt during World War II. The first play produced after the war was I Remember Mama. The production on May 2, 1946, starred Joanne Woodward, who is best known for her Oscar-winning role in The Three Faces of Eve.
In 1967, the theatre opened its new $800,000 building with the staging of the musical Camelot. The new building was also chosen to showcase two professional productions.
Shortly after, in 1976, The Glass Menagerie opened with Joanne Woodward returning to the Little Theatre’s stage. With the revenue from ticket sales for this performance and a benefit reception, enough money was raised to erase the theater’s debt.
Currently, Allen McCalla and his wife are the artistic director and producing director, respectively. They both have much professional experience in the theatre business. They are committed to showcasing the talent of the Upstate when producing the many plays and musicals.
Upcoming events at the Greenville Little Theatre include productions that range from classic plays to Christmas musicals.
The Piano Lesson, August Wilson’s Pulitzer-Prize winning play about a family fighting over a family heirloom, will be featured in late October and early November. The month of December will feature the classic favorite, A Christmas Carol. The theatre also offers acting classes for children and adults.
The Greenville Little Theatre is a great way to experience live performances without having to travel very far from campus. Most tickets are around $25 with lower rates for groups of 10 or more.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 6