There is something within all of us that desires to be entertained and some enjoy being entertainers. Central Illinois has a rich history in many aspects within the performing arts and Jacksonville has been a big part of that.
The roots of community theater in more modern times here in Jacksonville can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s. In many aspects, the connections with local institutes of higher education have played a pivotal influence. One of the first organized groups was known as The Strollers and was organized by Octavia Frees, a professor of speech and drama at Illinois College.
The Strollers would travel the area performing to children’s groups. Often times pie and coffee would be their compensation. The group performed several different productions and among them were THE EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES, YOUNG HICKORY, MANY MOONS, and PRINCE FAIRY FOOT.
To appeal to an adult audience, members of this troupe back in the sixties embarked on several productions under the direction of Geraldine Staley, head of the drama department at Illinois College. Some of these productions included ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, THE DRUNKARD, and HARVEY. Many of their productions occurred on the campus of Illinois College.
After a very poorly attended performance of BUS STOP in the new Sophie Leschin building on the grounds of the Jacksonville Developmental Center, the thoughts of an organized community theater group were put on the back burner. Several members of this troupe would later reorganize to rekindle the dream.
In April 1973, Jim and Darlene Reilly invited several people into their home where they discussed the formation of a community theater group called Summer Theater ‘76. The choice of the name had two meanings. They wanted to show everybody that this idea was not just a flash in the pan & they had hopes of putting together a production of 1776 in 1976.
Those attending included members of Illinois College’s drama group Hilltoppers, IC alumni, and other interested members of the Jacksonville community. Of utmost importance during this initial meeting was to talk of securing a location for performances and the need for a lighting technician.
The group approached Illinois College about performing their plays on their campus as before, but the request was denied. Moving on to the next venue idea they were able to strike a deal with the city of Jacksonville to use the Nichols Park Pavilion. So, in May Summer Theater ‘76 announced their 1st season complete with tryout and performance dates. On the stipulation that they would not charge for attendance, Jacksonville Kiwanis gave them a grant to cover the cost of their first musical, ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER. Regardless of the pavilion not being air-conditioned, each performance had a full house.
They were able to rent a dimmer board for that 1st season through City State Lighting of St. Louis, Missouri for $90.00. MacMurray College provided an advanced lighting system that was suspended from the ceiling of the pavilion. Illinois College provided scenery and stage equipment.
After years of neglect, the Nichols Park Pavilion needed a lot of cleanup to prepare for performing so the founding members dug in to get it ready. During rehearsals it was not unheard of that they would have to chase out the ducks and geese who would take up residency in the building during the day.
After the first production (CACTUS FLOWER) was in the books, it was decided that a few improvements were needed to make it better for not only the patrons but the actors as well. Among the improvements were raising the stage, adding window fans to help cool the structure, and a crystal ball to improve the sight lines. While removing the crystal ball to put into storage for future use it was accidentally dropped shattering it.
During the second show of their 1st season (BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE), a reporter from a local newspaper gave a very nasty review of this production. Upset members gave a strong response to the review. Ultimately the reporter admitted his unfairness in his review of this amateur theatre group and relations improved to the point that that person ended up directing a future show.
The end-of-season financial statement reports gross income from ticket sales at $2382.46. With the addition of season ticket sales of $450.84 and less expenses of $2687.76, net income for the 1st season was $145.54. One bill of $200 from the Hilltoppers at Illinois College was extended to the following season.
In March 1974, Summer Theater ’76 created and adopted its bylaws at its monthly board meeting. These bylaws establish the office of president, secretary, and treasurer as chairman of the board. It also provided for a Board of Directors to be composed of not fewer than 3 members and no greater than 7.
MacMurray College did a production of THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER in April of that year and Summer Theater ‘76 personnel helped to provide sets, props, vocal chorus, and backstage crew. The production was directed by Phil Decker, with Music Director Charles M Fisher and Conductor Ed Murphy. This production featured the local acting debut of Stephanie Smith-Jarrett, later known as Stephanie Smith-Wilkey.
During June 1974, Summer Theater ‘76 was able to purchase its theater lighting set for $1500 and several flats for $500. This was made possible through season ticket sales and grants they had applied for and received.
After many inquiries and challenges since being approved as a nonprofit organization in 1974, the organization was granted permanent nonprofit status on August 20, 1975.
Jacksonville Kiwanis Club presented a grant for $1776 in June of 1976 to the group for them to stage the production 1776 as its bicentennial gift to the community. This gift allowed ST ‘76 to put this production on with no admission charge to the public.
In November 1976, another local theater group was in the process of forming. ST ‘76 President Dave Bergschneider requested that all members of the current board clearly state their loyalty to the group or submit their resignations. Two members chose to resign and soon afterward the formation of a separate theater group was completed. This group eventually became known as the Pavilion Players staging productions at Nichols Park.
To reflect the local flavor of the group, the board approved in May 1977 the new title: Jacksonville Area Community Summer Theater ’76.
After an increase in rental fees and some new rules were established by the park board, Summer Theater ’76 entered into negotiations to lease a building on the grounds of Jacksonville Developmental Center. After the lease was signed in January 1978 the group moved into what was known as The Veterans Kitchen and Dining Room. For advertising purposes, it was known as Summer Theater Playhouse. The first production held in this new location was YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.
1979 brought other changes that would solidify its place in community theater for Jacksonville. In February of that year, talks of merging local theater groups began and a special meeting between the members of Summer Theater ‘76 and the Pavilion Players was held at Illinois College. Dr. Eugene Laurent, chairman of MacMurray College’s theater department, was hired as the artistic director. He would be responsible for all of the plays and would direct the coming season’s productions of DIAL M FOR MURDER and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
Despite the beastly hot summer and the lack of air conditioning in its performance venue, the Guild and its patrons suffered through a complete sellout of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
In October of that year, at a general membership meeting, it was decided to terminate the name Jacksonville Area Community Summer Theater 76 and institute the name Jacksonville Theater Guild. A proposal to merge Summer Theater 76, the Pavilion Players, and the J.E.S.T. Players under the new organization title was approved and mailed to the other parties. In November, however, the Pavilion Players declined the proposal in a letter addressed to Guild President John Neece.
In April of 1980 JTG board of directors announced they would be performing their shows in the air-conditioned newly—renovated Sophie Leschin Building. The current performance venue was the Veteran’s Kitchen. It had a variety of structural issues and did not have air conditioning. Because of these many issues the State of Illinois announced that they were planning to demolish the building and JTG would have to vacate. The plan was to take it down during the summer of 1980. We were able to continue using the Veteran’s Kitchen for storage of scenery supplies, props, and costumes for several years. Eventually, the costumes were moved due to conditions, and the rest of the stored sets were relocated to a small warehouse owned by Farmer’s State Bank, just north of the downtown square.
Starting in May of 1980 each production was given its own budget. Before 1980, there was one overall budget set for the entire season.
During the summer of 1981, JTG performed THE MUSIC MAN and it attracted the largest crowd to date. Selling out seven of the eight performances brought 2,912 patrons. Two of the eight show dates were added to the original schedule.
The Jacksonville Developmental Center was contacted by the Pavilion Players in an attempt to book the Sophie Leschin Theatre for the summer of 1982. The Guild board of directors pointed out that our lease to use that space named our group as the primary users of the auditorium. The request was denied because JTG had already set its schedule for the upcoming summer.
In November 1982 opened a new office space provided by Jacksonville Savings and Loan (JSL) free of charge. Sunnye Armacost Neece was hired to serve as a part-time administrative secretary. That year was also significant because The Pavilion Players performed its final production, SAME TIME NEXT YEAR.
Early in 1983, Sunnye resigned and by July Judy Driver was hired as administrative secretary. In recognition of our 10th anniversary, Jacksonville Mayor Milt Hocking proclaimed a Jacksonville Theatre Guild Day in the city. The proclamation did not designate a specific day. This special anniversary was celebrated with a complete 12-show sell-out of the hit musical ANNIE. JTG was the first amateur organization to secure the rights to produce the production. With a cast size of 97 and a staff size of 48, it was the largest production in our history with a total of 145 people involved.
In 1983 a very successful season-ticket campaign was launched and centered around the 10th anniversary.
In December of 83, another production entered the record books. THE ODD COUPLE broke attendance records for the largest house for a nonmusical.
In 1984 JTG offered its very 1st original production. A TALENT TO AMUSE was written and directed by Eugene Laurent. The Guild would produce 26 total original shows throughout its history.
Major Guild designer and builder, Rob Shaffer, completed the installation of a new marquee across from Church Street at the entrance of the JDC grounds off Morton Avenue.
1985 saw the death of JTG artistic director Eugene Laurent. He passed away on April 18 in Rochester, Minnesota. His wife, veteran actress, and director Lorraine Laurent was hired to direct the summer musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and was asked to fill the artistic director’s position in October of that year.
The free office space became unavailable from JSL. The office was relocated to rented quarters on the 2nd floor of the Savings and Loan building.
By December the Guild finally completed a project of adding engraved numbers to the seats in the Sophie Leschin theatre. This allowed reserve seating to be inaugurated.
On June 12, 1986, the Guild staged a special retrospective entitled, “An End and a Beginning: A Nostalgic Look at the Past Holding a Sparkling Promise For the Future.” Directed by Lorraine Laurent, it was produced as a tribute to the late Eugene Laurent. The review featured 44 songs from musicals staged by the Guild from 1979 to 1985. These numbers were performed by the actors and actresses who were given them in the original Guild production. Guild photographer Rob Shaffer provided slides from these productions as part of the show.
Two annual recognitions were created in memory of former Artistic Director Eugene Laurent. The awards were Outstanding Volunteer and Friend of the Theatre. The first was designed to honor one of the Guild’s vital volunteer members. The latter was to give recognition to a person or organization not officially connected to the Guild that still made significant contributions to the organization’s success.
In October of that year, Jay Jamison was hired as the Guild’s business manager.
February 1987 brought the independent performance of Genny Brown’s one-woman show TEA WITH EMILY, an original play about poet Emily Dickinson. It drew a total of 151 people to its two performances on February 20 – 21 with a gate gross of $515.
Also in 1987, the Guild offices relocated to the fourth floor of the old Norris Hospital building on East State Street. They were next to the offices of the Jacksonville Symphony Society and the Jacksonville – MacMurray Music Association.
The summer musical, SHENANDOAH, brought in 3584 patrons to 10 performances of Ken Bradbury’s Theatre Guild’s directing and acting debut performance.
Lorraine Laurent resigned as artistic director in September and moved to Chicago. This position was filled by Luke Fry.
In December 1987 all of the flats, props, and theatrical equipment were relocated from the storage space at MacMurray College to the Veteran’s Kitchen.
Luke Fry stepped down as artistic director in September 1988. The Board of Directors decided to eliminate this position in favor of the policy to hire specific directors for specific plays.
A new lighting board was installed in the projection booth and used for the first time during LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE.
August 1989 saw its second original production for the Guild. TOAD IN THE HOLE, by Ken Bradbury and Robert Crowe, drew 3589 people, surpassing SHENANDOAH (1987) by five people, and became the Guild’s fourth largest production to date.
For the fourth time in Guild history, the organization repeated a play. In July 1990, Ken Bradbury directed the patriotic musical 1776.
In an unusual move, the Board donated $50 toward the cost of a headstone for Jon Robb, founder of the Pittsfield Theatre Guild. Robb directed our production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL in 1981.
The Jacksonville Theatre Guild staged their first regular play performed completely by children in 1991. WINNIE THE POOH did two weekend matinee performances in July that drew a total of 716 people, including one sellout.
In August 1991, the Guild’s third original production was staged: TA-DAH! (VAUDEVILLE ‘91) by Ken Bradbury with Robert Crowe. The show attracted our third largest attendance thus far, behind ANNIE (1983) and OKLAHOMA! (1984). Only a total of 70 seats were unsold out of 10 performances.
September 1991 saw the resignation of business manager, Jay Jamison. This position was retitled Executive Director and Don Atkins was hired to fill it.
The Guild offices relocated in September 1992 to nicer and more accessible quarters in the Westward Plaza on Morton Avenue.
It was decided to take full advantage of the auditorium availability, so the Board of Directors accepted a proposal to produce six plays in the 1993-1994 season.
After the resignation of Don Atkins as Executive Director, the board voted not to fill the position and all of the duties of the office to be taken on by the administrative secretary and members of the board as needed.
In December 1992 the Guild hosted an independent production of the Ken Bradbury-Robert Crowe original musical MERRY CHRISTMAS, FOR PETE’S SAKE! Proceeds from this event were given to the Woodhaven Hospice program.
In May 1993 the Jacksonville Area Showcase newspaper recognized the Theatre Guild’s 20th anniversary with a front-page article.
Chuck West, along with the production team of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, oversaw the removal of the film projectors from the light booth and the transfer of the old light board to this location. This was done in June.
Another independent show, Ken Bradbury’s original children’s musical DR. EMPHATICO’S MARVELOUS AND MAGICAL PURELY FANTASTICAL MEDICINE SHOW was staged in July 1993. The proceeds from this production benefited Jo Anna Caldwell’s Faith Center and youth projects.
On August 27 at its annual meeting, JTG celebrated 2 decades of community theatre.
October 1993 saw the purchase and installation of a new curtain in the Sophie Leschin Theatre.
Rounding out 1993, the children’s play THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, sold out 3 performances and added an additional show. This was in December. A total of 1444 people attended this production.
The Board of Directors in January 1994 approved a $500 donation to be taken out above the receipts for THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL for the medical and travel expenses incurred by Genny Brown. Appearing in what would be her final lead role for JTG, Genny was doing BOUNTIFUL when stricken with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
In May of that year, Ken Bradbury & Bob Crowe staged a two-performance run of their original Vachel…. With a V at the Sophie Leschin Theatre May 13 – 14. The play starred Bob Large as Vachel Lindsey and featured Judith Beiderbecke, Karl Bockmeier, Sylvia Burke, and Rich McCoy in supporting roles.
The board voted in August to move the Guild office from the Westward Plaza, scheduled for demolition, to the location of 513 W. Morgan.
“Absolutely Nothing”, a Guild fundraiser, was conducted to help pay for a personal amplified listening device system for the theatre. It took the unique path of asking for donations by purchasing a seat or seats for a nonexistent show. Total takings from this project amounted to $1207.
Kathy Petite was hired for the position of Guild office manager, replacing Judy Driver.
In September 1994, Greg Floyd coordinated the installation of the listening device system in the theatre along with a wireless microphone set up.
A Gala Preview Party was held on September 10 at the Theatre featuring excerpts from the next season’s plays. The event was organized by Mary Sager Mullgardt. An afterglow party was held at the home of Howard and Stephanie Smith-Jarratt.
Following the resignation of Kathy Petite in November, Stephanie Smith-Jarratt was hired as the new Office Manager for JTG.
1995 saw area resident turned Hollywood actor Rick Hall bring his one-man show PIG BOY to Sophie Leschin Theatre. The February 4 performance sold out and a February 5 matinee was added.
Appearing in the cast of THE LITTLE FOXES in April was Pat Carpenter, the daughter of well-known actor Richard Guillaume who played Benson on television.
Ken Bradbury’s production of COONRIDGE DIGEST and Chris Vallilo’s QUINCY BLUES were performed as a double bill fundraiser on June 23 & 25.
On March 7, 1996, long-time Guild actress, director, and former board president Genny Brown passed away at the age of 53 from the effects of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Due to legal constraints, the board decided at its March meeting that they would discontinue the practice of videotaping productions or rehearsals.
In July of that year, Rick and Laura Hall brought their delightful audience participation children’s show to town for performances on July 27 and 28. The productions were staged at Grace United Methodist Church.
The board chose to change the opening play for the next season, GOD’s FAVORITE. It was scrapped amid reports of it being in unfunny bad taste and replaced with the acclaimed drama AMADEUS. There was some dispute about the quality of GOD’s FAVORITE, and some who saw it produced elsewhere later that fall enjoyed it thoroughly.
The Guild began leasing the building on the Central Park Plaza from the Denney family in September. This would house the large inventory of costumes and props. The move of costumes from the Veterans Kitchen was conducted under the direction of Costume Chairman Elaine Smith Mead.
In October the show HOOTENANNY which had been a big hit at New Salem came to the Sophie Leschin Theatre for a one-night performance on October 15. The show featured the musical talents of Ken Bradbury, Chris Vallillo, David Zink, Jerry Hooker, Mike Post, Richard Dunseth, and John McHarter.
April 1997 saw Laurie McCoy, Stephanie Smith-Jarratt, and Roger Deem with Brendan Carney stage a one-day “How to Audition Workshop” for 43 children. The workshop was on April 5. Through a series of sketches and comedy bits, the quartet provided many examples of how people should NOT try out for a play.
Directed by Rich McCoy, SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN drew in 1948 people and became our highest dollar-grossing small musical to date. It was performed in May. The popularity of the show was such that it was offered again, following its Guild run, as a dinner theatre production in Virginia Illinois.
An inventory conducted by VP Ed Smith revealed we still had possession of a large number of stage lights that had been borrowed from MacMurray College in the 1980s. Smith and Lisa Gilmore orchestrated the return of these lights to the College which was trying to get its theatre program restarted.
In June 1997 Linda Van Aken brought her 4th-grade students from Washington Elementary to the Sophie Leschin Theatre where they presented 2 performances of their class play CLIMB HIGH JACK. The production was highlighted by a beautiful set designed and constructed by Jacksonville artist Steve Varble. This well-produced show so dramatically increased the Washington school children’s interest in theatre that 21 of its students joined the cast of the Guild children’s play CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY the following February.
Rick and Laura Hall returned in July to perform the sequel to Ricks’s one-man show – SON OF PIG BOY. Performances were staged on July 11 – 12 – 13. Laura, assisted by Rick, produced a children’s show entitled I SEE A TIGER in the Leschin buildings gymnasium on the afternoon of July 12.
As the Guild celebrated the conclusion of its 25th season, its production of THE MUSIC MAN earned its place in history by drawing 3934 people to 10 shows, 2nd in total numbers only to ANNIE in 1983. Its per-show average of 393 was the highest in guild history thus far.
In September the Guild presented a 25th Anniversary Gala. It was directed by Sean-Edward Hall and produced by Edward H Smith on September 20. The show featured a selection of musical numbers from the past quarter century, some of which were presented by the actors who performed them for the original Guild production. It was preceded by a catered dinner and was followed by a dance and live band performance.
Capitalizing on the popularity of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, Guild Treas. John Wilkey produced COONRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, which combined selections from SMOKE, a square dance exhibition, and additional bluegrass numbers. The show was performed as part of a double bill which included a return engagement of Ken Bradbury’s COONRIDGE DIGEST show. Performances were held to packed houses on October 10 – 11 – 12. A special added attraction at the final performance was an eight-member German Dixieland Band that was touring the area and put on a fine preshow performance.
Through the efforts of JTG board member Harvey Mack, a new series of lights and lighting equipment were installed in the theatre to replace the instruments returned to MacMurray College. This occurred in November and was utilized for the 1st time in FOREVER PLAID.
The lease on the Denney building was not renewed and we were required to remove our costumes and props. In January 1998 everything was returned to the Veterans Kitchen until new facilities could be obtained.
In February Harvey and Patsy Kelly Mack brought their two-person production of THE DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE to the stage at Sophie Leschin February 6 – 7 – 8, produced by Cathy Doyle.
The children’s show, CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, directed by Laurie McCoy, packed in 2330 people at 6 performances, breaking the nonmusical house record set by THE ODD COUPLE in 1983. A new single show house attendance record of 428 people was set at the February 20 performance. Its preshow average of 388 ranked 2nd only to THE MUSIC MAN in 1997.
The Guild agreed with a local storage facility to rent a 25 x 25 unit to house all of the costumes. The move began in March and took place throughout the spring months.
Washington Elementary’s 4th-grade class returned to the auditorium for the 2nd straight year. The production was LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD and it was performed on May 12.
Through the efforts of the Stage Equipment Chairman Harvey Mack and with the assistance of Chuck West, the Guild purchased and installed a computerized digital lighting system for the Sophie Leschin Theatre. The 1st production that was able to utilize the new equipment was THE RUNNER STUMBLES.
The emphasis on the support and training of community children has been a part of the Jacksonville Theatre Guild almost from the start.
Following the group’s second successful season in the summer of 1974, the Board of Directors began the process of applying for grants to fund Children’s Summer Theatre ’76.
The project became a reality in November 1974 when a $4000 grant was received from Mobile Chemical and another $1500 from the Minnie Barr Foundation.
Diana Frankenhoff was selected to chair the committee responsible for creating and operating the program. She was assisted by Pres. Jim Reilly and Carolyn Curtis.
That first workshop lasted 2 weeks and culminated in a pair of performances the following summer.
On June 28 – 29, 1975, 33 kids, ages 9 to 14, staged a three-act musical in the Nichols Park Pavilion entitled WIND IN THE WILLOWS. The rehearsals began June 4 and ran weekday afternoons until the show opened. A total of 375 people attended the 2 shows directed by Mrs. Frankenhoff and Gary Motta.
The second production was an old-fashioned melodrama called THE SAGA OF SAGEBRUSH SAL which played on July 26 and 27. This show was performed by 29 children between the ages of 6 and 9 and drew 135 people to its first staging and over 200 to the second.
Many kids involved in the first show returned to assist the younger ones with makeup and sets.
In 1976, 2 workshop productions were staged. The first play, HINTS OF LIFE, was directed by Diana Frankenhoff and Harry Hendershot and staged August 6 – 7. Eighteen children were involved in the production. The second offering was called TOM SAWYER’S MORNING, directed by Emily Hewitt and Sherri Mitchell. Performed August 21 – 22, 17 children took part.
The split which divided Summer Theatre’ 76 and The Pavilion Players also made an impact on children’s theatre. Although purporting not to be associated with any adult theatre group, Jacksonville Educational Students Theatre (JEST Players) was formed by several of those involved with The Pavilion Players. That organization kept up its work with children over the next several years while Children’s Theatre’ 76 continued its annual workshop program.
Dianne Ashby Bergchneider directed the 1977 workshop which consisted of two four-week sessions concluding on August 5. This was conducted at the Summer Theatre’ 76 Playhouse (formally the Veterans Kitchen, located on the grounds of the Jacksonville Developmental Center) which became the new headquarters for the group that season. Participants were enrolled free of charge thanks to a grant of $1000 received from Mobile Chemical.
In 1978, the children’s theatre workshop was moved to Lincoln Elementary School and was conducted by Diana Thomure. A pair of productions resulted from this event. Staged August 4 at the Summer Theatre’ 76 Playhouse, 25 children in grades 5 – 9 performed THE TWELVE DISCO PRINCESSES and CURSES! FOILED AGAIN!
Several workshop participants went on to feature roles in the Guild’s summer musical production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The use of children, at times large numbers of them, became quite common in the big summer productions over the next several years. A great number of young people coming out of the workshop program appeared in plays such as OLIVER! (1980), THE MUSIC MAN (1981), ANNIE (1983), OKLAHOMA! (1984), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1983), and THE KING AND I (1986).
In 1979, the program again came under the direction of Dianne Bergchneider who would provide the spark to this program for the next several years.
Bergchneider was ably assisted year after year by veteran Guild personnel. Among the individuals helping direct some of the productions were Pamela Laurent and Karen TenEyck.
The children participating in this program grew to high school age and the need for a theatre experience for this age group became apparent.
Through a grant of $3125 from the Jacksonville Children’s Foundation, the idea became reality in 1980 directed by Dana Bates. Unfortunately, it proved unsuccessful due to feeble registration (29 signed up, only 7 attended). Too many kids had summer jobs and were unavailable.
Lincoln School hosted the workshop in 1981. Children in grades 1 – 3 worked on a performance of THE CALICO TIGER while children in the higher grades prepared a production of FABLES FOR ALL TIMES. These two shows were presented to the public on July 1 in the Lincoln school auditorium. Thanks to generous grants received from the Mobil Chemical Corporation and the Jacksonville Children’s Foundation, participants were able to enroll in this event free of charge.
The 1982 program was conducted for the final time at Lincoln School on June 9 – 23. An evening performance on June 23 was presented with Dianne Bergchneider directing children in grades 1 – 3 and Pam Laurent helming the program for older children.
In 1983, the workshop moved to a new location in the choir room at Jacksonville High School. The following summer, the Guild production of ANNIE featured a great number of workshop participants, including every little girl who tried out for the lead role. Director Eugene Laurent used them all in The Annie Chorus, which appeared during the curtain call, each dressed as Annie, and reprising several of the show’s musical numbers.
Ms. Bergchneider directed the workshop for the final time in 1984, again at the high school. The codirector for this year’s workshop was Karen TenEyck Riegel. Held June 11 – 23, a total of 87 children took part, 65 of them first-timers. Children in grades 1 – 3 prepared and put on a version of PINOCCHIO and those in grades 4 – 7 staged a play called IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME.
Pamela Laurent, assistant director for several directed the 1985 workshop, assisted by Sue Conrad.
The program underwent a change in 1986. The two longer plays produced for years were replaced by 19 shorter skits which allowed for more children to show off their talents. The older kids were directed by Rich McCoy and the younger children’s program was headed by Ann Prather.
McCoy directed and was assisted by Prather for the 1987 event. The workshop was attended by 56 children and culminated in a performance on June 26 at the Leschin Theatre. The first section of the program was devoted to 19 sketches and musical numbers performed by participants. The second part was an enactment of the short story WILEY AND THE HAIRY MAN. One of the part one sketches featured a puppet show. In April 1988, a return performance of that was conducted at the Strawn Art Gallery.
Rebekah Hilgedick, McCoy, and Prather co-directed the 1988 workshop, which was conducted in the auditorium at Jacksonville High School. A total of 43 were involved in the program. Parts one and three of the closing program were musical selections. Part two featured a pair of short plays featuring various nursery rhymes and children’s literary characters.
The next year’s workshop was conducted June 12 – 24, 1989 in Baxter Computer Center at Illinois College which proved an unsatisfactory location due to the lack of air conditioning. The closing performance, entitled “BE A CLOWN”, featured 57 children that year. Among the special segments of the closing show were original poem readings by nine young authors.
Sylvia Burke and Ann Prather used a large number of these children when they directed THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER in December 1995. The show was extremely well received, averaging 338 people over 5 performances.
In 1990, the program moved again, this time to Grace United Methodist Church. Held June 8 – 19, the program was directed by Prather. The workshop closed with a performance featuring adaptations of 8 Aesop’s fables: THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF, ANDROCLES AND THE LION, MICE IN COUNCIL, THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE, THE FOX AND THE WOODSMAN, THE LION AND THE MOUSE, THE WOLF AND THE YOUNG BULLS and COUNTRY MOUSE AND CITY MOUSE. Continuing to grow in size, the event catered to nearly 70 children.
The year 1990 also marked one of the greatest triumphs of the children’s theatre workshop program. One of its graduates, Edward D Hall (now Sean-Edward Hall), finally established as an adult performer, was selected to direct the Guild’s production of THE FANTASTICKS.
The workshop continued at Grace Church the following year, with Prather directing. Following the two-week course, several playlets were performed for the public on June 21.
On June 22 – 23, 1991, the Guild held auditions for its first children’s play, WINNIE THE POOH. Produced in July under the direction of Ann Prather and Sylvia Burke, WINNIE THE POOH was a tremendous success, selling all but 28 of 744 seats for 2 shows. A cast of 25 young people, mostly workshop veterans, were selected to stage this play. As part of the publicity, members of the cast performed scenes on the front lawn of the Strawn Art Gallery during the Children’s Art Fair on July 13.
Pearl Schneider took over the reins of the workshop program in 1992, once again hosted by Grace Church. The theme for this year’s event was “Friendship” and again featured several short performances on June 19, 1992. A special grant received that year provided a hearing–impaired interpreter for the 4 deaf students in attendance.
In July 1992, Rich McCoy directed HOW TO EAT LIKE A CHILD, a vaudeville-style musical show with a cast of 16 children. Many of the children were graduates of the workshop program. The show featured a variety of blackout sketches, songs, and production numbers.
In the spring of 1993, the Board of Directors demonstrated their faith in children’s theatre by providing funding for THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES, equivalent to that allocated for regular productions. Under the direction of Laurie McCoy, the production drew an attendance of 939 people to 3 shows.
A long-time tradition came to a conclusion in 1993 as the children’s workshop was not conducted in the summer. Due to other commitments, many of those who had previously served in administrative positions were unavailable.
The Guild’s 1993 children’s theatre production of THE VELVETEEN RABBIT was the first ever to be included as a part of the annual season pass. Because the number of performances for the children’s shows were smaller at that time, the confusion this caused led to the children’s offering being separated into its own entity the following year.
Again, directed by Mrs. McCoy, the show featured original songs and lyrics by well-known Jacksonville musician David Zink. The 3 scheduled performances were completely sold out nine days in advance, so a Saturday afternoon matinee was added. The play drew an average attendance of 361 people, the sixth largest for any Guild show at the time. The cast included a total of 48 children.
At the request of Jacksonville School District #117, the cast performed RABBIT for all the district’s 5th graders, along with those from Our Savior School, Salem Lutheran Grade School, and Westfair Christian Academy. A total of 417 people attended.
An attempt to restart the children’s workshop was made in the spring of 1994. Of course, was designed to run from March 12 to May 7, held on Saturdays at the Sophie Leschin Theatre. The program was directed by Sean-Edward Hall. Again, an attempt was made to include high school youth with those in grades 3 – 6 meeting in the morning and 7 – 12 grades gathering in the afternoon. Attendance at the event was meager in comparison with earlier efforts with much of the blame falling on the $40 fee charged for the program.
Due to production scheduling, there was no actual children’s play in the calendar year 1994. The 1995 campaign began with Ms. McCoy directing THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. Scheduled to stage four shows, the response from the public was so great that a fifth performance was added. The attendance of 1527 was the largest yet for a children’s production. Because of the large number of children trying out, the director double-cast some of the show’s supporting roles.
Although a few children had been included in recent summer musicals, it was Director Greg Floyd who recruited a large number of young people as part of his cast for 1995’s MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.
Cynthia Fawkes was chosen to direct the next children’s offering, CHARLOTTE’S WEB, which was produced in December 1995. In an unusual casting choice, this production had a number of adults in supporting roles. By comparison, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (1991) was considered an adult play with a lot of children in the cast.
MacMurray College student Lisa Gilmore, who had interned with the Guild during THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, accepted the director’s chair for the spring 1997 production of THE TRIAL OF GOLDILOCKS. In what proved to be a very funny casting stunt, she recruited a large man to play the role of Baby Bear, the only adult actor in a cast of 27 children.
In an unusual side note to GOLDILOCKS, local artist Steve Varble created delightful paintings depicting his unique vision of well-known nursery rhymes. These proved so popular that 3 were auctioned off to the public during the run of the show (the 4th was procured by Director Gilmore).
The summer of 1997 saw 25 children cast in the Guild’s 25th-anniversary production of THE MUSIC MAN. Many of these young people had come up through the ranks in the children’s theatre program. Most notable were Kristin Clinton, Addie Cox, Elisabeth McGinnis, Joe Schenck, and Lauren Whalen, each of whom had appeared in the 1st children’s play WINNIE THE POOH (1991).
The children’s theatre program reached new heights in February 1998, with the huge production of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Director Laurie McCoy elected to cast every one of the children who tried out for the show with a final cast of 78 young people. Twenty played characters from the story and the rest portrayed Oompa Loompas and took part in choreographed production numbers. The house for the 6-performance run totaled 2330, which broke the Guild’s all-time attendance record for a six-show production set by THE ODD COUPLE back in 1983.
Many of the young people who came up through these programs have also been featured performers in plays in most of the area grade schools, junior high schools, and at Jacksonville, Routt, and Triopia High Schools.
The future of the children’s theatre program looks bright as the Board of Directors has included 2 children’s plays, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, and a return engagement of THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER for its 1998-1999 season.
Back in 1996 – 1997 school year, two Washington teachers brainstormed a way to give both of our classes a chance to perform on a real stage, in a real theatre, with costumes and lights. The number of opportunities to perform at all had grown smaller through the years, and we felt that was sad, especially since 4th grade was a benchmark year for the Fine Arts in our Illinois Schools State Standards. So, Mrs. Carol Kilver and I decided that we would try to provide that “let’s put on a play” experience for our children.
Having been associated with the Jacksonville Theatre Guild for many years, I approached the Board about use of the Sophie Leschin Theatre for a performance. After discussing the what, where, and when, they graciously allowed us to forge ahead allowing us to begin organizing what became a very popular event.
We introduced the music, taught them stage directions and blocking, and held auditions to make our decisions on casting which helped them understand the expectations directors have for this part of the process. We begged, borrowed, or made costumes, but later decided to do a Santa’s Workshop, selling our handmade Christmas items to Washington students to pay for rental of some costumes. What fun!
Mrs. Kilver moved on and Casey Willis agreed to be my new partner in continuing the event, and I thank them both for joining me in this endeavor. There are so many others to thank for helping make these memories. Eric Thomas was my go-to guy for help when needed. Steve Varble showed us how to make a set with “0” dollars, and we were allowed to use a couple of the beautiful sets he created for JTG shows.
All 4th graders in the district were invited to the afternoon show, while families and friends came to cheer us on that evening. It was exhausting and WONDERFUL! We presented 10 years of Washington 4th Grade shows, and I will be forever grateful to the Jacksonville Theatre Guild for allowing us to use the facility that helped us ignite in our students an interest in the and a love of theatre. – Linda Van Aken
