AN ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORY, ORGMIZATION, FIN'ANCIQQG, AND OPERATlON OF THE COMMUNITY THEATRES 3N MICHIGAN Thesis for flu Degm of M. A. . MICHlfiAN STATE COLLEGE Jane Maginn Goodaie 1950 kneels, . \ -MWmmmnmmmmmmmnu 3 1293 00795 8436 This is to certifg that the thesis entitled "gm Analysis 07 the 'l r: '3' /\M--' ’Ajwwr‘rf‘t‘Ifi: fir; 3‘- -: fir» _\.: e. v- ) m;.l_u(~ U.~l-.,.L, ... fl. u-‘I -'— —. ‘-I—.t (.‘A ~ ~ at A 2‘ ' . ElgfiuCLU5, find Oper u on 0: pkg Commvnltf mlw 'fi.'.. .. ‘-'. 1‘. Nb (1 LAG uses 11 thlegn." presented bg Jane Hafiinn Goodale has been accepted towards fulfillment l of the requirements for } 495;; degree in #141223};— WZ/W Major professor Date July 211 1950 0-169 I‘ o I I l’IIl Earfu . I . - I u I I .. . c DI . I\ . . . . I . . I .. I . I . _ I II I . . .. . l , . . . u I I I, . . I V I I _ I V . .n V \ IAII I .II .I I . .I I .. . I, . I I I .I . . I .I z: . I . . I II «.0 5 I. . . I ... I . I I. . 1. .I I . . I l I. n ‘ c v. I . .w e 4 I u ‘g \ I l I I . . II x I . I J I .k . I . .I . r I. I I . .s I. . . . . . . I I 9 . . I V‘/. .5. . I . . , . ~ I . II. I r! I I ..I ~ I I I . I II. . f . .. . _ a . v I I / I I I It‘s. I .. I . J l Iv . . I . . z I I Ir I I I 2 . I . . f . I I I I I . II .I .I . I L ~ I . 4 .. I . I s I I I I. I I r I \ I I I 4 II . I . . . A . . I I . . . I \ . e . t. I I K I I .. . e l. I . _ H I. . s vII\ . , . I . “I I III I .I. I . .II . , I. . . . I. i . - II. I . u v OI ,I I A Q I I I I . I .I . I v. - .. _ - . x .. , 3.. .. .. e . p l a I I I . I I I . I I I I . r . . . l‘ . a s I I .. . . . I ~ I“ I .I I . I . . v I . .. I I I . re, . I . I , . . . . .. e I I ‘ n I \ I .. . s. . I . I I. b I I. . I. ... I I . . I . I I . I I x, I ‘ ‘V I\ —- .I I ( .‘vc I . I. . . . I h c ‘ § \ . I _ I4 I . ... . e u . I l I, I I . I u II o I I I . 5 .2. III. I. I .I I I I . __. I . I 1. I. I . .V . I .I I . . a . . I . \ I . y . J) . oIrH.I.I I I I I .I . .I y. \ . I . . III. .1 . I _ . I .I .II . I I . . . \ . a fi . 1 I I C _ It; I. . II.\ It I. I. I“ .J .....~ I . d I. .I. C we a. \ I. . “I . I r. I A. . . n I I o. I I . I I . .n . I r I 4 I I . I. T. I _ I. J A I o I I. i w .. I . .. I I \. .I I II I. I I . I . V , . a I _. . . , 4 I I . . \al‘ktfi—‘QI I‘d/.v.‘ . . I.. .' IIII..L. . x . J . . i A I. l ‘ ' 3‘ 1.1%.»: II All..P,-l-.‘Ithn .r"(l‘p‘|§u.u\o¥.‘o).‘ .o. 4 III I. v p\tn.l lIIIh‘ I AN ANALYSIS or THE HISTORY, ORGANIZATION, FINANCING, AND OPERATION or THE comm THEATRES IN MICHIGAN By Jane neginn Goiddale A msm Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of IAS‘ER OF ARTS Department of Speech, Drenetice, and Radio Education 1950 wok; bl. ,. A ‘ 4- 7'. THESIS ACKNOWLE MENTS I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Pro-- ressor Donald 0. Buell, Director or Dramatics at Michigan State College, without whose sympathetic understanding, assistance, and guidanoh, this thesis would not have been written. I also wish to thank Dr. Wilson B. Paul, Head or the Departhent or Speech, Dranatios, and Radio Education, for his co-operation in securing the intonation for this study. acknowledgment is also due Dr. Donald Hayworth and Stuart u. Chenoweth, who were members of this thesis con- nittee, for their aid in forming the questionnaire and for their many helpful suggestions in writing this thesis. To Mr. Jackson Towns of the Michigan State College Library and to Dr. Herman r. Carver, the Business manager or the Kalamazoo civic Players, I also wish to extend my thanks for their advice on the current civic theatre activ- ity in.nichigan. I also wish to thank Dr. Willial.T. Babe of the Detroit irree Bros; for his aid in publicizing the project and thereby arousing interest in this study. 1 also would like to extend.ly thanks to my father, Ir. Donald naginn, for the questionnaire which he printed for this study. And finally, i wish to extend my sincere appreciation to my husband, Richard, for sharing my household duties, thus making the preparation on this study possible. 3395308 DEDICATION To those pioneer theatre enthusiasts who have kept the footlights burning in the civic theatres in nichigan over the past twenty years, this thesis is respectfully dedicated. . ., . .-' ..-- x as: . ' gt. 3:; 9'“ 9‘5 ,1." A I E‘IJ“ C ‘11.. 3..“ \ ”4" V w ‘ ‘ ‘ I ‘ 1‘ h , ._ '. . f. .N ft . (a 3 if. Ed“)! {.3}: #1.”..‘1. i ‘8‘" 9 "Hi5 amt use; TABLE OF CON'ENTS E?“ BA «CK OF 5% C" PA‘ “‘R CHAP'ER I. INTRODUCTION TO THE CIVIC THEATRES IN MICHIGAN 1 II. AN ANALYSIS OF THE CIVIC THEATRES SERVING COM- MUNITIES OF 'IEN THOUSAND OR 1.1288 '7 Allegan Community Players 9 Plymouth Theatre Guild 13 clinton.Players 17 lawns Community.Players 21 .Iarshall civic Players.Association 24 III. AN ANALYSIS OF THE CIVIC THEATRES SERVING CON- MUNITIES OF TEN THOUSAND T0 FIFTY THOUSAND 27 Bay City Players 31 Village Players of Birmingham 35 Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club 39 iiidland Little Theatrd club 41 Ridgedale Players 46 St. Dunstan's Guild of cranbrook 48 Escanaba civic Theatre 55 Greater muskegon civic Theatre association 5? Ann Arbor civic Theatre 61 Port Huron civic Players 64 IV. AN ANALYSIS OF THE CIVIC THEATRES SERVING COM- IUNITES OF FIFTY THOUSAND TO DIE HUNDRED SEVEN”- I'IVE THOUSAND 5'7 Battle Creek civic Theatre 70 Grand Rapids civic Theatre 75 Players Guild of Dearborn Flint community Players Kalamazoo Civic Players Lansing Civic Players Saginaw Players BIBLIOGRAPE! APPENDIX A APPENDIX 13 APPENDIX C APPENDIX D iv 82 93 97 102 105 105 109 113 CHAPTER I INTRDNCTION ‘10 THE CIVIC THEATRES IN MICHIGAN This study is an analysis of the organization, fin- ancing, and operation of the community theatres in Michigan. Through investigation of all possible sources such as stud- ents, Chambers of Commerce,_and others, thirtyacne community theatres were found in Michigan. This number excluded the theatre groups which are located in the City of Detroit. This limitation was set by the fact that the metropolitan Detroit theatres have all ready been covered in a graduate thesis in a sister university; consequently, the community theatres used in this thesis are out-state theatres. Each of these thirty-one community theatre groups was sent a card requesting cooperation in this study. Twentyb nine groups responded. These twentybnine groups were sent the questionnaire. or these twenty-nine, twenty-two responded. those groups who returned the answered questionnaire Allegan Community Players Ann Arbor Civic Theatre‘ Battle Creek Civic Theatre- Bay City Players Clinton Players Escanaba Civic Theatre Flint Community Players, Incorporated Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Greater Muskegon Civic Theatre, Incorporated Kalamazoo Civic Players Lansing Civic Players Guild Marshall Civic Players Midland Little Theatre Guild Players Guild of Dearborn Port Huron Civic Players Ridgedale Players Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club Saginaw Players St. Dunstan's Guild of Cranbrock Theatre Guild of Plymouth Tawas Community Players Village Players of Birmingham Those groups who received a questionnaire, but did not return it were: Allied Arts Guild of Dowagiac Grosse Pointe Theatre, Incorporated Jackson ‘meatre Guild llcnroe Community Players Master Players of Pontiac Twin City Players, Incorporated Village Players of Lowell The two theatres which are active and which did not respond to the first invitation to Join this group were the: miles Civic Players The Islanders cf Grosse Ills, michigan The questionnaire method was used in this analysis and since many of the people in the groups are busy and have their on occupations, securing the information which was needed was difficult. In some cases, the information was not clear or the group did not choose to give the facts. for purposes of classification the twenty community theatres have been divided into three groups: Group I, those who are serving communities with a population of ten thousand or less; Group II, those who are serving communi- ties with pcpulaticns ranging from ten thousand to fifty thousand; Group III, those serving communities with populat- ions ranging from fifty thousand to one hundred seventy- five thousand. A comparison of the three groups shows many inter- esting differences and similarities; however, in almost every instance there are exceptions to any comparison. nxcepting for the Allegan Players, the theatres in Group I have all been organized since 1948; whereas in Group II excepting for the Port Huron Civic Players, all of the groups were organized by 1937; and the youngest theatre v. o . r‘ f a s . . a .. . 6 . _ . a} a ve . ~ . . . I . _ v a . ex - - ‘ . v . . l . .. u o . . _ . . .- I s e c a. . n a, . . ., . ‘ r U .3. . Q! n. . O . v a . . as U v m . . . - 0 1 q I. v a . l ‘\ . i . . .4 I‘ u . . .e . . f .. r . - I. P k .l r a a- x e w y . .. a a ... t.- I .1 . _. . . Oi 4 in Group III was organized in 1932. Therefore the groups serving the largest communities are the oldest groups as a rule. analysis of the hoard of Directors reveals that Group I has an average of eight members per Board; Group II has an average of nine on the board; and there is an average of eleven members on the board of Directors in Group III. In the problem.of casting the plays, there are two policies followed: either to choose solely from.the Iblh bers or to choose from.the members and the community at large. With the exception of one theatre in Group I and one in Group III, the casts are chosen from.the community at large. In Group 11 however, which serves communities of ten thousand to fifty thousand, over half of the theatres restrict their tryouts to members only. These groups are in the districts where the theatre meets a social as well as a civic need. over half of the theatres in Group III have salaried directors; whereas, only one third of the theatres have salaried directors in.Group II, and only two fifths have them in Group I. Although the tendency is toward salaried directors, several of the groups have both paid and volume tary directors working on their productions. The average seating capacities of the auditoriums which house these groups is larger in Group III than in the other groups; however, the difference is reversed in the first two groups. The average seating capacity in Group I theatres is 575 which is in contrast with Group II which only has an average seating capacity of 352. The seating capacity averages seven hundred in the Group III theatres. The larger theatres give an average of seven plays per season. This contrasts greatly with the three shows a season in Group II theatres, and the two shows a season which is the average for Group I. Only one of the theatre groups in Group I does not use any form.of music before their performances; however, in Group II half of the theatres do not use atmosphere music. All of the producing units in Group III use some form of music to precede their perfor- manees. .lany civic theatres have dramatic activities in ad- dition to their full evening performances. These activities take many forms such as children's theatre, one acts, solo or group readings, actor's Studio, and workshops. Only two of the theatres in Group I have additional activities. Only three of the theatres in Group 11 do not have these additional activities, whereas in Group III there is only one group who restricts its activities to full evening pore formances. ll e‘ Judging from the figures given for the box office, number of night runs, auditorium capacities, and number of plays per season, a rough estimate of the statewide com- munity theatre activities indicates some interesting facts. of the twenty producing groups participating in this study, there are approximately eighty-nine plays given each season. The tetal number of performances runs between three and four‘hundred. rhere are approximately fifteen thousand little theatre members in michigan, and each year approxi- mately thirty—six thousand people view the productions. In answer to the questions as to the type of play preferred by the communities, the response indicated that comedies are the favorite choice of the hichigan civic theatre audiences. Six of these groups produced the comedy John Loves lag during this 1949 season. rive of them chose another comedy loo Blind mice for one of their shows. An- other comedy, Str Bedfellows, was also a popular choice, with four groups presenting it to their audiences. In the summary of the plays listed in the appendix, of the eighty- nine plays given, sixty-four were comedies, four were melo- dramas, twelve were dramas, five were fantasies, and there were two each under the classification of musical, farce, and mystery. - U , m . u 0 -. ( a . . es . fix I a. s I. . rr. ‘ u u I I. . 1 t I W e . . v . n .. . ... .1 n q . . , c e I t . e\ .. 3 e _ . a. .l s, . | . . e _ . ex . I is I a CHAPTER II AN ANALYSIS on THE CIVIC mums SERVING ccmcnmms ' OF TEN THOUSAND on 1388 The theatres in this group serve communities with populations up to ten thousand. The oldest theatre is the Allegan Community Players who organized in 1922. There *was not another group organized until 1948 when the Clinton Players and the Plymouth Theatre Guild organized. The other two theatres in this group were organized in 1949. They were the Tawas community.rlayers and the.marshall civic Players.association. hone of these groups own their own theatres. They play in auditoriums which range in size from a seating capacity of 350 in the school auditorium.which 18‘i80d by the olinton Players up to the communitnyall which is used by the Tawas Community Players and seats five hundred, and to the marshall High School auditorium.which seats seven hundred; up to the largest, the Griswold Auditorium.which the Allegan Players use, which seats 750. The Plymouth Theatre Guild presents two evenings of one-acts each season. The Tawas Community Players and the Clinton Players give one show'each season. They have a two night run. The larshall.Civic Players Association and the Allegan Community.Players each give four productions II v . u s I . .. a . .. ,. . v e < a u. . r v . . . . . . I I — .N 44 u . . N p p on . r‘~ r a. I. . a , . -. he . . V. . v 1 . . l V .. . . x .. rl .\ . n... . . I V. . . . r, r: o .. N e . . t O s ;. w. 1. ,. . a . . 1 .p A. . A r n p H. » A“ a season with two night runs each. The Allegan Conunity Players and the Marshall civic Players Association both have salaried directors. The rest or the theatres use volunteer. directors. The Allegan cen- mnity Players also have a christnas pageant in addition to the full evening plays, and the clinton Players give one- acts and blackouts. They are the only groups with these additional activities, although the llarshall Civic Players Association anticipates one-act programs this coming season. All or the plays given by this group of theatres in the 1949 season were comedies with the exception of the nelodrana £521 Stree . All or the theatres slain that their comnities prefer comedies. The snaller eomity theatres, in many instances, are closely allied with the school systen. In several cases they were started as auxillary school aid groups. ALEEGAN COMMUNITY'PLAIERS The Allegan community Players were organized in 1922. This theatre was the twenty-fifth community theatre to be organized in the United States and only the third one to be organized in nichigan. at this time there were only eight other community theatre groups organized in the middle West.1 The group was initiated and inspired in its pioneering ven- ture by are. Abbie smith who is still the director and in- spiration for this amateur theatre. In the Fall of 1949, a cerenony was held in the Griswold auditoriun to unveil a bronze plaque dedicated to sure. Smith. The Players have a membership drive each year. Their season ticket holders are also considered members. During this 1949-1950 season, they had 325 season ticket holders. The season ticket sales give them a mailing list with which to keep contact with the regular members. There are ten members on the Board of Directors. They serve a term of three years. The officers are elected by the Board of Directors. The stage manager is also a member of the board. The theatre has a salaried full-tine director. The director has requested that assistants be trained to event- lAlbert noCleery and Carl Glick, curtains (301% (New York: Pitnan Publishing corporation, 1939), p. 335. I II 10 ually replace her; therefore, this year three apprentices were appointed. During the 1950 season, a new director will assist on each play. The director and the Board selects the plays and both parties also cast the plays from the community at large. The Players use the city-owned Griswold Auditorium which seats 750. The stage is twenty-eight feet by eighteen feet. They do not have a fly loft; however, they do have twenty sets of lines. Their lighting facilities include a switchboard, nine spots, footlights, two border strips, dim- mers, and two bunch lights. Their workshop is twelve feet by eighteen feet. There are two dressing rooms and a make-up room a t the Player's disposal. They have prop rooms and an attic for other storage space. Their costumes are made, rent- ed, and solicited. They construct all of their own scenery. Their season usually consists of two comedies, a farce, and a mystery; however, the community seemed to enjoy comedy so the Players produced all comedies as an experiment. The audience reaction was that it was too much, therefore, the Players expect to return to the former variety of fare. Their season opened with John Loves Ma_rz in October, followed by What A Life in November. The Late Christopher Bean was the rebruary offering. The season closed in march with Two Blind E133. Their plays have a two night run and one matinee. EB Blind nice was the most popular production according to a {I} statement from the group. The Players usually use recorded music before the per- formances. The promotion is by newspapers, radio, posters, and personal letters. They also put displays in the store 'windcws, perform stunts on the main street, and send letters to clubs. A Christmas pageant is given each year in addition to the full evening plays. There are about twentyafour rehearsals for each play. The early rehearsals are held in a room.in the Legion Ball. All dress rehearsals are held on stage. There are three or four membership meetings each year with occasional speakers on the theatre. Parties are given after the clos- ing night of each play. The financial statement for the Players for the 1948-1949 season is as Production costs Scenery . . . Costumes. . . Properties. . Advertising . Office. . . . Rehearsals. . Salaries. . . Royalties . . Books . . . . Income henbe rships . Tax collected Miscellaneous eeeee OBOOIPCe Current Assets Cash.......... Fixed Assets Inventory....... Allegan Comnity follows: .3 50.00 .' 6.9a . 107.95 . 249.49 . 52.56 . 215.00 . 500.00 . 255.00 . 59.75 3 1,794.76 .$ 921.00 .‘ 455.94 . 5.00 e 1,561.94 .$ 727 .10 3 727 .10 .3 5,000.00 e 5,000.00 al .'-‘ ' a .~. . . . . -4». " I r ‘ x , . I \ .. . r ‘ ’ 0-4" ‘ r' '~. 0" - I P" . a. _. . . I . 1.1 e“ ‘. \ I 4‘.ap -4 0 '.~" ...~.---..o~.~s~ . h _- . -- ’ .-.... .l‘ - ‘1.- - —-- e <.;—u . o . A _ ' I ‘ O . 9- —. "M. . 4‘ ~ - ”I \ . ‘ 1 we- . - ‘ | ' t . I . w ‘ r' \ ,e \ -_‘ G _ .. v ' I -_ O O " f . x'_-v ' A V e‘ ' . ‘0 n . I - . .- . f‘ . A “ 5" l l r. . a e I . _. . 15 PLwUTH THEATRE GUILD The Plymouth Theatre Guild was organized in March, 1948. The membership for the first year was thirty-four. Each year a membership drive is held. The Active member- ship still numbers thirty-four. The dues for this member- ship are three dollars a year. There are two honorary members plus any clergyman in the city who is interested in theatre art. The Board of Directors consists of nine members. Five of the. members serve one year and four of the members serve two years. The officers are elected by the Board. There are several voluntary directors who handle the productions. The Board selects the directors. The director does not select the plays. This is done by the Script Committee combined with the casting Committee. The roles are cast entirely from the membership unless this is impossible, then the try-outs are open to the community at large. This group did not give a description of the theatre plant which they use. They don't make their costumes. They are either rented or solicited; however, they do con- struct all of their own scenery. The 1949 season consisted of two one-acts: The Last 321-359. and Love In A Cupboard. The first was given in 14 January and the last, in March. Their plays only run for one night. They usually use either recorded music or piano music before their performances. Their publicity is by newspapers, and posters. Their rehearsals are held wherever space is available. The number of rehearsals varies, but they at- tempt to hold at least one or two a week at first and more frequently toward the production date . They have nine membership meetings and occasionally have speakers on theatri- cal topics. one membership party is held each year. 16 Following is the financial statement for the Ply- mouth Theatre euild for the 1948-1949 season: Production cost Costumes. . . . Properties. . . noyalties . . . Books . . . . . lncome Iembe rships . . miscellaneous . 011131301115 A8881?! Cash...... .5 4.85 . 4.59 . 5.00 . 10.20 $ 24.44 .5 102.00 . 20.76 3 122.76 .5 44.47 t 44.47 1’7 CLINTON PLAYERS The Clinton Players were founded in November, 1948. It was organized originally to raise money for the high school stage under the auspices of the P.T.A., and was entirely a service organization for the community. sixty per cent of the profits went to the Commnity Recreation fund. The remaining forty per cent is used for maintain- ing the organization. The Players do not have a membership drive. new members are invited to Join only when they are needed for east or staff. The Active members pay on dollar member- ship dues per year. There are forty of these members who take turns as actors or stage crew. There are seven members on the Board of Directors. There are the four officers, the director, the stage man- ager, and the business manager. The members of the Board of Directors serve terms of one year. The president is the only one who cannot be re-elected. The officers are elected by the membership at large and have the responsibility for the social side, which includes the meetings, parties, and personnel. The production is handled entirely by the dir- actor. One full-time voluntary director is elected by the membership. This is really a permanent post and he is 18 chosen.on the basis of training and experience. The plays are selected by the recommendation of the Board and a vote of approval by the membership. There is usually a choice of two. The try-outs are held before the Board; however, the casting is done by the director and his assistant. The theatre which the Clinton Players use is in the Clinton High School gymnasium, and has a seating capacity of 550. Their stage is twelve feet by twenty-four feet, 'with a very small backstage space. They have a switchboard, one spot, three sections of disappearing footlights, which. are wered in three circuits, and one twenty feet border light strip. All of this electrical equipment plus complete rewiring and lighting of the auditorium, a set of flats, and some extra pieces were donated to the school from the earn- ings from.their first two plays. The scenery is constructed in the Vaughan Implement Shep after hours. School class rooms serve as dressing rooms and make-up room. They store their props and other articles in the school, some in‘a member's barn, and the rest they usually borrow each time. They try to solicit most of their costumes; however, from time to time, they do make or rent costumes. A.psychological comedy.arsenic and Old Lace was the only show produced in the 1949 season. This was produced in February, 1950. Besides their three act plays, the 19 Players also present one-acts and blackouts. About half of their rehearsals are held on stage and about half are held in the school annex. There are four membership meetings a year and two parties are given after the play which has a two night run. 20 Following is the financial statement supplied by the Clinton Players for the 1948-1949 season: Production costs Scenery e e e e e costumes. . . Electric. . . Advertising . Royalties . . Books . . . . Baby-sitters. Fixed Assets Set furnishings . lake-up equipment .3 -$ 65.00 15.00 10.00 2.00 150.00 30.00 30.00 $ 502.00 300.00 1519.9. $ 515.00 21 TAWAS COMMON HY PLAYERS The tawas Commity Players was organized in July, 1949. There were twenty-five charter members. Their first and only production was a comedy, The Madhatters. They plan to produce about three plays a season. They do not have a membership drive. They use per- sonal contact and a mailing list to gain new members. There are twenty-five Pull members who pay two dollars a year in dues. There are seven members on their Board of Directors, each chosen for a term of one year. The officers are elect- ed by the membership at large. The Board also selects the director for the play from the volunteers. The Board of Directors selects the plays; however, the casting is by a casting Committee which includes the director. The Tawas Commity Players serve two communities: Bast Tawas and Tawas City, so they have two theatres for their use. The Tawas City High School and the comunity hall in East Tawas each have a seating capacity of five hundred. The Tawas City High school has a thirty-six foot by twenty feet stage, a switchboard with five outlets, and two dressing rooms. The facilities at the East Tawas com- munity hall include a fifteen foot by fifteen foot stage, a switchboard with two outlets, footlights, and one dress- 22 ing room. The Players own four spots. The performances are preceded by piano music. The eighteen rehearsals are held over a period of six weeks. They are all held on stage. There are twelve business meetings a year and a party for the club and their husbands and wives after the last performance, of their two night run. many of the operational policies of this group are still in their formative stage and have not been tested thoroughly. 23 following is the financial statement for the Tawas uomnity Players for the 1948-1949 season: Production costs Scenery . . . . . . Electric. . . . . . Advertising . . . . Royalties . . . . . BOOK'eeeeeee Wis Lighting equipment. IARSHALI. CIVIC PLAIERS ASSOCIATION The marshall Civic Players Association was organized in august, 1949. Their first production was a melodrama, gel Street. The only play given during the 1949 season was the comedy John Loves gag. The group eventually hopes to give four plays each season with two night runs. Their publicity is by means of newspapers, radio, posters, and personal letters. There are nine members on their Board of Directors, who serve terms of three years. The officers are elected by the membership at large. The Board of Directors selects the director who is paid a set amount and a certain per cent of the net profits. The plays are selected by a Read- ing Committee and the casts are chosen by the director from the community at large . leach year they plan to have a membership drive. They now have 254 Charter members who pay annual dues of one dollar. There are approximately twenty Patrons who pay five dollars each year. After the drive in July, 1950, ' they will add negular members to the list at one dollar per year. The Association uses the Marshall High School audi- torium which seats seven hundred. Their lighting facilities include spots, footlights, border lights, and dimmers. There 25 are two dressing rooms. The costumes are rented or solicit- ed; however, they construct all of their own scenery. Piano.music is used before the performances. During the 1950 season the group hopes to add one-acts to its dram- atic activities. Their rehearsals are held in the work- shop excepting for the last four or five which are held on stage. II'here are five membership meetings a year; how- ever, there are no membership parties. 26 following is the financial statement supplied by the marshall Civic Players Association: groduction costs Costumes.......... Properties......... Ilectrie.......... Advertising........ 0ffiee........... Salaries.......... Royalties......... 300k.eeeeeeeeeee 1.2222. lemberships........ Contributions . . . . . . . Admissions. . . . . . . . . 881.8 advertising e e e e e Current Assets 0ash............ Fixed Assets Electrical equipment. . . . lake-up equipment . . . . . .5 71.05 . 122.20 . 15.75 . 72.55 . 5.95 . 455.01 . 150.00 . 21.50 s 925.90 .$ 854.00 . 125.00 . 1,520.00 . 155,00 5 1,352.00 .5 475.00 9 475 .00 .3 50.00 . ._J!Lé!i I - ’ I . - ... - ,- . . O s e I o e 0 o e m ' 1 ' a e e o O O O O O O U m l C O O O O O O O . , . r I O I O O 0 O O (.1, 0 1 O o m 0 m s 0 e e O 0 .. e e o e e 0 e e e 0» ~ . . e e e 0 e e O 0 O x." e e e m s e e m e e e , . r e lie-7..-. e s e e e O 0 e . . . 5 1‘ l 0 0 O O O 9 O -' t. e e e e s 0 e s 0‘ ‘-'~ J- . - L e 0 e e m . __ . . . u - ‘ m . - --‘ .-. e e e e e e e e 0 0 e s . u .. ... .- . . -. - - . c ,- e . - r . I “ ' pm 1 O I O 0 ~ _' . ,. . ’ " ‘3. CEAP‘ER III AN ANALYSIS 01' m CIVIC TEAMS SERVING COWHIES or m moosm 10 run THOUSAND ‘i'he civic theatres in the second group serve com- munities with populations ranging from ten thousand to fifty thousand. Bay City is the oldest theatre in this group, having organized in 1917. The Village Players of Birmingham followed in February of 1924. The next theatre to organize was the Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club in 1986. 1929 was the year in which the hidland Little Theatre Guild had its beginning. In 1952 there were two groups organ- ized, 8t. Dunetan's Guild of Cranbrook and the Ridgedale Players. The Croater mskegon Civic Theatre Association originated in 1935, but it was called the Little Theatre of Huskegon until this year, 1950. The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre was organized in 1957. The youngest theatre of this group is the Port Huron Civic Players who began in 1945. Among this group there are three who own their own theatres: the Ridgedale Players, who can seat three hund- red people in their theatre; the Greater lustegon Civic Theatre Association, who are Just this year rebuilding an old church into a theatre whose seating capacity is not yet determined; and the Village Players of Birmingham, whose playhouse has a seating capacity of 2.15. Per the remaining l v l u- A g 1 \ b ‘, C ' o . . . - Q . . '< a - . , , . ‘ ’t ' 28 groups, the rented theatres range in size from the nidland Civic Theatre Guild's Post Theatre which seats eighty with folding chairs, through the rebuilt pavilion which St. Dun- stan's Guild of Cranbrooh uses and which has a seating capa- cityef 255; through the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre whose theatre seats 692; through the seating capacity of four hundred which is in the theatre used by the Port Huron Civic Players; up to the public school auditoriums which the Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club uses whose seating capacities range from four hundred to twelve hundred . The number of plays which are given each season for each theatre varies from the Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club which gives two plays per season with two night runs; through the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, which gives three plays a sea- son with twe night runs, through the mskegon Civic Theatre which gives four plays a season with two night runs; the Village Players of Birmingham and the Port Huron Civic Theatre who each give four or five plays which run for three or four nights. The Ridgedale Players and the Midland Little Theatre Guild both give four plays; however, their plays run for five nights each. The Bay City Players have three night runs for their season of five plays; whereas St. Dunatsn's Guild of Cranbrooh also gives five plays a season, but has four night runs. . The organization of these theatres has some major 29 differences. The organization of the Board of Directors varies. The Board of Directors of the Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club has seven members who serve terms of one year. The Greater Inshegon Civic Theatre Association and St. Dun- stan's Guild of Cranbrooh each have eight members on the Board of Directors who serve terms of two years. The Vill- age Players of Birmingham also have only eight members on their Board, whose ternm are split into three groups: one, serving one year; one, serving three years; and six who serve two year terms. The lidland Little Theatre Guild elects nine members to their Board for one year terms; the Ridgedale Players use ten members on their Board who serve two years; the Bay City Players have eleven members who serve three year terms. There are two groups in the twelve Board member bracket. They are the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre whose members serve three year terms, and the Port Enron Civic Players whose members serve terms of two years. The directing of the productions in this group is done to a great extent by voluntary directors. The Bay City Players, the midland.Little Theatre Guild, the Ann Arbor Civic Players, the Village Players of Birmingham, the Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club, and the Port Huron Civic Theatre all use voluntary directors which are approved by the Board of Directors. The Greater.nuskegon Civic Theatre Associat- ion also uses voluntary directors; however, they are paid I . ‘J . . A . , . A A . \ .. Au. . 1 . y . _ . . Al I . . ‘ a a I . . a . 1 . ‘.1v 4 . f . . l V . F ,L .. r A u . . y _ m s 1 c a .14 . . . . v . . I . , . A n a a , . _ ' m . .. — I . s. a c .. f O t. . . v I nu‘H .- . . . , i n v n I . . . . a c . y . _ O a u . . . x. n . h . ...s , . .w , r . . _ a— t - . . . ‘ . w e. _ ‘. r t . ‘ . t u . o . ... . . v u . ‘ . I l c v .u t .. _ A _ . A . . . A . . . . t . L _ v . a . . . t o . . 1 Y I. . w . ,U\ I l D . o . . . ‘ r : u A m u A .., _ . . ‘ f . 1 ~ .. .1 . a . , . Os . . O . . A ; < _ , . e. 4! . . . . . r L . . _ . r . . r . _ . . . A. .. v s . .I. . . . at . . en . . l . . . . . . Aq . . ‘ o, Vv, I a V ’ . ~ . : 30 a fee of fifty dollars for each show. St. Dunstan's Guild of Cranbrook has one salaried part-time director who directs three of. their five shows each season while the voluntary directors supervise the other two. The Ridgedale Players also have a system much like this. Their salaried part- time director produces two shows and their voluntary dir- ectors produce two shows. Most of the groups produced a variety of fare for their audiences; however, the Ridgedale Players and the Village Players of Birmingham had straight comedy for the 1949 season. Two groups, ann Arbor Civic Theatre and the midland Little Theatre Guild, had no comedies on their bill of productions. 0f the thirty-six productions given by this group of theatres, fifty per cent were comedies, about 1'7 per cent were dramas, and the other 35 per cent was divided equally among melodramas, mysteries, farces, and serious plays. I) 51 BAY CITY PLAYERS As was mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, the Bay City Players are the oldest producing group, not only of the groups discussed in this chapter, but they are the oldest producing group in Michigan. mrs. DJ. Grinnell organized the Players in 1917. The Players augment their group with a membership drive which is held each year. These members are divided into two groups: the Associate membership, which pays a fee of $5.50'cach season; and the Active membership, which has annual dues of five dollars. In the 1949 season, their membership totaled six hundred persons. The Board of Directors consists of eleven members, who serve terms of three years. The officers serve on the Board and are elected by the membership. some of the functions of this board will be discussed in connection with other topics. The Board of Directors selects from the membership the director for each play. The Reading Committee submits a list of plays to the Board of Directors, and they select the plays for the season and assign a director for each play. This director may then cast his play from the com- munity at large; however, if a non-member is cast, he is expected to become a member, which means that he must buy 32 either a single admission ticket or a season ticket in ad- dition to paying the membership fee. The Bay City Players rent the consistory auditorium for their productions. The stage is twentyhseven feet by fortybfive feet with a prosoenium.arch which is thirtyathree feet wide, eighteen feet high, and has a curtain rising fifteen feet. The fly loft is thirtyanine feet high. The lighting facilities consist of a switchboard, spots, foot- lights, border lights, and dimmers. The workshop is located in the backstage area and also serves as storage space, ex- cepting for the costumes. These are stored in a member's third floor ballroom. They make or solicit their costumes and construct all of their own scenery. They have one dressing room which is unusually large as well as an ex- ceptionally'well-equipped.make-up room. The Players offer a diversified season to their mem- bership. Their 1949 season opened with a serious comedy, I Like It Here which was produced in October. Their nov- ember offering was‘Ladies Infigetirement, a psychological ,melodrama. The Ins ctor Calls, a serious drama-fantasy ‘was produced in february, followed by two comedies: Thg_ trench Touch in march, and gee How T111313; in april. The Players gave a sixth play after their season closed. This ‘wes the comedy, gee Blind.mioe which was produced in the Washington Theatre as a benefit for their building fund. ..¢ 0 . g-‘ rs; w e--. 55 It was the most popular play of their season. The group stated in the questionnaire that the community prefers comedy. Their plays had a three night run; however, during the 1950 season they plan to run only two nights. Formerly organ music preceded the performances, but beginning with the 1949 season, they have not used music in this capacity. Thirty rehearsals are held for each play. All of the early rehearsals are held in a rented hall. The dress rehearsals are held on stage. rive membership parties are held each year, but no membership meetings are held. The financial statement the 1948-1949 season follows: Production costs Scenery and properties. Costumes........ Advertising . . . . . . Rehearsals. . . . . . . Royalties . . . . . . . 500k, 0 O O O O O O O 0 Income “emberShipB e e e e e e I Current assets Cash.......... for the 34 Bay City Players for .5 545.50 . 50.21 . 555.47 . 200.54 . 440.00 - .222§2. e 1,004.51 .5 700.00 5 700.00 «gamma 5 4,251.00 4.!" _ .s— \.. «s 35 vILLACE PLAYERS OF BIRMINGHAM The village Players of Birmingham.were organized in February, 1924. They are unique among theatres in that the plays are given solely for members and their guests. This group does not conduct a membership drive, but it opens its rolls for new members each spring. There are two hundred and fortyaone active.members who pay an init- iation fee of fifty dollars and annual dues of fifteen dollars. The twentyanine Associate members must also pay an initiation fee of fifty dollars and twenty-five dollars for annual dues. The group has sixteen members who are Junior.nembers. These members must be twentyaone. They pay an initiation fee of twentybfive dollars which is later applied toward the active fee when they reach the age of twentyaeight. The annual dues for this group is $7.50. The ten Life lembers of the Players pay no fees, are eligible only after twentybfive years with the Players, and have no voting privileges. The four.honorary'members are elective and do not have to pay dues. There is only one member who holds a Senior Iembership. To obtain this type of member- ship, one.must have been assooiated with the Players for twentybfive years. The annual dues are five dollars and there are voting privileges. The Board of Directors consists of a president, sec- 56 rotary, treasurer, and four directors. The By-laws specify that, excepting for the offices of president and treasurer, the sexes must be equally represented at all times. The president is elected for one year by the membership; whereas, the treasurer who also is elected by the mmbership, serves three years. The vice president and secretary are both elected by the Board, and, along with the other-Board members, serve terms of two years. The Players use several voluntary directors. This is a highly competitive assignment among the members; however, new talent is welcomed and encouraged. The dir- ector is chosen for his capability and availability and may direct only one play each season. The plays are select- ed by a Program Committee and approved by the Board of Dir- ectors, whereupon the Board of Directors casts each play from the membership. The Village Players own their own theatre which has a seating capacity of 250; however, a limit of 215 is im- posed by the Pire Department. Information as to the size of their stage was not given, except that the theatre has a fifteen foot fly left. her was information furnished on their lighting facilities. They do have a workshop plus ample storage facilities. The storage facilities are not complete; however, they are constantly being improved. They have one make-up room in addition to the three dressing 57 rooms. The costumes are made, rented, and solicited. The scenery is constructed entirely by the members. The publi- city for each production is by newspapers, posters, mimo- graphed letters, and printed cards. The 1949 season for the village Players was comprised entirely of comedies. The first offering was Time For Elizabeth in October. In November an evening of one-acts was presented, including: 01d Lad 51, The Twelve-Pound 139;, and Hands Across The Sea. A special adaptation of A liracle On 54th Street was presented for their special Christmas program. The last four comedies were The Late Christopher Been in January, But let Goodbye in February, Mlind nice in larch, and The Iowa in April. The group stated that The Nonmn was the most popular play during this season. The plays had a three to four night run during their seven month season; however, the evening of one-acts and the special Christmas play have one night runs. The fifteen to twenty-four rehearsals are held on stage, the schedules being arranged to give scenic and stage crews two evenings a week for their work. Bxcepting for occasional specialmeetings, the Players have only one membership meting each year. Four to six membership parties are held during the year. These include an annual keno party, an opening tea, a Christmas party, a picnic, and several dances . mv‘ - . e r. ‘ . . . m k f . 7....- ~-o, - 4 » \r . - .L . . ..-v O-~ . ‘ _ . n ' J . - .. , fl . ’1 ‘ . you - a . - .. , . ~ - g '5‘.» . . . 7 . - a fi ‘ 'l .D — -4,“ I 1 A -_ ‘~ I. r n . 4 ' ' .- - , ‘b . —- 4 , U. sa- - -0. e v . a — -~ _, . - . - - . A . - 4. I‘ 38 Following is the financial statement for the Village Players of Birmingham for the 1948-1949 season: gladuction cost; Scenery . . . . . Costume. . . . . Properties. . . . Utilities . . . . Advertising . . . Office (accountant) Royalties . . . . Books, printing . 92-2 lembership dues . Initiation fees . Guest fees. . . . Miscellaneous . . Current Assets GQSheeeeeee Account s re ce ivable Fixed Assets Building and land . Equiwnt e e e e .5 431.70 . 306.59 . 111.48 . 349.03 . 120.00 . 330.00 . 525.00 . 1,124.00 * 3. 297.80 .5 4,525.00 . 1,925.00 . 2,749.00 . 555.00 .5 9,751.00 0* 1.243036 . 1,555.20 5 2,005.55 0‘32, 022 .04 o._§.éééaZ§L $57,455.02 30 ROYAL CAI CIVIC MATE! CLUB The Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club was organized in 1920. Although the information on this group is very in- complete, the following description does give a partial picture of this group. A.membership drive is held each year. The Club has only one classification of members. This is an Active Membership of which there are sixty members, who pay annual dues of two dollars. The Board of Directors consists of seven.members. These members serve terms of one year each. The member- ship elects the officers ef the Board. The directing is done by one voluntary director who is elected by the membership. The Play Committee selects the plays, then the director casts his play entirely from the membership. The productions are given in high school auditoriums whose seating capacities range from four hundred to twelve hundred. There is no description available of the various stages. Although the Club has no shop, they do construct all of their own scenery. The basement of the City Library serves as storage space for props, sound effects, and other articles. All of the costumes are rented. The Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club gives two or three 40 full evening plays during the nine month year. These plays have a two night run. The season opened in October with a comedy which, according to their report, was the best- 1ihed play of the 1949 season. The closing production was The Bride Regrets, given in April for a two night run and again in June for a one night stand. Recorded music is used before the performances. In addition to these full length plays, the Club also presents a three to six one- act season. All of the productions are promoted by news- papers, radio, posters, and personal letters. Tienty rehearsals are held. All rehearsals up to the dress rehearsals are held in homes of the members. The dress rehearsals are held on stage. The Club holds nine membership meetings each year. Occasional speakers on theatrical topics are invited to these meetings. There are three membership parties each 7981‘- No financial information was furnished by this group. 41 MIDLAND LITTIE THEATRE GUED The lidland.Little Theatre Guild was organized in 1929. The first play to be presented was The Goose Hangs gggg. Because of the war, the Guild was inactive from.the 1941 season until the 1944 season. The Guild has a.membership drive in the Fall; howb ever, the membership is limited because of the size of the present building. At present, there are 260 Sustaining lembers who pay annual dues of four dollars and who need not participate in the production of plays. There are 140 Active Members who pay an annual fee of two dollars and who usually help with at least two plays during the season. 'Eelping' means anything from.directing to sell- ing refreshments between acts. ' The Board of Directors consists of nine members: a president, vice president, recording secretary, corres- ponding secretary, treasurer, and four directors. The officers are elected by the membership at large and serve terms of one year, while the directors each serve two years in staggered terms. The Guild uses several voluntary directors who have had.some experience and success and who also are willing to do the Job. One-act plays provide possible future three- act P157 directors. The plays are selected by a Play Road- 42 ing Committee. The casting is entirely from the membership and is done by the director of the particular play which is being cast, and by the Casting Comittee. The Post Theatre which the Guild uses has a seating capacity of eighty. The stage is seventeen and a half feet by fifteen feet deep with a proscenium arch height of seven and a half feet. They do not have a fly left, but they do have a makeshift grid and sufficient headroom to use twelve foot flats. There are twelve pairs of lines for light bat- tens, cyclorama battens, etc. Their lighting facilities include a homemade switchboard, three baby spots, footlights, two border lights, three 'Variac' dimmers, and two small flood lights. Construction is carried on in the auditorium and on stage when no rehearsals are scheduled. They have one four foot by eight foot dressing room, a make-up room of the same size, but very meagre storage space. They make and solicit their costumes. ' The Guild usually pre sents two comedies, one serious play, and one mystery each ten-month season. The 1948- 1949 season opened in the Fall with a farce, r time For he , which was followed by a mystery in December which was Elston at Greenfingers. A drama was offered in February, ThePetrified w. B1 he S irit, a comedy-fantasy, closedthe season in April. The last two productions were believed by the Guild to be the most popu- I. I. I. 43 lar plays for that season; however, the Guild also stated that the community does not prefer a special type of play as much as it prefers a play which is well-done. Recorded {music is usually used before the performances. The publi- city for each production is by personal letters only. In addition to the full evening plays, which have a five night run, the other dramatic activities are one-act plays which are presented by the Guild workshop. The twentyAfive rehearsals are held over a period of six weeks and are held on stage. An annual business meeting is held and cast and production crew parties are held for each show. following is the financial statement for the mid- land Little Theatre Guild for the 1948-1949 season: Pieduction costs Scenery . . . . . Costumes. . . . . Properties. . . . Electric. . . . . Office. . . . . . Royalties . . . . BOOKCeeeeee M lemberships . . . Contributions . . Current assets Cash. e e e e e e Box Office Change Program ads, coke fixed Asset; Set furnishings . llectrical equipment. . . . . make-up equipment . . . . . . sales, etc. .5 120.00 15.00 50.00 25.00 15.00 500.00 60.00 5 585 .00 .5 1,500.00 .3 .5 100 . 00 100.00 350 .00 ecu-m. 3 650 . 00 100.00 100.00 15.00 e e a o e e a e ' a e e s- o e e e e e e :- e e e e e e e O I I O O O 0 e e e e C e e e - e e e a e C O O O O O C e e e e e O 0 O O O C O O I ’ . e O O I O O I 9 e o o e e 0 ' I. 45 Sound equipment . . . . . . . . .5 80.00 Boxoffice........... M 5 510.00 46 RIDGEDAEE PLAYERS The Ridgedale Players had their beginning in 1952. They started with twelve persons who met in homes to pro- duce plays for their own amusement. There is one charter member left in the group. The Players do not have a membership drive. all of their memberships come under the title of Full lember- ship. The annual dues for each member are ten dollars. The Players employ one salaried director. She dir- ects the first and last shows of the season. Several vol- untary directors are chosen by a committee to direct the other two plays. The director does not select or cast the plays. This is done by a committee who selects the plays and submits themhto the Board of Directors for approval. The casting is done by the same committee whose chairman is appointed by the Board. No casting is done outside of the membership. The Players own their own theatre which has a seat- ing capacity of 270 which may be increased to three hundred with folding chairs. The stage is twenty-four feet by fifteen feet and does not have a fly 10ft. Their lighting facilities include a switchboard, spots, footlights, border lights, and dimmers. There is no workshop, although they do construct their own scenery. Their storage space is in a 4'! small backstage area, therefore they have very few props which belong to them. Two dressing rooms are at their dis- posal. Four comedies were produced for the 1949 season of the Ridgedale Players. gar Love or money opened the sea- son on November seventeenth for a five-night run. £5233 2.952 was produced in January, followed by The Royal Family in llarch. This play was indicated as the favorite of the season. The Players stated that its success was due to the fact that four of their best actors played in the show. The last play was See How The; Run which closed the season in lay. Besides these full evening plays the group also presents several one-acts which are given at closed parties. They also have a children's theatre and give a variety show once a year. music is seldom used before the performance, but when it is used, it is in the form of recorded music. The eighteen rehearsals are held on stage over a period of six weeks. Their one membership meeting is strict- ly a business meeting for reports and it is usually very short with no entertainment. Four or five membership parties are held each year. The Board voted not to release the information for the financial statement; however, they did say that they sold nearly five thousand tickets at $1.80 each to their four shows . ST. DUNSTAH'S (WED 01' CRANBROOK St. Dunstan's Guild of Cranbrook was organized in .nay, 1952. The membership was limited to one hundred until after the war. The group during that time produced two major productions a year as well as three or four programs of one act plays. The first full length play which was given was Outward Bound. The Greek Theatre productions, then as now, were held outdoors in June and ranged from .nidsumnernlight's Dream.to The.nikado. As the Child is basically a club, it does not have a membership drive. The applicants are proposed by two members who have had a year's membership with the group. The lembership Committee and the Board then passes on the applicants. The membership is divided into three groups. The Active.iembership has 250 persons; however, this is to be raised to 275 this year. The Active members pay ten dollars for annual dues. The Junior.active membership is for persons aged twentybone to twentybfour. They pay five dollars a year. There are twelve Junior active members and they are included in the active membership count. The twentybthree Associate memberships pay twenty dollars a year in dues. There is no limit to the number of associate memberships. There are eight members on the Board of Directors. 49 The members are elected each.year on St. Dunstan's Day, .Iay nineteenth, and serve a term.of two years. Only half of the members of the Board are elected each year. After the election, the Board elects its own officers. A salaried Technical Director was appointed frdm the membership in the M11 of 1948. ac directs three of the productions while volunteers from.the membership do the others. The Board of Directors tries to choose .men for directors whenever possible. They must have had some experience in directing. The Technical Director and the Play Reading committee select the plays and the Board of Directors approve the selections. The casting is some- times done by try-outs, but more often by telephone. mem- here are used for roles as far as is possible, but occas- ionally for the June outdoor shew'it is necessary to tame others. The Guild does not own its theatre, but it uses a building on the cranbrook grounds which was originally a pavilion. It has a seating capacity of 235. The Guild has built a stage which is twentybnine feet wide by fortyb feet deep, into a large room.of the Pavilion. The ceiling is too low'to permit building a fly loft; however, they use twelve foot flats which Just fit under the steel beams sup- porting the curtains and lights. The group stated that their lighting is probably their weakest technical work at ‘ . I. e ’- ' O t ' A Q . I ’ 9 50 this time. it is adequate, but not overly effective. They have a rough approximation of a switchboard located in a booth at the rear of the auditorium. Their four spots are located on the wall in the auditorium. They occasionally use footlights, but usually the front, rear, and side strips and the spots furnish most of the light for their productions. They also are equipped with dimmers. The Guild members do their construction on stage; however, they do have some storage space in the basement of the building. This space is ten feet by twelve feet and only props and sound effects are stored here. The costumes are stored in another building not far from the Bavilion. The costumes are usually made, but if this isn't possible, they are rented. Except in rare cases, the costumes for period plays are rented. The season opened with the comedy, 0 Mistress nine in October, 1949. A drama, The Traitor, was the December offering by the Guild. Excursion, a serious comedy, and the melodrama, Broad , were the next two productions. The season closed with a drama, Family Portrait, in the Spring. The Guild stated that the comunity likes anything if it is well-done. Whether or not music is used before the performance depends on the particular show. if music is used, it is recorded music or piano. St. Dunstan's Guild gives five plays during their I . L 4 . t e c. I. _ . I . _ O . I '. i t . . I. t. s K . . w u . 9 m—a 51 ten month season. Four of these are given in the Pavilion and one in the outdoor Greek Theatre in June each year. The plays have a four night run which is divided into the Fri-g days and Saturdays of two weekends. The June play runs four consecutive nights. In addition to these full evening plays, their additional dramatic activities include a musical production. The twenty-one rehearsals are held on Monday, Wednes- day, and Friday and occasionally on Sunday over a period of five weeks. Promotion is by newspapers, posters, and post cards. One annual membership noting is held. The four membership parties which are held each year are: a cabaret party in January with dinner and entertainment; a square dance in the Fall; this last year there was a silent film in March; and usually a picnic in the summer. :1 52 Following is the financial statement supplied by St. Dunstan's Guild of Cranbrook for the year 1948-1949: Production costs Scenery, props, lights, costumes.$ 778.52 Royalties........... Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . Electric. . . . . . . . . . . . lake-up, promotion, books, etc. Salary . . . . . . . . . . . . Income ”BEBBI'Shipeeeeeeeeeee Production gross. . . . . . . . Current Assets GESheeeeeeeeeeeeee . 450.00 . 251.05 . 200.00 . 1cc.7c . li§22222 $5,330.35 _.3 2,900.00 0 4, 310.00 3 7,210.00 .3 3,102.69 ’ 3,102.69 2‘ o 0 O O O o D e I 0 0 e O '* O O O O O O I 0 O O 0 e e 0 0 O I 0‘ 0 e o e 0 O O o o I e O O 55 ESGANABA CIVIC ‘EEEATRB The Bxcanaba Civic Theatre was organized in February, 1933 under the Federal Theatre program. There were six char- ter members, but by the first production, Holid , the group had expanded to twenty members. The organization holds at least one'membership drive each year; however, they do hold additional drives when- ever it's necessary before each production. They have thirty-two Adult [embers who pay annual dues of one dollar. There are four Junior llembers who pay fifty cents a year. This membership is highly variable; however, the group has a catalogue of talent in the community which is used ex- tensively. The Board of Directors consists of five voting mem- bers and a chairman who is selected by the Board. The mem- bership elects these Board members. The terms are three years each, but are staggered so that two retire each year. The officers may not succeed themselves. For the past two years the group has contracted with non-members to direct the plays on a fee plus percentage basis. They are chosen for their experience, personality, and their ability to get along with the players. After the Play Reading Committee refers its selection of plays to the Board of Directors for approval, the director makes the - --..-q I , . . y K 54 final choice of play to be given. The director also casts his plays in cooperation with the Board of Directors. The director casts from the community at large. lany times the plays have only half of the cast from their membership. There are two theatres available to the group. They are the William Oliver memorial and the William Bonifas. Both theatres are rented on a fee basis. The seating capa- city of one is 997 and of the other, 6'70. m1. stage area is thirty-five feet by eighteen feet with no fly left. There is a switchboard which is dimmer-controlled. There are three spots; however, only one is owned by the group. There are footlight banks in both auditoriums. There are three strips of border lights in one theatre, and two strips of border lights in the Bonifas auditorium. As yet the players do not have a workshop; however, they are ne- gotiating for the use of a city building for a workshop and they stated that the outlook seemed very favorable. Warehouses and basements of the members are used for stor- age space. There are two dressing rooms in each auditorium. This group usually does modern plays and so the cast members furnish their own costumes; however, for £522; £229.15. the women's costumes were made and the men's costumes were rented. They construct all of their own scenery. The comedy presented by this group in their 1949 season was Lady of Letters, which was produced in march, J. 55 In addition to the three act play, this group also presented a Christmas show as a benefit for the School Children's Fund, and three radio dramas in April and May. One-acts are also given at scheduled dates throughout the year. The productions are usually preceded by either string ensemble or piano music.' The publicity for the shows is by newspaper, radio, posters, personal letters, and by promotion by the several clubs in the city. There are usu- ally fifteen to twenty rehearsals held for each show. The rehearsals are held in club halls until the last two weeks. These last rehearsals are held on stage. Up to this time, the sscanaba Civic Theatre has held fifteen membership meetings a year; however, the group feels that most of these will be discontinued because they detract from.the regular dramatic activities. All avail- able local and visiting theatre talent was utilized by this group for speakers at their business meetings. One or two membership parties are held each year. Civic Theatre for the 1948-1949 season: a 56 Following is a financial statement for the sscanaba Production costs Scenery . . . . . Electric. . . . . Advertising . . . Rehearsals. . . . Salaries. . . . . Royalties . . . . BOOK. e e e e e e Income hemberships . . . Production profit CEITOBt A8805! CEBhe e e e e e e Box Office Change . . Program.advertisements. Fixed Assets Electrical equipment. lake-up equipment . . SCt equipment e e e e Sound equipment . . . .3 03 110.00 20.00 133.00 40.00 82.00 50.00 15.35 5 470.35 33.00 98:00 3 131.00 199.00 093.20 2&2222. e 1,222.20 10.00 20.00 50.00 10:00 t 90.00 se‘ \a 5'7 GEA‘ER nuances CIVIC EATER ASSOCIATIOI The Little Theatre of muskegon was organized in 1935. It was organized primarily by.mrs. C. Lee Redmond and Ray Tangney. This last year has seen the organization re- incorporated under the title of The Greater.muskegon Civic Theatre Association. The Association has a membership drive each year. During the drive for a building this year, the following were the types of memberships offered: Double Life Memberb ship is $150.00; Single Life Membership is one hundred dollars; Double Ten Year Life is fifty dollars; Single Ten Tear Life is thirty dollars; Double rive Year Life is twentybfive dollars; Single Five Year Life is fifteen dol- lars; Single Sustaining One Year is five dollars; and a Single One Year lembership is four dollars. The Board of Directors consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and four directors. The Board members serve terms of two years. The officers are elected by the Board of Directors. The group also has a business manager who is appointed by the Board. He is not a Board member, however. The production directors are also considered ex-officio members of the Board, but like the business manager, they do not have voting power. Although this group at one time had a professional director, the system.was not satisfactory. They now have 58 several local directors who receive a fee of fifty dollars for each production. Some seasons the same director super- vises all of the plays and other seasons a director may produce only one or two shows. The Board of Directors selects the directors each year. Each director or the director, as the case may be, selects his own play which is subject to Board approval. The director also casts his own play and this casting may be done from the community at large. The Association is building a new theatre plant from a former church. This new building will seat about 165. As it is not rebuilt as yet, the size of the stage and fly left has not been ascertained. The group has a portable switchboard, several baby spots, pertable foot- lights which they used in the public school auditorium. They are planning to build more pprtable footlights this year for use in their own building. A workshop has always been maintained for the purpose of building sets and for storage space. They will now be able to have the shop in the same building with their theatre. The new building will also provide dressing rooms. Their costumes are made, rented, and solicited; how- ever through the past three years they have been given many costumes. An even greater number of costumes were lost in a fire three years ago. Their shows are promoted by news- 59 papers, radio, and by personal letters. The 1949 season consisted of two comedies, one mystery, and one drama. The season opened with a comedy, The veice Of The Turtle in.uovember. The February offering was a psychological mystery, Dracula. .A war drama, The East: §2££E“33 produced in April. Str 0 Bedfellows, the comedy offered in June, tied with the first comedy, The voice Of The Turtle, for the most popular play of the season. This substantiated the statement by the group that the community preferred comedy. Then the group uses music before the performances, it is either recorded music, string ensemble, or piano. This group also has used a children's orchestra. They have no other dramatic activities besides their four full evening plays during their nine month season. These plays have a four night run. next year the Association hopes to have a summer program. The group holds rehearsals three nights a week for the first four weeks of rehearsals; however, the rehearsals are increased during the last two weeks. Formerly their rehearsals have been held in various homes; therefore, the group is anticipating the prospect of being able to rehearse in their own playhouse. One membership meeting is held each year for the election of the Board of Directors and to have a yearly report. There are three membership parties given t‘ each year. There is no financial statement from this Association; however, they did state that they are now buying their own building. Part of the money was already saved up for this purpose and part of the money was raised by their drive. 61 All ARBOR CIVIC THEATRE The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre was organized in 1937. lfter a period of inactivity from.1942 to 1945, the group became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1946. This group holds a membership drive each year. In the 1949-1950 season, they had seventy-five Active lembers, who each pay annual dues of two dollars. The Board of Directors consists of twelve members who serve terms of three years. This Board elects the officers for the membership. The Ann.Arbor Civic Theatre uses several voluntary directors for their productions. The directors are selected by the Production Committee and approved by the Board. The play is submitted to the Board by the Play Reading Committee. After the play has been approved, the director is chosen. The director and the Casting committee cast the play from the membership and the community at large. The theatre which this group rents has a seating capacity of 092. The stage area is twentybfour feet by thirty meet. They have a fly left which is thirty feet high 'with fifteen sets of lines. There is no description of their lighting facilities excepting that they do have a switchboard, spots, footlights, border lights, and dimmers. Their workshop is twentybfive feet by fifty feet. This is 62 also used as storage space for props, sound effects, costumes, and other articles. They have no dressing rooms. The costumes are made, rented, and solicited; hcwb ever, they construct their own scenery entirely. The public- city for each show is by means of the newspapers, radio, bill boards, throwaways, posters, and personal letters. This group is the only one to send speakers to service clubs as an additional means of promotion. The 1949 season of the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre con- sisted of three plays each with a two night run. M- s ctor Calls, a serious drama-fantasy, opened the season in October. The next offering was a farce, The Torchbearers, which was produced in January. The group stated that this seemed to be the most popular play or the 1949 season. A comedy, The Hale Animal, closed the season in April. Besides the full evening plays, the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre also lists among its dramatic activities a children's theatre and the presentation of one-act plays. This group was also the only one to mention among these activities solo and group readings. The rehearsals are held in the workshop until the dress rehearsals which are held on stage. There are regular ' membership meetings during the season. They usually have speakers on theatrical topics at these meetings. Cast par- ties are held after each major production, and the social parties are held during the summer. p. Following is the financial statement submitted by the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre for the 1948-1949 season: Production costs Scenery . . . . . . Costumes. . . . . . Properties. . . . . Electric. . . . . . Advertising . . . . Rehearsals and rent Royalties . . . . . BOOK.eeeeeee .3 205 .15 12.91 43.34 11 .56 482 .20 300 .00 550 .00 32.92 . s 1,4se.oa 64 PORT HURON CIVIC PLAIERS The Port Huron Civic Players were organized in 1945. They are the youngest theatre in this particular group. They have a membership drive each year. In the 1949- 1950 season they had seven hundred Spectator memberships, the annual dues for which has been two dollars. Due to the increase from four to five plays in 1950-1951, the price will be increased to three dollars next season. The Board of Directors are elected for a term of two years. “There are twelve members on this Board and they can be re-elected at the end of their terms. The officers are elected by the Board. Several voluntary directors produce the plays. They are chosen according to their talent, experience, and "their ability to get along with people". The plays are chosen by the Play Selection Committee, then the director casts his play. The entire cast is selected from the membership. The theatre used by the Players has a seating capacity of four hundred. The stage is fifty-five feet by thirty feet. There is no fly loft and the lighting facilities in- clude spots, footlights, border lights, and dimmers. Al- though there is no workshop, they do construct all of their own scenery. The storage space is located under the stage and in the wings. Two dressing rooms are at their disposal. 65 lost of their costumes are solicited; however, now and then they do make or rent costumes for their productions. A psychological comedy, Arrhenic and Old Lace, opened the 1949-1950 season in November. The Shin Hour was the drama produced in January, followed by the costume comedy, life With rather, in March. This play was proclaimed by the Players to be the best-liked play of the season. It had a five night run instead of the usual three night run of the Players. A comedy, John Loves nag, closed the sea- son in may. Four or five plays are given during the eight month season of the Players. They do not use any form of music before their performances. The rehearsals are held in rented halls. Each year they have two membership meetings at which they have speakers on theatrical topics. They also have four membership parties each year. 65 Following is a financial statement for the Port hurcn Civic Players for the 1949-1950 season: Production costs Scenery e e e e e e e e e e e e e‘ 400.00 CostuIaS. e e e e e e e e e e e e 50.00 PIOPOItiOEe e e e e e e e e e e e 10e00 Electric. e e e e e e e e e e e e 50.00 Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 Rehearsals............ 50.00 Royalties............ $50.00 Books.............. 50.00 2 1,060.00 2222 lemberships . . . . . . . . . . .3 1,400.00 Box Office Receipts . . . . . . . 1,500.00 3 3,000.00 Current Assets Cash...............$ 200.00 U.S.Bonds...........~._2_,_9__00_,_0_9_ 3 2,200.00 Fixed Assets Set furnishings . . . . . . . . .$ 400.00 Electrical equipment. . . . . . . 500.00 lake-up equipment . . . . . . . . 100.00 3 000.00 r l. - .0 . ti .’ .- .' l .--. .14- I'r -~ - ‘ reL¢w O O O O o s s O 0 O O o e e e e e e e e e e ' e e e e e 0 e e e e e ’ ‘e e o e e e e e e 0 e e e e e e e e e e e e e c} ‘ ,;)s‘ ‘ . 'T e e e a s e 4.“. l. - . h 1 ti O D e e e e e e e s e e e 0 CHAPTER IV AN ANALYSIS OF M CIVIC THEATRES SERVING COWITIBS 01' run THOUSAND TO ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH-FIVE THOUSAND There are seven civic theatre groups in this section which serve communities with populations ranging from.fifty thousand to one hundred seventy-five thousand. The oldest theatre in this group is the Bay City Players who were or- ganized in 1921. The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre was organ- ized in 1926, followed by the Players Guild of Dearborn in 1927. Three groups were organized in 1929; the flint Community Players in April; and the Kalamazoo Civic Players and the Lansing Civic Players in the Fall. The youngest theatre in this group is the Saginaw*P1ayers, sponsored by the Pit and Balcony, Incorporated, who organized in 1932. Two of these producing groups own their own theatres. They are the Players Guild of Dearborn, whose theatre seats four hundred, and the Saginaw Players whose new'plant seats 520. Flint rents the Homedale school auditorium which seats 535. The St. Cecilia building rented by the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre has a seating capacity of 674. The seating capacity of the theatre used by the Kalamazoo Civic Players is 550. The Lansing Civic Players head the group with a seating capacity of 1,784 in the Sexton High School Auditorium. (I Three groups have five-show seasons with varying runs per play. The first is the Lansing Civic Players who have a run of four nights; the second is the Flint Community Players whose productions run four, five, or six nights; third, is the Saginaw Players whose normal run is seven nights. The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and the Battle Creek Civic Theatre each give six productions each season with eight-night runs and four-night runs respectively. Eight productions a season is the schedule for the Kalamazoo Civic Players who run from eight to ten nights. The Players Guild of Dearborn leads this field with their eleven-show season with four-night runs. The groups who employ full-time salaried directors are the saginaw Players, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, the Kalamazoo Civic Players, and the Battle Creek Civic Theatre. The Flint Community Players, the Lansing Civic Players, and the Players Guild of Dearborn all use voluntary directors drawn from the membership. The Lansing Civic Players are the only group who do not have additional dramatic activities. One-act plays are given in addition to the full evening performances by the Flint Community Players, Kalamazoo Players, Players Guild of Dearborn, and the Battle Creek Civic Theatre. Of these last-named groups, the Flint Community Players is the only group who does not have a children's theatre. 69 The Saginaw Players have a workshop which may include one- acts. Grand Rapids Civic Theatre maintains an Actor's Studio which is in charge of their director. Three quarters of the plays given by this group of comunity theatres in 1949 were comedies. In every group excepting one there was at least one drama or serious pro- duction given during the season. Three theatres gave Strggg Bedfellows and Two Blind nice during this season; and two theatres gave John Loves u_a_rz, W, and The Winslow Boy. lost of the theatres in this group have become such large organizations that they resemble in part semi-pre- fessional groups; however, all of them have kept in mind their main objective of producing and creating theatre for the people on Main Street. 70 BATIK! CREEK.CIVIC THEAIHI The Battle Creek Civic Theatre had its beginning. in 1921 when a group decided to give plays to provide the equipment for a school cafeteria and a curtain for the stage in the school gymnasium. At that time they were called the‘Lakeview'Commmnity Club Players. Their first play, Ca Ricks, was presented in 1922. In 1929 the plays were produced by the same organization which called itself at that time, the Little Theatre Guild. By 1951, after Joining with the Battle Creek College players, they had a paid director and a board of directors. In 1936 the Little Theatre Guild and the Pagens merged into an organization which called itself the Battle Creek Civic Theatre which is the name still used. ~The theatre however did not function after the close of the 1941 season until the Fall of 1946. This group calls all season ticket holders Sustain- ing.lemberships. In the 1949-1950 season there were thir- teen hundred Sustaining Memberships. Any member is con- sidered an Active lbmber and has a voting power if he or she has participated in at least two productions during the past two years. Adult season tickets are six dollars, and adult single admissions are $1.20. A.student season ticket is three dollars and a student single admission is sixty cents. u" '71 The Board of Directors consists of fifteen members. Their terms are staggered so that five directors are elected each year, thus giving all of the members of the Board three year terms. The Board of Directors elects the officers at the first meeting after the Spring election. The Battle Creek Civic Theatre has one salaried full-time director. The director, along with the president, is an ex-officio member of the Play Selection Committee. The plays are cast from the community at large. Out of the seventy people who appeared in the productions in the 1948-1949 season, thirty-six were making their first appear- ance on the Battle Creek Civic Theatre stage. The Battle Creek Civic Theatre produces their plays in an army theatre adjacent to Kellogg Field. There is no statement from the group concerning their theatre plant, excepting that they do have ample workshop facilities where they construct their own scenery, sufficient dressing room space, as well as storage facilities. The six-play season opened in September with a comedy, You Can't Take It With You. This was followed by a drama, The Winslow 391. in November. M, a costume comedy, was offered in December. W, another comedy was produced in February, followed by a comedy, Ligt Up The 851, in March. The Glass Menagerie, a drama- fantasy, was offered in April. The season closed in lay 72 with the comedy, Village Green, The Civic Theatre presents four comedies out of their six-show season because their community prefers comedy. An additional production was given in June. It was the musical, 0h Suzanna. In addition to these full evening plays the group also has a Civic Theatre Guild which presents one-acts for clubs and hospitals. Also, in co-operation with the Battle Creek Public School system.and the Junior League, the Battle Creek Civic Theatre has a children's theatre. The Junior League underwrites the children's theatre season with two thousand dollars. An annual business meeting is held in the Spring in the form of a dinner. A guest speaker is invited to this meeting to speak on the theatre. The election of the Board of Directors is also held at this meeting. Membership parties are held during the year. 73 Fellowing is the financial statement for the Battle Creek Civic Theatre for the 1949-1950 season: Production costs Scenery e e e e e e e e e e e e e$ 94.84 coatuloae e e e e e e e e e e e e 47e68 Lighting. e e e e e e e e e e e e 4e4° PIOPCIDICIe e e e e e e e e e e e 26e59 Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . 293.99 Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233.10 Rent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500.00 Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,333.30 Royalties............ 675.00 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.50 9 5,269.40 Income lemberships . . . . . . . . . . .3 4,122.08 Cash sales. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,374.90 Program.and concession revenue. . 335.77 Contributions . . . . . . . . . . 463.50 Special productions . . . . . . . 40.94 s 5,335.79 74 Current Assets Cash. e e e e e e e e e e e e e e’ 1,000.99 Accounts receivable . . . . . . . 162.50 3 1,163.49 Fixed Assets Equipment e e e e e e e e e e e e$ 765e76 s' 765.76 75 GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre was organized in the Fall of 1926 and incorporated September 28, 1927. The first play which was produced was Belinda. A.membership drive is held each year. There is a membership drive chairman who has four divisions under him. Each division has ten teams and each team.has ten workers which makes a total of 445 persons who work on this member- ship drive. A.person holding an adult season ticket is classi- fied under Adult Inactive. This membership group has 3,162 members and pay annual dues of $6.50. The Student Inactive membership pays $3.25 and has 306 members. There are three hundred Active members who pay no fee but who are persons actively working in the theatre on the production crew, as actors, on prop or costumes crew, etc. Only these active members may vote for the Board of Directors. The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre hires a salaried full- time director. The director, along wdth the chairman of production, casting, and the business manager, selects the plays. An experienced committee, along with the director, casts the plays; however, the director has the final word. There are fifteen men on the Board of Directors. There are four elected and one appointed each term to serve three year terms. The officers of the Grand Rapids Civic 76 Theatre are elected by the Board of Directors. The theatre which is used by the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is rented from the st. Cecilia Society. They also rent workshop and office space. The theatre has a seating capacity of 674. The stage is thirty-seven feet by seven- teen feet by fourteen feet. The fly loft is twenty-five feet high; the grid, fifty feet. It has ten lines of three or four each. The lighting facilities include a switchboard ‘with a seventy amp feed with two sides. There are thirteen spots on an aerial batten, six on the balcony, three beams, six towers, four proscenium, six olivets, two banks of nine x-rays, and six home made spots. There are twelve five hundred watt dimmers, four thousand watt dimmers, and one automatic transformer for the house. The workshop is one and one half times as large as the stage. Six dressing rooms are at the players' disposal. The storage facilities are located at the rehearsal space which is several blocks from the theatre. They make, rent, or solicit their costumes and con- struct all of their scenery. Advertising is by means of newspapers, radio, bill boards, posters, and some personal letters. The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre gave a 1949 season of comedies. The season opened with Strange Bedfellows in October, followed by a serious comedy, The Corn Is Green, 7'7 in December. The January offering was a revival of 292. Royal Family. A Shakespearian comedy, The TEES Of The Shaggywas produced in February; and Therillage Green in Ilarch. The season closed with the April production of Two Blind mice. Strange Bedfellows and The Taming Of The _S_h_1_‘_e_! seemed to share equally in popularity; however, the group stated that, Judging by the advance reservations, Two Blind lice may have been the best-liked production. The plays as a rule have an eight night run; however, last season one show ran for nine and another for eleven nights. Recorded music or organ music usually precedes the perfor- mances. In addition to the full evening plays, their other dramatic activities include Actor's Studio which runs for three terms of eight weeks each. Rehearsals run for three weeks and are held in a rehearsal hall until the three dress rehearsals which are held on stage. Although the group formerly had Active mem- bership meetings, they have been discontinued this year. Active membership parties are held on the closing night of each play, primarily for persons participating in the cur- rent play. sometimes a picnic for all active members is held at the close of the season. There is an annual dinner in me '9 ‘v Rapids 78 Following is the financial statement for the Grand Civic Theatre for the 1948-1949 season: Production costs Scenery..... Costumes. . . Properties. . Advertising . Office. . . . Salaries. . . Royalties . . BOOKBeeee Income lembe rships . miscellaneous Box Office Sales. . Net profit on programs. W Cash.......... .5 1,041.96 . 613.01 . 482.83 . 1,711.47 . 207.27 . 10,518.12 . 1,345.00 . 148.82 ‘16, 268048 0‘21, 58° .00 . 10,830.85 . 7,532.74 . 1,375.76 .5 2,500.00 * 2,500.00 ,‘I Fixed Assets Electrical equipment . make-up equipment . . . Set equipment . . . . . Furniture, props, etc.. .5 4,060.66 100.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 79 e 6,166.60 80 PLAERS GUILD OI HBARBOBR The Players Guild of Dearborn was organized in October, 1927. Ho membership drives are held for this group; however, they have three hundred Active members who pay twenty-five dollars in initiation fees and sixteen dollars a year dues. There are thirty Associate Members who pay an initiation fee of twenty-five dollars with an- nual dues of $17.50. The Junior Members do not pay an initiation fee, but pay $ 3.50 in annual dues. There are fifty Junior Members. There are twenty members who pay no dues or initiation fees who are Life Members or Non- Resident Members. There are nine members on the Board of Directors. These directors serve terms of two years. The Board elects the officers for the group. There are several voluntary directors who are chosen according to the type of play which is being produced. A Script Committee selects the plays and the plays are cast by a Casting Committee from the members only. These two committees only serve for one year. The Guild ems its own theatre which has a seating capacity of four hundred. The stage is forty feet by twenty feet. The fly loft is twenty-five feet high. The light- ing facilities include a switchboard, spots, footlights, Bl border lights, and dimmers. The workshop is forty feet by twenty feet and serves as a storage space for props, sound effects, costumes, etc. The Guild has two dressing roome and one mate-up room. They make, rent, and solicit their costumes, but construct all of their own scenery. John Loves.narz, the May offering, was the most popular production during the 1949 season. Although the Guild gives eleven plays during their eight month season, the only other production mentioned was a comedy, {$35! Kissed me, which was given in February. They have a four night run; however, the one-acts play only two nights. Pub- licity for these productions is by newspapers, radio, and personal letters. Often piano music precedes the perfor- mances. In addition to the three acts and one-acts, the Guild also has a very successful children's theatre. Dur- ing this last season they presented The Sleeping Beauty to seven thousand children in the Detroit area. The Guild has an annual business meeting and two membership parties each year. The Players Guild of Dearborn preferred not to re- lease information on their financial program. es FLINT COMMUNITY’PLAIERS The flint Community Players had their informal be- ginning in the Spring of 1929 and were formally acknowledged in August of that same year. The Players grew out of a small group of young people who gathered in homes to study the drama so that they would be better equipped to understand the professional productions which were being presented at that time in the Palace Theatre by the wright Players. when the wright Players left town after the increasing popularity of the sound pictures, this group decided that they would present plays themselves as a non-professional group. Robert K. Adams and Bertha ureighton, a professional actress formerly with the wright Players, took the leadership in the plans, and the first play, meet The‘Iife, was presented on June 27, 1989 by the flint Theatre Guild as it was then called. In April, 1950 the group incorporated as the Flint Playhouse Association and in 1945 they adopted a new'con- stitution and the organization again incorporated as the Flint community Players. Each year from may fifteenth to June fifteenth, the flint community Players stress their season ticket sales in a special drive. The memberships are divided into four groups. There are 370 regular members who pay an annual fee of five dollars. The Iamily.memmership which is nine QR 08 dollars a year has 642 members. The fifty-six Patrons pay fifteen dollars a year, and the seven Sustaining Members pay twenty-five dollars a year. The Board of Directors consists of twelve members: eight Board members and four officers of the Active member- ship. The officers of the Active membership and the two Board members, who are elected by the Board, serve one year; the other six Board members serve terms of two years. Only three are elected each year. The ten Board members, who are elected by the membership at large, elect two ad- ditional Board members and also elect from the Board: a Chairman, vice chairman, Secretary, and Business manager. All of the directing for the Flint community Players is done by volunteer directors. The directors are recom- mended by the chairman of the Director's Committee and are subject to approval by the Board. The Play Reading Co-ittee chooses the plays which are submitted to the Board for approval. The director casts the play, but he is assist- ed by the Director's Committee. The Players present their productions in the Home- dale school Auditorium which has a seating capacity of 535. The stage is thirty feet by thirteen feet with an apron which curves up to five feet. There is no fly left. The switchboard has twelve outlets, eight circuits, and two dimmers. They have four spots which are used in the bal- 81 cony, but no footlights or border lights. Their workshop is situated in three ports of a five-car garage, which also serves as storage space for the Players. Two classrooms serve as dressing rooms. The costumes are rented usually, but on rare occasions they are solicited. They do construct all of their scenery however. Promotion for their productions is by newspapers, radio, and by their house organ, the Curtain call, which is sent to all the season ticket hold! ers. - The Plint community Players present five productions during their eight month season. These plays have a run of four, five, or six nights. The 1949-1950 season opened wdth a costume comedy, Life with rather. Then followed two dralas, Dark victogz_in December, and The winslow'Boz in February. Janu Thaw, a.comedy, was offered in april. according to a statement by the group, the may offering of The curse Of An Achi heart, a.melodrama, was the most popular play of the season; however, the group also said that their community usually prefers comedy. They often uJ. recorded music before a performance. The productions are presented at the end of twentybfour rehearsals which are held in a rented.room.excepting for the last three or four rehearsals which are held on stage. The Players hold five membership meetings during the year and frequently have speakers on theatrical tepics. 158 so— . .suer . ‘ u I..- --~- M . | . . . O - .‘ v . ( . ‘ I m ‘0 - . ‘ - s a v u- 5"“,.‘ -_ _’ . ’ . I a ‘ - 5 ‘ - I‘e ‘ ..' n ~ Q ., 9 es- . ., _ . - ‘ _. {x ’ I ‘-‘. . . . I e C . . ,.. ... . -.... _ “ ,_ .A...., l ' . _ r s ' “ A b ‘ e":' s— . .. - . ‘ e . .- ' - .. ... --. . ._._ - _ Q - . .. - -..-. . . ‘ . f‘. .‘ ‘ . .v k . r ‘ p - ' \ .- ‘ .— .' I ‘ V v . t . t L ‘ . ‘ L ‘ J . _ . l ’ V The Players also have five parties a year, one after the last performance of each production. sellowing is the financial statement for the Plint Community Players for the year 1948-1949: Production costs Scenery . . . Costumes. . . Properties. . Electrical. . Advertising . Rehearsals. . Royalties and Income lemberships . Contributions Single admissions . Miscellaneous Current Assets Cash. e e e e U. 8. Bonds . Notes Received. . . Accrued interest. . .3 127.52 184.52 27.27 14.77 77.80 278.56 801.58 * 1, 511.96 .3 7,594.00 4 586.00 921 . 60 M $ 9,139.60 3, 938.30 5,032.00. 55.40 50.60 * 8,056.36 Fixed Assets Set furnishings . . . Electrical equipment. Make-up equipment . . Set equipment . . . . Sound equipment . . . Box Office equipment. Miscellaneous . . . . .3 110.00 529.21 55.46 591.19 84.65 77.78 __.§..3.-.'.7..5. ’ 1.504096 V8 KALAHAZOO CIVIC PLAYERS The Kalamazoo Civic Players were formally organized and chartered as a non-profit corporation under the Laws of the State of Michigan, September, 1929. The Kalamazoo Civic Players does not have a member- ship drive. Their memberships are renewed automatically each season unless they are notified to the contrary. Their total membership at present is twenty-nine hundred; however, they are constantly welcoming new members. The twenty-three Sustaining Memberships pay from twenty-five dollars up each year; the 1,525 Subscription "A" nmbers pay seven dollars a year, or two for thirteen dollars; the third type, Subscription 'B', numbers 1,350, and they pay five dollars a year, or two memberships for nine dollars. The Board of Directors consists of twelve members who receive their appointments as follows: four are elected by the stockholders; four are elected by the membership at large; four are appointed by the other eight. The elected members serve alternating two-year terms while the appointed directors serve a term of one year. The officers are elected by the Board of Directors. The Players have a salaried, full-time director. There is a technical director, three apprentices, a business man- ager, and office secretary who are also salaried employees. 89 The Play Selection committee selects the plays and submits them.to the Board of Directors for approval. The director casts his plays from the community with the help of the Talent Committee. The Kalamazoo Civic Players rent their theatre plant which has a seating capacity of 550. The stage is eighty- four feet by thirty-six feet with a proscenium opening which is thirty feet wide and twentyafive feet high. Their fly loft facilities enable them.to have thirty-six sets of counterbalanced lines which are all operated at the floor level. Their switchboard is a pro-set remote control unit, including fifty circuits all dimmerbcontrolled. Their other lighting facilities include about fifty spots ranging from two hundred to two thousand watts; removable footlights; four border light units; and ample stage floor and wall sockets. The workshop, which is thirty feet by twentyh eight feet by fourteen feet high has proved to be too small for more than a tool room.and construction material storage for the Players. Their storage facilities are greater than normally found; however, they are inadequate for this group, therefore they rent warehouse space for their least- used properties and scenery. They have nine dressing rooms in their theatre plant. The Players rent, make, or solicit their costumes, the choice depending on the cost and the type needed for the individual production. All of the scen- 9O ery is constructed by the Players. Advertising for the pro- ductions is by means of newspapers, radio, posters, and post cards. _ . . The 1949 season for the Kalamazoo Civic Players in. cluded six comedies, a.musica1 fantasy, and a drama. Their season opened in October with the comedy, Strange Bedfellows. The Druid circle, also a comedy, was the November offering. .A serious comedy, gzggalion, was produced in December. The January comedy production of‘gwo Blind Mice was followed in February by the drama, The Letter. _Ir.ife With Mothg, a costume comedy, seemed to be the most popular play of the season. The musical fantasy, Dark Of The Moon, was pro- duced in April, and the season closed with the comedy, Born Testerda . The Players stated that there is no typical kind of play which their audiences prefer. They enjoy good productions of good shows of any type. Other dramatic activities which the Players have are a children's theatre and the presentation of one-act plays. ‘Usually twentybone rehearsals are held for each play with the three or four dress rehearsals being held on stage and the other rehearsals being held in a rehearsal hall. Only occasional membership meetings are held and no member- ship parties. 8 o”-- 91 Following is the financial statement submitted by the Kalamazoo Civic Players for the year 1948-1949: Production costs Scenery . . . . Costumes. . . . Properties. . . Advertising . . Salaries. . . . Royalties . . . Books . . . . . Rent.'. . . . . Income Memberships . . Box Office cash Program advertising Sumeeeeee mntfl Asset; Cash. e e e e e Us Be Bond. e e accounts received Inventory e e e .$ 525.06 450.00 525.06 1,675.06 15,206.66 1,756.60 155.06 6,110.06 $25,570.06 .slc,756.06 9,750.06 1,500.06 1,200.00 $29,186.06 0: 2,500.00 2,000.06 450.00 __§l2522. e 5,140.06 O . . O r ' 2 0 e "I t . , O _. .t- “ ’ t " t e '( ' Fixed Assets Set furnishings . . . Production equipment. Office equipment. . . wardrobe....... Library....... 92 .5 500.00 . 4,500.00 . 625.00 . 575.00 . __Z§§aQQ 5 5,555.00 93 LANSING CIVIC PLAIERS Two groups Joined together in the Fall of 1929 to forn the Lansing Civic Players. The first two plays which were produced by this group were Captain Applejack and XOu and I. In the beginning there were only one night performances and the actors also did the work of the production crew. Each Spring the Players have an invitation drive at their two final productions. In the Spring of 1950, there were nine hundred new and renewals of membership. in the Fall the sequel to this Spring invitation is held in a membership drive. The Players only have one type of meme bership. The fee for this membership if five dollars a year and gives the holder admission to plays and a chance to offer his services in any phase of work. There are two thou- sand members. There are nine members on the Board of Directors. They serve terms of three years and may not succeed thbln selves until the expiration of one year. The officers are elected by the Board of Directors. voluntary directors serve the Lansing Civic Players; however, each director is given an honorarium fee. The Players use local talent who have had training and experi- ence, either non-professional or professional, as in some instances. Several of the directors have been with the I‘ 94 group since its founding in 1929. The plays are selected by'a Play Reading and Casting committee which is composed of nine people who serve terms of three years. This is a rotating committee similar to the Board. The casting is from.the community at large; however, it is a policy that members of the cast are or should become members of the organization. The Players use the sexton high School auditoriwl which has a seating capacity of 1,784. The stage is eighteen feet by thirty-four feet. The fly loft has four lines. The lighting facilities are only fair. The old dining room.and kitchen of the Chamber of commerce building is used for a workshop. This serves also as a storage room» The advantages of this arrangement is that the casts may rehearse wdth parts of the set if it is necessary. There are two dressing rooms in the school which the Players use. The 1949 season of the Lansing civic Players OOH! sisted of three comedies, a serious play, and a musical comedy. The season opened in October with the comedy, 103g; Ian's fancy. The next play was a serious production, command Decision, and was shown in December. The comedy, Strggg Bedfellows was the February offering, followed in .march by another comedy, g!g_§1ind.uice. The last production, Sweethearts, was a musical comedy. This was typical of their annual may production. The Players stated that this ._,. 95 ‘was the most popular production of the season even though the community usually prefers straight comedy or histori- cal drama. The plays have a four night run. .Iusic is used before the performances in the form.of a string ensemble. Promotion for the performances is by newspapers and radio. Rehearsals are held five days a week for five weeks. The rehearsals are held in the workshop, excepting for the dress rehearsals which are held on the stage. Business or’membership meetings are held in the Ball and the annual meeting in the Spring. Prior to the war they had monthly workshop meetings which helped to develop talent and techni- cal ability. cast parties follow each production and occas- ional suppers and parties are held during rehearsals. 96 Following is the financial statement submitted by the Lansing Civic Players for the 1948-1949 season: Production costs Scenery....... Costumes....... Properties. . . . . . Advertising . . . . . Office, rent, heat. . Salaries. . . . . . . Royalties and books . Income Iemberships . . . . . Box Office receipts . Interest on U.S.Bonds Current A3831}! Cash......... UeSeBOndfleeeee .s 519.00 . 707.00 . 577.00 . 737.00 . 2,992.00 . 750.00 . ._£!!222. 3 5,790.00 .3 3,075.00 . 3,039.00 . 412.50 $11,524.50 0‘ 2,800.00 . 18,000.00 $20,800.00 97 SAGUAW PLAYERS The Saginaw Players, sponsored by Pit and Balcony, Incorporated, was founded in 19:52. It had its beginnings as a study group in the AAUI. They produced two one-acts in a member's attic the first season. The 1933 season is in great contrast to the 1949 season of this same group in which they produced five plays, each with a seven-night run. The attendance at these plays averaged thirteen hun- dred persons per play. Each Fall the Saginaw Players stage a membership drive. They have from 150 to two hundred Active Members who pay an annual fee of one dollar. The Players state that 'Active' members means 'workers' in the Saginaw Players. The season ticket holders are considered patrons; therefore, they are not numbered with Active Members. The Board of Directors consists of nine members who are elected for three year terms. The officers are elected by the Board members to serve a term of one year. The Players have a salaried full-time director who often contracts a technician on his salary; however, the Players furnish the director with a part-time secretary. The director is hired on his ability to direct good theatre, and he is authorized to select the plays. The Casting Committee send notices of try-outs and assists with the 98 records of available persons, then the director casts the shows with the assistance of this Casting Committee. The trybouts are not restricted to the membership. The theatre which the Players had formerly used, burned down during a production a few'years ago and so they have been housed in an old hotel until recently. Their present theatre plant, which was completed in the 1949- 1950 season, has a seating capacity of 320. It was built at a cost of forty thousand dollars, which does not include any furnishings excepting seats. Much of the labor was contributed voluntarily by the Active members. The stage is seventyafive feet by thirty feet, thus allowing a work- shop of twenty feet by twenty feet on stage area left. There is no fly left, the stage ceiling measuring eighteen feet in back and twenty-two feet in front. Their lighting facilities include a switchboard with fortybfive outlets, twenty spots, ten dimmers, but no footlights or border lights. The two dressing rooms are located end to end with a movable center partition. The loft over the stage en- trances serves as storage space. The Players make most of their costumes; however, from time to time they rent them. They construct all of their scenery. They advertise their productions by means of the newspapers, radio, bill boards, posters, personal letters, and by their house organ, the gzclorama. 99 The 1949 season of the Players consisted of four comedies and one drama. They opened their season in Octo- her with the costume comedy, Years Ago. This was followed in December by a war drama, The East: Heart. M, a serious comedy, was the February offering. The last two comedies were John Lovesilarz’in April, and g: Sister Eileen, which closed the season in May. According to a statement by the Saginaw Players, the community does not prefer or dislike certain types of drama. Their acclahm or disdain is usually based on the actual production rather than on its type. The average rehearsal period for each production is five weeks. All of these rehearsals are held on stage. Two weeks before each production, a membership meeting and program.is held in which the Board reports the progress of the production. A party for east and Active Members is held on the Saturday night of each show run. Recorded music always precedes the performance. 100 The production cost for the 1948-1949 season approxi- mated tl,350.00, excepting salaries and publicity. The following is a chart of the financial organization for the 1948-1949 season of the Saginaw Players which serve a com- munity of 92,350. Production co sts Scenery e e e e e e e Costumes and make-up. Pr°port1°3e e e e e e Electric and sound. . Advertising, program. Salar1CCe e e e e e e Royalties . . . . Boats e e e e e e Income lemberships . . . Season tickets. . Single admissions Extra show on road. Lobby concessions office .8 430.00 . 288.00 . 42.00 . 120.00 . 1,250.00 . 5,100.00 . 595.00 . 50.00 2 5,575.00 .5 125.00 . 0,505.00 . 1,850.00 . 750.00 - ..££!Ld¥2 0 9,281.00 Current Assets Cash............ U.S.Bonds........ Sale of building. . . . . . Campaign for building fund. gixed Assets Set furnishings . . . . . . Electrical equipment. . . . lake-up equipment . . . . . Setequipment. . . . . . . Sound equipment . . . . . . Box office equipment. . . . COStImSeeeeeeeeee 101 .3 500.00 . 7,500.00 . 7,200.00 - léh£5§hé¥l $27,000.00 .2 150.00 . 500.00 . 25.00 . 100.00. . 75.00 . 125.00 - .__§22222 * 1’ 175 e00 BIBLIOGRAPHY 102 A. BOOKS llcCleery, Albert, and Glick, Carl, Curtains Go U . flew York: Pitman Publishing Corpora on, 9. P. 3350 APPENDIX A A list of the civic theatres which were active during the 1949-1950 season and the names and addresses of the member who was contacted in each group for information in this study Allegan Commity Players Mrs. Richard Ackley allegan, hichigan Ann Arbor Civic Theatre miss Louise R. Kempf Box 87 Ann Arbor, nichigan Battle creek Civic Theatre Lyle L. Brb Federated Publications, Inc. Battle creek, michigan Bay City Players Mrs. Frank ncKinley 2300 Center Avenue Bay City, michigan Clinton Players mrs. Henry vaughan Clinton, michigan Dearborn, Players Guild of Hugh Kaumeier 553 South York Avenue Dearborn, michigan Dowagiac, Allied Arts Guild of ”80 Role v.11 104 Hamilton Dowagiac, michigan Bscanaba Civic Theatre Rose LaChape 11e 314 South 14th Street Escanaba, lichigan Flint Community Players, inc. Charles J. Sahrbeck 5235 Sunset Drive Flint, Michigan Grand Rapids Civic Theatre ”8e 1‘. Be T831308.“ Grand Rapids, michigan 103 Greece lle, The Islanders of Greece ile michigan Grosse Pointe Theatre, .Inc. 206 ucKinley Road Grosse Pointe, Michigan Jackson, Theatre Guild of 211 South Jackson Street Jackson, Michigan Kalamazoo Civic Players Norman F. Carver 329 South Park Street Kalamazoo, Michigan Lansing Civic Players Guild hrs. Karl Brucker 610 South Walnut Lansing, Michigan Lowell, village Players of I. laylan Jones, Jr. Lowell, Michigan Marshall Civic Players ”Bo Le 0e Bower 218 South Jefferson street harshall, michigan Midland Little Theatre Guild I. 3. Sharp 406 '5. Sugnet Road midland, nichigan Monroe Comunity Players Ann Keating 109 Scott Street monroe, michigan Greater muskegon Civic Theatre “re 'e Eugen. Atkinson Montague, michigan Niles Civic Players mrs. John Ducey 216 N. 11th Street Niles, Michigan 1‘ Plymouth Theatre Guild has JOhn Be Garfield 542 Pacific Plymouth, Michigan Pontiac Master Players, inc. Merrill F. Walls 142 wayne Street Pontiac, Michigan Port Huron Civic Players George S. Cole Port Huron, Michigan Ridgedale Players Mrs. Harry R. Henry 93 maplefield Pleasant Ridge, Michigan Royal Oak Civic Theatre Club Mrs. Margaret Krueger 1021 I. Twelve mile Road Royal Oak, Michigan Saginaw Players Pit and Balcony, Inc. Mattie C. Crump 512 south Granger Saginaw, Michigan 104 St. mustan's Guild of Cranbrook Jervis B. McMechan 286 Larchlea Drive Birmingham, Michigan Tawas Comunity Players mrs. George Tuttle Tawas City, michigan Twin City Players, Inc. Mrs. John W. Goring, Pres. 902 Church street st. Joseph, michigan village Players of Birming- ham George Dwelley, Jr. 692 We moon Birmingham, michigan aPPENDIx B A list of the three-act plays presented by Michi- gan civic theatres in the 1949-1950 season 1 Street (1)* By Patrick Hamilton Arsenic and Old Lace (2) J'osep Hesselring Bl he s irit (1) 3; Noel Coward Born Yesterd (l) E? Carson kanin Broad (1) Philip Dunning George Abbott But Not Goodb (l) orge Steaton Command Decision (1) am sister Haines Heart The Curse Of An Ach r 1' Be ’3. Dark Of The moon (1) cwar Richardson lilliam Berney Dark Victo (1) Bi gorge Brewer, Jr. Bertram Bloch Dracula (1) By Hamilton Deane John R. Balderston Druid Circle The (1) F? 3'05 von Druten Excursion (1) Victor wolfson Famil Portrait The (1) Lenore no fee willism Joyce Cowan 106 For Love Or Mons (1) Wm» French Touch The (1) B? Tosepfi Fields Jerome Chodorov FrontP e The (1) n echt Charle s MacArthur Gear 8 Washi ton Sle t Here W) George Haufman Glass men erie (1) We» Iilliams Hast Heart The (2) 3'05 Patrick I Like It Here (1) B? 3.5. Shiffrin 1n ctor Calls An (2) . . restley J anu Thaw (l) B? William Roos Jenn Kissedme (1) can err John Loves m5 (5) -——t;-1t%1.n 1...... Ladies In Retirement (1) war ercy Reginald Dcnham Lad of Letters The (1) By" Turner BuIlock Late Christa her Bean (2) By Sikey Eward * the number of times this play was presented by these the atre s 107 Life With Father (2) See How The Run (2) Adapted By Howard Lindsay fi PfiIIIp King Russell Crouse Shini Hour (1) Life With Mother (1) eith Winter A ap y Howard Lindsay Russell Crouse r time For Hon (1) 1111 e W Li t U The s (1) ss Hart ' Str 8 Bedfellows (4) Bi FIorence Ryerson Little women (1) Colin Clements A apted by marion DeForrest Sweethearts (1) mad ttc The (1) E lVictor Herbert Lawson A. Carter m mm (1) W (1) .__A_T_ am akespeare ames Thurber Time For Elizabeth (1) miracle On 34th Street The (1) orman asna Adapt-e73 'o'y V’EIen‘EEe Davies Groucho Marx M Sister lileen (l) Torchbearers The (l) Fy' Jerome Chodorov E Eorge Kelly Joseph Fields Traitor The (1) hysten At Greenfigggrs (l) rman Wouk Two Blind Mice (5) 0h! Suzanna (1) 5? Samuel Spewack Florence Ryerson Colin Clements Vill 0 Green The (2) B? Cart IIIensworth 0 Mistress line (1) . hrman Voice Of The Turtle (1) . 0 von ten Petrified Forest (1) _ FF R0555 B. Sherwood What A Life (1) BF Clifford Goldsmith PresentLa ter (1) cs oward Winslow Ho The (2) E Terence Rattigan ion (2) Bernard Shaw Women The (1) Clare Boothe Ro a1 Femil The (2) orge s. Kaufman Edna Berber 1‘ .~--¢ ma- '- 0" Years 0 (1) - Ruth Gordon You Can't Take It With You (1) orge an Moss Hart Yo Man's Fans (1) F? Harry E. Thursohwell Alfred L. Golden 108 APPENDIX C The questionnaire used in this study QUESTIONNAIRE To aid in compiling the data for a study of the history, organization, operational polideg and financing of the community theatre groups in Michigan. . , -Jane Maginn Goodale THE TITLE OF OUR ’li‘H EATRE GROUP IS: l" .—--HISTORY 1. The date of the organization of our theatre group was ................................ ........................................................................................................................................ 2. Any other data or information you might have such as list of charter members and lists of productions. etc. will be appreciated ......................... ........................................................................................................................................ ....................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................ Il—ORGANIZATION: 1. Our plan of organization is: a. \\'e (have ............ do not have ............ ) a membership drive. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................... (l. The officers are elected by (the lloarcl of Directors ..................... lw the membership at large .......................... ) .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... e. \\'e cast from (our members ...................... . ...... from the community at large ................ ) 2. We have (one salaried full-time director ................. and several salaried directors ................ , several voluntary directors ................. ) .-...--.----..-—--.---co...-—----.--.--...cow-u-..un-.---....¢.o--.----.-------..--m----..--u...._-.. ............................... 9-IDu...-u.OI-.--.-..-.------.l-o-o-uI.-- .......................................................................................... ..-......-.---.-.--------.n-u-cgucn-u-o-o..-------.o---o---n-.--....--.---------. ................................................... 4. The types of memberships which we have are as follows: Type of Membership Cost of Membership Number ---a.a.-..--.---~-.-‘onnus-na-nuooonou.-----.--- p-oo-------.. ............................................................ ................................................................................................ .-.....-..-.--------...n...------.--o---on.oo--- g..- .................................................................... ............... on...-.-..--..-.--o-.-.u......o----o.-.p-n-..--- ......................................................................... III.——O-PERATIONAL POLICIES: I. Description of our theatre plant: a. Our theatre has a seating capacity of ......................... b. The size of our stage is ................ by ................. c. \Ve (have ............ do not have ............... i a fly loft. it is ________________ hwh It has ................ lines. .................................................................................................................................... (1. Our lighting facilities: Switchboard : .............................................. . ......................................................... Spots: ...... - ................................................................................. li‘ootlights: .................................. . ........ . ............................................................... Border Lights: .............................................................. - ................................. i ...... Dimmers ........................................................................................ . ................. . ...... Others: ................................ - ............................................... . ................................. e. Our technical facilities: we (do ............ , do not ............ ) have a shop. It is ................ by ................. \\'e have ................ dressing rooms ..................................................................... Our storage facilities for props. sound effects. costumes. etc. are: ........ f.. \\"e (make ............ . rent ............ . solicit ............ ) our costumes. g. \V'e (construct ....... rent ............ ) our scenery. 2. We. advertise by means of (newspapers ........ . radio ........ . bill boards ............ . throwaways ............ . posters ............ . personal letters ............ . other ............ b \\"e give. ................ plays per season. c Our season is ................ months per year. (I. Our plays have a ................ night run ............................................................. e. 0111‘ casts are picked by...-..... ............................................................................... f Our plays are selected by .................................................................................... .........-----.....-.-..-.o-.-.-‘ .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................... g. Our 1949 season was: Name of play Date .................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................... 11. Of this 1949 season the play ............................................................................ was the most popular. This type (is not ............ is ............ ) typical of our community. (If answer ‘is not’) They usually prefer (C(miedy....-........ farce ............ . musical ............ . tragedy ............ . melodramas ............ ) types. i. Of this 1949 season, the play ........................................................................... - was the least liked. This (is ............ . is not ............ .) typical of our com— munity. (If answer is ‘is not’) They usually dislike the most (comedy.......-..... farce ............. musicals ............. tragedy ....... melodrama types........-..-.) j. “-"e (do ........ . do not ........ ) have music before the performance. k. (If the answer is affirmativez) \\'e use recorded music ............ . string ensemble .............. , piano .............. . full orchestra .............. . organ ................... Besides our full evening plays. we also have other dramatic activities such as children’s theatre ............ . one—act plays ............ . a musical pro- duction ............ . other ............................................................. I. \Ve have ................ rehearsals. Our rehearsals are held (on stage ............. other ............................................................. ') .................................................................................................................................... m. \Ve have.---.---......-membership meetings. At this meetings. we (do ........ do not ............ ) have speakers on theatrical topics. n. \\"e have .................... membership parties per year. o. “'0 (do ................ do not ................ ) have [ftiion stage crew members in our group. Signed: .............................................................................. ()f the ............................................................ . .................... (The title of your eonnnunity theatre group) FIN-\NCING (If this material is already printed in a report or statement of your finances for the year 1948—1949. send a copy in place of the following. if you wish.) a. Production cost for 1.948-1949 season: if; cenery: ....................................................... Costumes: .................................................... Properties: .................................................. Electric: ....................................................... .-\dvertising: ............................................... Office: .......................................................... lx’eh larsals :..'. ........................... . .................. Salaries: ...................................................... ’ Royalties :.- ................................................. Rooks: ......................................................... b. \\'e (do ..... do not ........ ) own our own theatre. c. The community which we. serve has a population of ......................................... ...................................... «L: d. Our current assets for the year 1948-1949 were: Cash ........................ : U. S. Bonds ........................ ; Notes Rec'd ........................ ; Accrued Interest Rec'd ......................... ; Box Office change ........................ ; Other ....................................................................................................... . .................... e. Our fixed assets for the year 1948-1949 were: Set furnishings ................................ :' Electrical equipment ................................ ; Make-up equipment-.......-..........._...:...; Set equipment ............................ ;Sound equipment ................................ : Box office equipment ........................................ Other ........................................................................................................................... f. Our income for the year 1948-1949 was: Membersbips........-...............: Contributions .................. . ..... : Tax collected on comps ................................ ; miscellaneous ............................................................... (The title of your community theatre group) APTENDII D The tabulation of the questionnaire used in this study W?“ trusts: a ”GM \7 4 n ._ :_,__~_-“ ‘—« a“ 4 M A . 1.. , ,..‘_ ,.__ " my” -—--— u~...._-.- A, - r l . WI .71“; - , ENTARY H DUPiiul’ETiEARiAL / 5,rp Date of organization First play produced Nothing But _¥The Truth IN‘1 ..‘0 ALLRCAV CCIKTTITY PLAY??? 1922 Is a membership drive held} The number of members on the Board of Directors Terms held by the members of the Board of Directors Officers are elected by: The plays are cast from: The plays are directed by: The director is chosen in this manner: Types of Memberships---number of members--cost of membership The theatre has a seating capacity of: The stage area is: Description of fly loft Lighting facilities Description of workshOp Description of dressing rooms Description of storage facilities Costumes are: Scenery is: Publicity handled by: Number of plays per season Length of play run Length of season Plays are selected by: Plays are cast by: 1949 Season: Type of music before performance Other dramatic activities Number of rehearsals held Rehearsals are held in: Number of membership meetings Speakers on theatrical tepics2 Number of membership parties PRODUCTION COSTS FOR 1948-1949 SEASON Currenthssets: Fixed Assets: Income: Yes Ten Three years Board of Directors Community at large One salaried full-time director Seve-ll voluntary apprentices ~"6T‘1fl‘1’fi (”v- 'T‘W‘I‘ f‘. "..a:.~- Lg \ —~-- J‘.-\-'--~- CLINTCI r; rips 1948 The Male Animal ! N0...New members «re RSde ‘0 join when needed. Teven One year lembership at large lembership One fullatine volrnteer director Directors serve apprenticeship first.. Directors are elected Season ticket---E?5---SS.OO 750 28' X 18' No fly left, but 20 sets of lines Switchboard, 9 spots, footlights, 2 border lights, dimmers, 2 bunch 12' X 18' two and make-up room. Prep rooms and attic made, rented, solicited constructed by group newspapers, radio, posters, person- al letters-~store window displays-- stunts on main street-~1etters to clubs four two nights, one matinee seven months Board of Directors and director Director and Board John Loves many see 0 e e e OCt. WEE% A Life. 0 e e e e . e eNOVe The Late Christopher Bean. .Feb. TWO Blind M309 0 e e e e e cwar. Recorded music Christmas pageant twenty-four rented room.in Legion hall, on stage three-four occasionally closing night of each play Scenery. e e e e e o e e .$S0.00 Costumes 0 e e e e e e e e 6098 PrOperties e e 0 0107.95 Advertising. 0 0 0249049 Office 0 e e e e e 52.56 Rehearsals .213.00 Salaries . .800.00 Royalties. .255.00 BOOkSe e e e e 59.78 Cash 0 e e e e e e o e e$ 727.10 Inventory 0 e e e e e 3,000.00 Memberships. . . . . Miscellaneous. . Tax collected on . $ 921.00 5.00 435.94 . . O C Olllps 0 $1,361.94 Active-~~40~~-§1.00 550 24’ X 12' No fly loft Switchboard, spots, one 20' section wired in 3 circuits, 1-20' border strip None school class rooms School, member’s barn made, rented, solicited constructed by group newspapers, radio, throwaways»~ esters personal letters advance .9 l. ’ ticket sales, mailing list one two or three nights six weeks 1948 V7" Lino Cne yoar--five members its years-«four members Toard of Directors 'R -1a ‘=.‘\ hrs ~ . 'v- . "‘ . lemncrshlp-ncoumunlty, if needed ”l... -: ,. .". ... 3‘ . ~1- 3t~csvl \chrteor UerCMOYG 1“. - 1‘ ~ w,“ _ J w T.’ ‘ V streetors Ore chosen by Tho ;Cflr0. c y.) Act:ve~--34«-r§3.00 Honoraryb_-3- ...... -_,- NJne None None rented, solicited constructed by group newspapers, posters two one-acts one nights nine months Board recommendation—wrote by members.. Script Committee conbined with Try-cuts before Board-~casting by director and assistant Nale Animal Feb. '48 Geo. washington_Slept Here Oot.’48 You Can't Take It_With Ypu Air. ’49 Arsenic and Old Lace Feb.'50 None one-ects, black-outs school annex...on s four None two-~a1so farties after each play Scenery e e e e e e e e 0% 65000 COStUNGSe e e e e e e e e 15000 EleCtriCe e e e e e e e e 10000 Advertising . . . . . . . 2.00 Royalties o e e e e e e . 150.00 EOOkS e e e o e e e e e e $0.00 Baby SittCI‘So e o e e e e 50.00 $502.00 Electrical equipment. . .$ 300.00 Lake-up equipment . . . . 15.00 $ 315.00 .”_---‘\ Casting Committee Casting Committee The Last Refuge Love In a Cupboard Jan.'49 Iliar . t4: 9 Recorded music-~piano None one or two a week until last week wherever Space is available nine occasionally one CCStumeSe e e e e e e e e 0% 4 8 PrOper‘bies. e e e e e e e o 4:059 Royalties o e e e e e e e e 5 0 Books . O P C C O O O O O O O O 1. CfiSh. e e e e e e e e e e .3 44.47 Femberships e e e e e e e e? 102000 tiscollaneous e e e e e e e 20.76 a c 4.. ‘w-.~\_ ». b n I. ‘- TYTTY 0111 1940 lhdhatlcrs m-“' ‘ O'— XLVOD Cne year lombershin at large Community at large Several volunteer directors Efreetors are chosen by the TERSHALL CIVIC TFVATRE ASSCCIATICN 1949 Yes Nine Three years hbmbership at large Community at large One director who is guaranteed a certain amount and a percentag. of net profits in addition. Director is chosen by Board. EOQTd Ehd approved RV EBNbQTSO e} Full 15' X 15' mombcrship-~-25--w$a.00 Charter--254--— $1.00 Patrons--20---- 5.00 Regular members-- 1.00 700 Tawas Community Hall-— Tames City High School-~36' X 20' No fly loft Switchboard: 2 outlets (E.T.C.H.) 4 spots, footlights in E. T.C.H. None T eC 0:]:eS”-2: F oTeCeHe'l None made, solicited will be constructed by group newspapers, posters one two nights twelve months Board of Directors director and casting committee Nadhatters piano None 18 rehearsals-~six weeks on stage two lve None 5 outlets (T.C§H.S.)-Switchboard, spots, foot- lights, border lights, and dimmers . None two None rented, solicited constructed by group newspapers, radio, posters, per- sonal letters four two nights nine months Reading Committee Director Dec. Apr. John Loves Nary Angel Street piano one-acts (1950-1951 season) in worksh0p, on stage five None After last performance of each play Scenery e e e e e e 0 Electric. 0 e e e e 0 Advertising 0 e e e e Royalties e e e e e e BOOkS e e e e e e e e e e$50000 Scenery. e e e e e o$eeeee e e 12.00 COStumeS O O o 0 e 0 71086 e e 5.04 PTOpertieS O e e e 0 122020 e e 20.00 Electric 0 e e e e e 16.75 . . 8.60 Advertising. . . . . 72.53 Office 0 e e e e e e 5095 545.64 Salaries e e e e e e 465.01 Royalties. e e e e e 150000 BOOkSo e e e o e e e 21.60 $925.90 CfiSh e e e e e e e e$475000 Electrical equipment. . .$ 12.00 Electrical equipment.sso.oo Make-up equipment.... 10.00 $40.00 Memberships. e 0 03254090 Contributions... . 123.00 Admissions e e e 01,520.00 Sales AfiVe e e e o 155000 slitsZENT' 073 S77 1% uvI‘T'L'LLNiECV “Rf --_.«.——-— MAI FMAL AT? ‘:L~‘:L‘f’:—:Ir: T171 (351.: i "77?"? ll: * 7r, . * " git? $u/fl.l _ ‘ BATTLE CREEK CIVIC THEATRE GnAND R.7IDS CIVIC THEATRE PLAYERS 5112? 3? D ARECR. PLTL; 30-- :“Y El,” ' KLLAILT ’ 01?:0 053? In 3:30 :1v1c pygyggs gngTfl'u “LAYERS . r. r '30 10 ‘ Date of organization: 1921 1926 1-2! 19. 1029 1029 1932 o o ' if _ l, "' I 5" (n 'x : l w "b .e P First play: Cappy Ricks Belinda .eot '9_;;;f captain “pgye sop 9 ‘,' 7.7 ‘4'}? Membership drive: Yes H0 YEE v0 -Co Yes '3' "‘ 1 r‘ P,\VIP_11 - "O ‘3‘ members on B.of D.: Fifteen sifteen Nine Twelye luelJc line hlne Terms of Board of D.: three years kn Officers elected by: Board of Directors Plays cast from: Community Plays cast by: Three-year terms Board of Directors Community Committee and director Two years Board of Directors ;.erfl3el*s Castirg Comxlttce-—new each year. One year-sir members Tflflllears-sax members two-Zocrd of Lirectess ten-membership .. _' I C TY {if}; 17"!" yr 2 years-elected members one veer-asoointed " 11 LL Veerd of Directors 'Zonrlnlltgr lirertor and ol~nt Jet: lr‘ 66 Three years Board of directors Communitm' Llily Reading lfld J (“r 4. *; HF] (w IN "'“m""‘.| ‘JCLS U-..) Q umm ,._.R 7166 Three years Board of directors Comnunity director assisted by Casting ‘3 01m: li'tl'. (3. (J. Plays selected by: Play Selection Committee and director, president Play; directed by: Salaried director Director chosen by: Chairmen of production, casting, olrector, and ~ . > we 0118111933 mane, ’ ‘31. Salaried director ' 'h' ‘ - . v... -. — 1 Sorlnt Conn; tee (new “non L \ ‘1 3 1’- ' UfC, l' l' /‘ Flay Selection :mwdaw; Somnittee flay Reading and Cast- ing Committee A Director Several volngtary directors Certain directors for SOYerfil “cluntSIy'dir. Eurectcr's committee Several voluntary dir. Salaried director ‘ der'tain types cl" plow-.2 13921111 approval Number of plays: 7 Six Eleven Five wl ht ive Five Length of play run: Four-five nights Eight nights Four nights Four-five—six nights Right to ten Four Seven nights ggngth of season: Nine months Wight: nonths Eight months Nine months Eight months Nine months 1949 season: ¥eare-—Age You Can't Take Hasty-Heart It With You Stnnge Bedfellows The Corn ls Green its Winslow Boy Little:Wbmen Present Lapghter Glass Menagerie Light Np the Sky Village Green OHISuzanna Publicity by: newspapers Royal Family Taming of the Shrew Village Green Two Blind Nice newspapers, radio, bill boards, posters, person- al letters Jenny Kissed Ne Hahn Loves hary new5papers, radio, per - sonal letters Life'With Father Ibrk'Victory'h-". The Winslow Boy Uziuary Thaw The Curse of An Aching Ttaange Bedfellows The Druid Circle Pygmdlion Two Blind lice Thefiletter I189 35‘? ”wt .0.- newspapers, radio, Cur- tain Call Life With lbther Dark of the Moon Bern Yesterday Young Ken’s Fancy Command Decision St range Bedfell ows TWO Blind Mice Swe ethe arts newspapers, radio posters, newspapers, radio post cards Years Age The Hasty Heart Pngalion John Loves Nagy 0‘0 newspapers, radio, bill boards, posters, personal letteds, Cy? clorama Type of music before performances: recorded, organ piano occasionally recorded music recorded music string ensemble recorded music five Number of rehearsals: Three weeks TWenty-four Twenty-one Twenty-five Six weeks Rehearsals held : Rehearsal hall, stage stage rented room, stage rehearsal hall, stage 'workshop, stage stage Other dramatic act- one-acts, children's theatre Actor's Studio ivities: Children's theatee, acts one- one~acts children's theatre, one- aogs 'work shop Types, costs, numbeng'Sustaining-$6.00-1300 Adult inactive-$6.50-3162 Active(init.$25.00)fil6.~@fl3Thgular-~$5.00~S7O Sustaining $25.00 22 Regular §5.00 2,000 Active--~$l.OO 150-200 of memberships: Student Sust.3.00- Student " - SS.25~ 306 Aseoc.(" ")bl?.50-3O iflnnlyh---9.00~642 Subscription A $7. 152 fictive —--- 500 Junior 3.50-50 lbtrons~~l5.00 56 " B 65. 135 Others -~-- 20 Ehmtain. 25.00 7 membership meeflings: One None One Ifive Occasional Two six , Speakers at meetings: Yes No Cbcasional Occasional No '« MEMBERship parties: Yes fifter eadh play run Two After each play run None After each play run Five~Seven Picnic occasional soppers & Dinner parties Theatre owned? No No Yes No No No Yes Seating capacity: 674 400 555 550 1,784 320 Stage area: 37' X 17' X 14' 20' X 40' 80' X 15' 84' X 36' lB'K 34’ 75' X 50' Fly loft: 25',grid; 50' Yes 25' None lee-86 sets of lines Yes - 4 lines None “" __..._........‘==——— Lighting: Switchboard with 70 amp feed- Switchboard, Spots, Svdtchboard with 8 switches, Fre~set remote con- Switchboard, etc, Twitchioird 74th 46 out two sides, 15 spots on serial footlights, border 12 sockets, four spots, dim- trel switchboard with footlights ots. batten, 6 in balcony, 3 beams strips , dimmers. merS. 5O CiTCUitS. 5O SPOtS: re- 6 towers, 4 proscenium, 6 oli- movable footlights, four vets, 2 banks of x-rays, 6 border strips, xnm.all 50 homemade Spots. circuits dimmer-controlled. . .. 'l . - ,. ,.- , .v .. Workshop: Yes Yes~l§t,mes as large as stage, Yes-40' X 20' Yes~3 ports of 5~eor {es oO' A 23' 1 la” Yes Yes—~on stage area left 20' X 20' garage Dressing rooms: Yes Six Two & napalm? Two Nine Two Two —-end to end with movabbe center ‘ partition. Storgge space: Yes rehearsal space Yes ~in rear Qf‘worka part of garage in thectre, in warehouses workshop left over stage auditorium silOEN . Costume policy: make, rent, solicit nmke, rent, solicit rake,zpnt, solicit rent, solicit 3kg, rent, solicit Rake, rent solicit make, rent Scenery is: Construct construct construct construct construct construct construct Produotlon costs : $5,269.40 $16,268.48 {321,511 .44 117,460.00 $35,325.00 $35,275.00 5 .1 1: Income : $6,555.79 $41,319.35 1729,149.oo I';§;29,186.50 $311,524 .00 $9,281.00 L c a , . Currenchssets: $1,163.49 e 2,500.00 $8,056.30 0 5,140.00 $20,800.00 $27,000.00 Fixed Assets: 3 765.76 S 8,100.00 $1,504.95 $5,535.90 g---- $1,175.00 V.‘i..Luth31.r“.f. 3* MATERIAL _ 3 v7 rww-‘v-w ‘ ~fiv ~v“. r‘v'fi", "'3 ‘ ' "- ¢ ""~Lfi 3 h'v'g A‘ ~- ‘ '- ’ ‘ "' '> “' ' ‘ L " 1'7' T‘ '- . -*I - " 0.".- ‘u. “ v‘r-Ir~ ~ "" -. - ~~-\" 31‘: ~_y .1 ‘,V." -- '7',‘ ‘M 4" . ~V-->v{q if“ m ~ A fi~~yTn BAY CITY PLAYERS VILLA‘E L Y'V ) OF RL"LL OAK CIfIC 1 m- ip~$.e LIT “C e “.. . . _ , _ \ - - - TI.-L IR: 'H. JGE’AI' NR}; 3:”? PCT“: -""ITI> CT “‘“W’K “ gm‘r ’1' : ' ITS“ " "‘ :11: R: :»1;.rx.‘;7;3~.:3 Date of organ. 1917 1924 1326 1029 1333 ‘4‘", T??? 1:33 I??? lDfS ni~ r. - . ttr. (a a 'f' -.1 ' ,: 1 s {:,g 7 First play: Outw Ine ~oosc anga niun _:;. r o e. ‘v 1 r. 7.7 " Tl.’ .r~ 1':r""‘ 1, 3" if '0 mebership drive: Yes No no {es .0 0 .cs 33, 1:0 be» ' " . "' ‘ ‘1 ° m’, F 7" ”f "T h. ~"4‘ Lib . . 1 \u,’ Mbmbers on B.ofD.: Eleven Eight seven ine zloflt to“ in iULo unclre T rlve ‘ H‘s-r V , ‘ Ill-"r irnrt '1 IN,“ on fire 1n: (TH-r wv '..\Mr~ ' I c ,3 1 3],, 9c 'i‘nx 1 7,5 ‘0 Terms of B.ofD.: three years pres.-l yr; treas. One year (he year L30 years 3.0 ,T.ro Iaroc ”cars rue dolls ,JICV ye Is no years 3 yrs.; others-2 yrs. . o r j o , . 1 ’ 3;" - x C' Y“ "\13 "‘I C! 1 .. (KC). '43. 1 7‘: {f 5 Officers elected: rembership 2 by members Lembers lembersnip anrd of Dlrhutbro coard CI enrectors Lee a “ca,c -oarn -oxrd 2 by Board Plays cast from: Community Kembers Rembers Pembers ienfiers Tonhers Community Compunity Community :embers . '° ° 9 w " v». -- ' ‘fi‘o‘ 9,1 7} cvv ° 3&4” ‘ "L: 9. f‘ - " . .- ’ Plays cast by: Director Board Director director a Cast- contittee director a IaaIi director direccir a cast aliector ing Comrittm ing Conflittee Playsseleoted by: Reading Com. & Program Com. & Play Committee Play Reading Com. Play Reading Com. Com ittee i ?oard Play Reading Com. director & Board Play Reading Com. Flay Selection Board Board director &T%mrd director & Board Board Com. Plays directed by: Several volun— Several voluntary one voluntary dir. Several voluntary One salaried dir. Coo salaried dir. Tolwntery director local director“ Hev. voluntary 70v. voluntary tary directors directors directo.s Several voluntary ch. volrntary on Tee baSis dicectors directors directors. , directors. Director chosen by: Board Elected Committee Board Production Com. Board 666 Number of Plays: Five Four two or three Four Five Four One Four Three Four or five Length of play run: Three nights 5-4 nights two nights five nights four nights five nights one-two nights Four nights two nights three nights Length of season: seven months seven months nine months nine months ten months nine months nine months nine months twelve months eight months F Springtime For Henry The Whiteheaded Boy For Love or to-ey Lady of Letters The Voice of Turtle An Inspector Calls Arsenic and Old Lace 1949 season: I Like It Here Time For Elizabeth Tohn loves Mary . . _ fl 0 , , T Ladies In Retirement Miracle on 34th SL.The Bride Reerets Tystery at Greenfing.Command Decmdion Front Page Dracula M The Torchbearers The shining dour An Inspector Calls The Late Chris. Ee§n_ Tlio ietrified Forest The Barker . The Royal Family The nasty neart The tale Animal Life with rather The French Touch But Not Goodbye Blythe Spirgt 0 Tistress? mu; See How They Run Strange Bedfellows John Loves Mary See How They Run Two Blind Nnce The Traitor The women Etblicity by: newspapers, radio, newspapers, posters newspapers, radio, letters newspapers, posters, news areis, mailing revsonnero, radio, newsnapers, radio, nevsoeoers, radio, newspapers bill boards, posters mimeographed letters posters, letters. posicards list posters, person- personal letters. bill hoards, trrcwe radio, per— and cards e] 3e tte s, clubs. aways, posters, per- so a3 letters. sonal letters, sneeke crs tr. rcrvarm3 clu‘sw o Type of music: None None recorded epssqd recorded rusie recorded rfisic or none string ensemble recorded music, string Yon“ Hone. Piano *isno ensemhlc, pi‘r(, child— fén’s arohosZr; Number of rehearsals: 30 15-24 20 20-25 21 18 15-20 20_25 Rehearsals held in: rented hall stage homes, stage stage stage club halls, stage stage 'workshOp, stage stage Other gramgticlacto: one-acts, special one-acts one-acts musical production chibdren's theatre, one-acts, radio d children's theatre,‘ Christmas Pro g. (ungugctg, variety dramas one—arts, $010 and . show group readings Li... ‘ k . C ' .. " -011 .‘f L: . “ —:’: 2 .f“ C", C‘ . .' .- unfit A Y '0"..— Sui ’1‘ nulu' I‘L ' 71 —fl‘q( -9ij? rx‘ L)". .p —""°’ 50 (N .1 Types, costs, numbers/Asso01ate $3.50 Active s.1 5 0 W1; -60 00 sustaining 260 4.00 ctiir . LC 00 lull...l70 310.00 ndtlt c2 ,l,0¢ iLl'Ll’e. , 1.00 Acti ve-—75--:2. 00 Spectator lember of membershlps Aet1ve-~-- 5100 ASLQCiate~29~$25.AC active--~--l40—o2.00 Ic~ocia1r- £20.00 Junior- 4*- .5 Single Life-100.00 700—-¢3.00 T ' ".r'r ' " ‘ if (600) Lurxioran-y,1.50 Jr. Active... 5.00 39 33 Lll€(0>5O-OO Life-10~~——--«-— lO-yr Life(s)50.00 S-yr LiPe(d) 25.00 5~yr Lire (8)15.00 ‘ Sing. Sust. 5.00 ‘ Single-l yr. 4.00 ‘ 3 mebership mtgs: One nine one one one 15 one Yes two as . ;' a ? , Sp kers at meetings Yes Yes Yes Yes 7' "Y mb chin la +3.. .V A:- ; v ‘ . r ) ““1 1‘ n ' ' k9 are r I T 383? f1 e 5 three paities Ifier each show Four :our-five 1 or 2 three parties after shows Four Theatre vn d? T ~I 'r w L 0 6 30 Yes Lo No ~o Yes No Yes No No I Seatin ca acit J _ o , 6 P Y: 215 400 leOC 80 235 270 870—997 -—- 6&3 400 | ' - I f‘] «r -. - Stage area: 27 X 45 l{“‘ n 15’ 29' f 40' 24: K 15! 55? X 18* 24’ K 30( 55' X 50' , . ' . (1‘ . . , . ‘ . . _’ Fly Loft: 50 high 15 high none-~mskeshiit grid none none None 30'-1b lines Hone Li tin : Swit hb a , ' ‘ ' ° R ‘ 8h 8 footl' bgfrd’bsygts’ homemade SW1tChb08rd, 5 SW1tchboard, four switcht oa rd, spots, Switchboard, portable SW1tCh- sWitchboard, sects, spots, borders, 1" ,s v ~ . -. I . . . . * . * . dimm.‘ , or ere, baoy spots, footlights, spots, border strips, footlighm s, dim~ 3 spots, foot- hoard, baby Spots footlights, borders, footlights, 913: two border strips, 2 dimmers, were, Lwcrder lights, borders, portable foot- dimmers. n ' n " - Variacs , 2 sm.floods dinners, color lights. wheels 'Wcrkshop: Backsta ge Yes No To f' TLC) 3? ‘7 ~ Ezessing rooms: One large one..3 and l make-up --- 1_A. Y 2. Five --ae;f’ “0 Yes Yes (25' A 50') No (- *' 4 K A' . ‘7‘" I 1 orage Space: backsta be & ample, but not 00mp- Basement ofCity Lib. Fare 10’ Y l°' '“LLO Two Yes Jone Two C, t 1. third f1. ballroom lete TL L. backstage area werenonscs & hase- Yes in.workshop under stare and os ume o 10 . . ,. ' ' n P y‘ make, SOllclt make,rent, soliCIt rent make, solicit make rent ‘k t ‘ rent in'Wings - , . m: e, ren , soli-maLe, rent make,rent,solici make,rent,solicit make,rent Scenery is: construct Construct oitv construct Construct con t-v + “ —. $2 084.31 - s lac, construct construct construct construct construct Production costs: $96.59 $3,297.80 r . ' 3585.00 33 ,336 $4 or . v .3 9.70.33 51 4'46 08 R _ ‘g, . $31,060.00 Income: $9 7s1 ' L .00 3‘. 31400 00 T2 900 * ‘ . e , .oo 39,000.00 .;:131.00 "“5 000 00 r‘ r? .v 0 Current Assets: $4,251.00 $2,806.56 a SEC 00 33 30 V b 0 34;. 2.69 3808.20 $2 200.00 _Eixed Assets: $57 566 82 L a p 0 e 3 310.00 90 oo " ' a , , s 800.00 / \ (Q! cflu .auha;: a. P" n, ‘fl , n - A M “Wir, gm 5’?” MATFMAL AI? ANALYSIS CT‘ TH: CIVIC ”was javnu I ~ . as I (.45 - g-4.’P(v L' _ ALLEGAN CCVVUVITY PLAYERS CLINTON PLAYERS <_~ PLYZTVTE Trxarnn GTTLN saris CC :BHIIY PLAYERS MARSHALL CIVIC THEATRE ASS'N 4 Date of organization 1922 1948 1948 1949 19-9 First Fday produced Nothing But the Truth The hale Animal lhdhatters Is a membership drive held? Yes No Yes No Yes h The number of members on the Ten Seven Vine Seven Nine Board of Directors The ttfinw.held by the members Three Years One year She year"“‘fi"e members One year Three years of the Board of Directors Officers are elected by: Board of Directors Two veers--fcur members U Membership at large Board of Directors —_-,..-. Membership at large hbmbership at large The plays are cast from: Community at large lembership ltnkership~~c0mmunity, if needed Community at large Community at large The plays are cast by: Director and Board Try-outs before Board-~casting'my Casting Committee director and Casting Commdttee director director and assistant The plays are selected by: director and Board Board FCCOUMCDdafiCnP-EBMbeTS vote Script and Casting Committees Board of Directors Reading Committee The plays are directed by: AA 7 one salaried full-time director several voluntary apprentices ‘d——_ one full-time voluntary director several volrntary directors several voluntary directors one director who is guaranteed a certain amount plus a per- centage of the net How the diqzctor is chosen: serve as apprentices firtt election Board of Directors Board of Directors & members Board of Directors Number of plays per season: Four One Two one-acts One Four Length of play run: Two nights, one matinee two or three nights One night Two nights Two nights Length of season: L949 season: govcn morths Six weets Nine months ~-o~——Hx~~-mW—W”OH" :u~m .. ‘04- —n a ”u...- —‘ -.-~ John Loves Nagy What A Life The Late ChristOpher Bean Arsenic and Old Lace The Last Refuge Love In a‘Cupbcard Twelve months Nadhatters nine months 1 John Loves Nary Angel Street Publicity handled by: Type of music before perfor- mance: Number of rehearsals held: newspapers, radio, posters, per- sonal letters, store window dis- plays, stunts on main street, let- ters to club: Recorded music Twenty-four newspapers, radio, throwaways,pmsters, pe personal letters, advance ticket newspapers, posters sales, mailing list None Recorded music, piano One or tmmvrziveek until last newspapers, posters piano .--.-i.-... 18 rehearsals, six weeks newspapers, radio, posters, personal letters Piano -o‘ u- u. ”- Rehearsals are held in: rented room.in Legion hail, stage school annex, stage wherever space is available on stage in workshOp, on stage Other dramatic activitees: Christmas pageant one-acts, black-outs None ‘_ None 0ne-acts(1950-l9Bl season) ‘ Types of memberships, number Season ticket 325 $3.00 Active 40 $1.00 Active- 34 $3.00 Full 25 $2.00 Charter 254 $1.00 of members, costs Honorary 2 .... Patrcng 20 5.00 Regular ... 1.00 Number of membership meetings three-four Four Nine Twelve Five Speakers on theatrical tepics? Occasionally June Occasionally I“; None None Number of membership parties: Closing night of each play Two--also parties after eadh play One After last performances Theatre owned or rented: rented rented rented rented rented Seating capacity of theatre: 750 350 500 700 The stgge area is: 28' by 18' 24' X 12' East Tawas Hagh- 15' X 15' Tawas City High 36' X 20' Description of fly loft: No fly loft, but 20 sets of lines No fly loft No fly loft -J Liggiing facilities: Switchboard, 9 spots, footlights, Switchboard, spots, one 20' foot- Switchboard (ETH-Z cutlets) Switchboard, Spots, foot- 2 border lights, dimmers, 2 bunch light wired in 3 circuits, 1—20' (TCHSé—S outlets). 4 SPOtS: lights, border lights; and lights border strip footlights in ETH dimmers. Description of workshOp: 12' X 18' None None “v None None Description of dressing rooms Two and one make-up room school classrooms None T.C.H.S.~—23 B.T.H.--l TWO Desodiption of storage space: Prep rooms and attic school, member's barn “—— None None None Costume policy: make, rent, and solicit make, rent, solicit rent, solicit rant make, solicit rent,solicit Scenery 15: constructed Constructed Constructed Constructed Constructed Production costs for 1948- $1,794.76 3 302,00 3 24.44 $45.64 B 925.90 1949 season: ' Income: $1,361.94 s—3i5.99- 5 122.76 $1,852.00 Current Assets: $ 727.10 .5 44,47 3‘: 475.00 Fixed Assets: $ 3,000j00 r; 315,90 .1; 12.00 40.00 t 8: 3310.37, Inc. Trice: $4.17 B I. Eanilt 0:: St. * tins”, Lic*i”&n Tttnl 5.00 ‘ - -. ' ‘1 _ ,, 1 1" (k n Tholoseh Die-ass ilhfl n; caeci for c , :or A H ’ Season Ti chats :0: lCJO—El S033)1. CV l‘ PUP acme Arx“ess ‘ ".1: as ~ n1“ ' n--q‘1\'l A *n P . ‘L '7- 100319" 1750 $-I_..v D C-:."u_"-g .)IJ_’ 9;.L‘” a, .' 10 C. :.‘c; ... o w - . .‘ - ._ l‘ '07.: 1 o 1 1' four cancelled caeck is Veer frCGlPt. p.350ts Wl+1 -9 wailei to you in the F317. With “Androcles and the Lion”, Saginaw Players, under the guidance of Pit & Balcony, Inc., ring down the curtain on their 1938-39 season. . Naturally we are already thinking of next year and we would like your help in choosing for the 1939 - 40 season the kind of plays you want to see. In making up any season’s program—BALANCE—is impor- tant. This past year we have tried to give you Comedy, Drama, Mystery, and Classics in an attractive, pleasant, and varied com- bination. To help us for next year we have prepared this little question- naire for you to fill out. A few moments of your time will greatly help us in finding out what our audiences like and want. Your wishes and Your preferences will be carefully considered in the selection of next season’s plays. During the intermission at the end of the first act, the ushers will pick up these questionnaires. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO—OPERATION. Here are the 6 plays of the past season. Will you please check the ones you liked best. Indicate your preference in order by the numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. DOUBLE DOOR SQUARING THE CIRCLE MERRIE WIVES OF WINDSOR LOVE IS NOT IMPORTANT ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ANDROCLES AND THE LION Check in order of your preference, the following KINDS of plays. Indicate your choice by 1, 2, 3, etc. DRAMA MYSTERY MELO DRAMA FANTASY COMEDY SOCIAL PROBLEM SIGNED If there are any particular plays you would like to have us produce next year, jot down their titles on the lines below. Will you be interested in a season ticket ($3.50 for 6 plays) for next year? YES NO allow ‘70 join 7h 4’44ch Make your check payable to the Midland Little Theatre Guild and mail it to Box 488, Midland, Michigan, the Guild’s permanent address. You will receive your membership card by mail. Or, if you prefer, you may pay your membership fee and pick up your card at Emily Gibbs’ Shop on the Circle or at McCann’s on Main Street. Fill out the enclosed penny postcard and drop it in the mail. The information requested on the card is necessary to the success of the current season. 9W 3W 4am! An important problem confronting the Guild is the enlargement of the Post Street Theatre and im- provement of existing facilitiesl Therefore. the Guild Board of Directors has established an Im- provement and Building committee and an Im- provement and Building Fund. This account Is separate from the Guild’s general operating ac- count. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the new fund should make checks payable to the Mid— land Little Theatre Improvement and Building Fund and address them to Box 488, Midland. Gifts to the fund are urgently needed to enable the Guild to broaden its activities, enlarge its mem- bership, and improve its services to the community. ‘\ l. ‘l \ M ATE EMA {I PAM. Malena! lllllE lHEHlRE GUILD {Madeira I949 - 50 gm 6W President— M. E. Sharp Vice President—- H. R. Slagh Recording Secretary-— Mrs. Gordon Sears Corres. Secretary— T. Van Hall Treasurer—— W. E. Drury Director—— W. R. Mullison Director— Mrs. W. R. Dixon Directori— Dougald McLean Director *— Mrs. Kay Wareham I949 - 50 Home Phone Business Phone 2258-W 751 3187-R 656-M 4162 3831 3058 3087-W 472 * Term expires June 1950 Dow 672 Dow 354 1023 Dow 8155 608 Dow 8155 Dow 272 Dow 202 Permanent Committee Chairmen Reservations—— Mrs. James McHard Play Reading— Mrs. H. R. Slagh Maintenance— . D. C. Chisholm 1878 751 2244-R Improvements and Building— VV. R. Mullison Membership— W. E. Drury Publicity— Mrs. Kay Wareham 3831 4162 472 Properties and Costumes— Mrs. W. R. Dixon Stage Design— M. E. Sharp Makeup-— H. R. Slagh 3058 2258-W 751 Lighting and Sound Effects—— Dougald McLean 3087-W Dow 673 DOW 8155 608 202 Dow 672 DOW 354 Dow 272 I949 - 50 gm POST STREET lHEHlRE 850216344 8.45 3mm. “PETTICOAT FEVER” October 25 - 29 Director: Mrs. Robert McKellar Phone 3251 “LA U R A” December 6 - 10 Director: W. R. Mullison Phone 3831 or Dow 8155 “YES, MY DARLING DAUGHTER” February 21 - 25 Director: R. W. Hummer Phone 756—R or Dow 8155 “THE HASTY HEART” April 18 - 22 Director: Mrs. H. R. Slagh Phone 751 Limited facilities of the Post Street Theatre make it necessary to reserve all seats for each perfor- mance. These seats are held by members of the Guild. However, tickets are transferable and Guild members may assign them to anyone. General admission, at $1.50 per person, will be sold on nights when the theatre is not filled to capacity. All reservations will be taken by Mrs. James Mc- Hard, Phone 1878, and Mrs. Gordon Anderson, Phone 2329. Reservation dates will be announced for each production. Wéa‘ .94 ‘7lze guild? The Midland Little Theatre Guild is a nonprofit civic organization dedicated to bringing good plays to Midland and to giving anyone interested in ama- teur theatricals a chance to express himself. Anyone is eligible for membership in the Guild. There are two kinds of memberships: Sustaining, and Active. Sustaining members need not participate in the production of plays. ActiVe members usually help out on at least two plays per year. Helping out includes anything from directing a play to selling refreshments between acts. Sustaining memberships cost $8 per person and entitle the member to two seats to each play. Double Active memberships cost $4 per season and entitle members to two seats to each play. Single Active memberships cost $3 and entitle the member to one seat at each play. In order to give all old and new members an op- portunity to participate in whatever Guild activities they desire, telephone numbers of officers, directors, and permanent committee chairmen are listed on page 2. Any of these persons will help you secure membership in the Guild. They will tell you how to try out for a play, help on a production, or an- swer any other questions you may have about the Guild. SAGINAW STATE BANK 115 N. Hamilton Corner Jefferson and Lapeer Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation it. SUPPLEQEEA // .. .71 ,. < Icrnvrxb ' J. ' - NEXT SHOW DUE MARCH 3 THROUGH 8 "Love is Not Important" by Rosemary Casey The fourth production of the season is now in casting. The play is a modern comedy regarding the near heroine —— an actress in the theatre. and the near hero. a playwright. The people and situations are found only in the theatre. It is modem to the moment and might be called the "Penny- wise" of 1938-39. Miss Casey has written many successful movie scenarios. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Saginaw Players wish to acknowledge the Iunior League assistance under the chairmanship of Mrs. Martin Tanner and Mrs. Edward Germain. The Girl Scouts of America. the melodeon Michigan Towel Supply Company. for the buck basket ORGANIZATION or PIT AND BALCONY. INC. 1938 . 39 SPONSORING THE SAGINAW PLAYERS The Barn, Cleveland at Fayette, Saginaw. Michigan Phone 6377 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 1938 - 1939 — President ................................................. Wallis Craig Smith Vice-President ................................................. William Stone Vice-President ...................................... Mrs. A. Willis Van Auken Secretary ................................................. Mattie G. Crump Treasurer ............................................... Mrs. Burrows Morley Mortimer Bishop Donald Nash Gilbert Otto Lynn Snyder Maurice L. Williamson ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN —— House Property Maintenance ................... i ................. William Stone Production ............................................... Dan Crane, Ir. Membership ....................................................... Sam Ellis Program .................................................. Mattie G. Crump Publicity .................................................... Burrows Morley Social .................................................. Mrs. Burt L. Lindzay Tickets .- ........................................... Mrs. A. Willis Van Auken Ushers ................................................... Mrs. William Stone Exclusive ... But Not Expensive __ CHARLES FRUEH & SONS (Ianity Box Beauty Shop 202 South Michigan Dorothy D. Hoff 511 Federal Phone 7474 Mumwmw 722 gaff/14w playeu SPONSORED BY PIT AND BALCONY. INC. Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor STAGED BY DAN CRANE, JR. JANUARY 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 FEBRUARY 1 1939 at the Barn WILL LADIES PLEASE REMOVE HATS Second National Banlk 82 Trust Company of Saginaw Resources $32,000,000 SERVING SAGINAW SINCE 1871 Two Otfices for Your Convenience Washington and Genesee Court and Hamil' ton Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation \v‘ YOU JUNIORS KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND SO DO WE! We've designed our collection on your ideas —— that's why it Includes MARTHA GALES CARTWRIGHT JUNIOR DRESSES Priced at $16.95 and $19.95 CARLYLE JUNIOR DRESSES Priced at $12.95 and $15.00 THE NEW PARIS shop 302 E. Genesee Ave.. Saginaw Owned for 25 years The Jeanet Duffy Shop Cards - Books - Gifts - Valentines Shop 6 Jarvis Yawkey Court SUSAN A. HAUSEN LENDING LIBRARY c; I r T s 118 North Franklin St. Goetz 8c Roeser Florists 518 Gratiot Avenue John B. Goetz Jane Rooser H. S. SIEBEL JEWELER AFTER THE SHOW ER with CAST OF CHARACTERS Sir John Falstaff ................................ Wallis Craig Smith A fat rascal about whom the play revolves Bardolph ............................................. Louis Traxel Nym .................................................. Dale Strong Pistol .............................................. Gordon Hatfield Three thugs who attend Falstaff Robin ................................................ Norma Strong Falstaif's page Master Ford ................... . ...................... Robert Harden Master Page ...................................... Theodore Frieling Two gentlemen of Windsor Mistress Ford ....................................... Doreen McLean Mistress Page .................................. Constance McWethy The merry wives of Windsor Ann Page ........................................ Sallie Van Auken Daughter of Mistress and Master Page Fenton ............................................. Roger Oeming Ann Page's choice among her suitors Dr. Caius ......................................... Vincent Garofola Mistress Page's choice among her daughter's suitors Slender ........................................... Marshall Wilson Master Page's choice for his daughter's hand Rugby ............................................ \. . Claire Nichols Servant to Dr. Caius Mistress Quickly ...................................... Mary Stewart Housekeeper to Dr. Caius Justice Shallow ....................................... Newton Lamb Uncle of Slender Simple .............................................. Jack Coughlin Servant to Slender Sir Hugh Evans ....................................... George Rigby Parson and schoolmaster of Windsor Mine Host to the Garter ................................ William Stone Keeper of the town inn Robert ............................................... Ralph Garlick John ............................................... Marshall Prehn Servants of the Ford household Fairies .................. Alice Arnold. Mary Ann Brogger. Ruth Dennis. Patricia Kennedy. Dorothy Maves. Winniired Norris. Claire Nichols. Edna Simon. Marcia Van Auken. Donna Wray Musical Trio ........... Mary Wells Morley. Alida Roecker. Vera Blake SCENES Act 1 Scenes 1 — A street before Page's house 2 — The Garter Inn 3 — The house of Dr. Caius 4 -— Before Page's house 5 — Garter Inn 6 — A field near Windsor 7 —— A field near F rogmore 8 — A street 9 —- Ford's house F itteen Minute Intermission Act II Act IR 1 — A street I — On the way to Windsor Park 2 — Garter Inn 2 -— Same 3 —— A street 3 — A field near Windsor Park 4 — F ord's house 4 —— At Home Oak 5 — Ford's house a half hour later 6 — Garter Inn Five Minute Intermission PRODUCTION STAFF OF "MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR" Technical Director and Stage Manager ..................................... Guy Pierce Production Manager .................................................. Dorothy Burns Assistants .................... Jack Coughlin. Mattie Crump. Ruth Frieling. Claire Nichols Scene Design ............................................... Esther Davey. Guy Pierce Costume Design .......................................................... Jean Grant Book Holder .......................................................... Jean Houlihan Stage Crew ............. Howard Kern. William Burns. Jr.. Ralph Garlick. Marshall Prehn Casting Crew ............... Norma Strong. chairman: Dorothy Burns. Elizabeth Symons Meloney, Guy Pierce. Marshall Prehn, Patricia Riddick. Ellen Roeser Lights ..................................................... Howard Kern. Phyllis Pike Costumes (women) ................................ Jean Grant. chairman; Florence Prehn (men) .............................................. Sam Ellis. Perry Riddick Dressing Rooms ....................................... Winnifred Norris. ,Grace Norris Properties ................... Violet Brand. chairman: Mildred Rigby. Mary Ann Brogger Construction of Special Properties ........................... Adelaide Symons Houlihan Makeup ................... Emmeline Richardson. chairman: Mary Margaret Schmelzer. assistant chairman; Mary Ann Brogger. Harold Brogan. Grace Byron. Josephine Copas. Lucille Dalzell. Esther Davey, Virginia Ferris. Grace Norris. Paula Otto Construction ..................... Howard Kern, Bruce Bremer. William Brydges. William Burns. Jr.. Gilbert Otto. Louis Traxel Painting ...................... Priscilla Bremer. Patricia Carey. Herberta Chandler. Ruth Dennis. Lois Dearden. Lucille Dalzell. Geraldine Kraphohl. Helen La Fever. Madelyn Loeffert. Harriet Myer. Claire Nichols. Grace Norris. Paula Otto. Helen Patterson. Charlotte Price. Winnifred Norris. Kathleen Willard Program ........................................ Alice Arnold. chairman: Phyllis Pike Publicity ................................. Burrows Morley. Guy Pierce. Adelaide Mills. Gertrude Richter. Martin Tanner Door ....................................... Wilbert Atherton. Sam Ellis. Bruce Bremer Check Room . . . . Clare Carter. Robert Dalzelle. Ruth Frieling, Edward Germain, David Ward Ushers ..................... Alice Atherton. Ethyle Crawford. Jean Ann Grant. Jean Nash. Madelyn Loeffert. Florence Prehn. Patricia Riddick. Jane Roeser. Virginia Robertson, Pat Bremer. Mary Carter, Eleanor Healey. Elaine Duncan. Kay Germain. Jerry Kraphohl. Vera Packer MUELLER BROTHERS Knowing how to dress is merely knowing where to buy. LET’S MEET AT rm: F ORDN EY HOTEL The I. W. Ippel Co. DRY GOODS Court Street and Michigan Avenue W. L. CASE 6. CO. Dial 7371 413 Adams Individual Coifiures Revlon Oil Manicures Florence Beauty Shop JOSEPHINE WASKO FLORENCE TROGAN FRIDAY EVENING BY APPOINTMENT 108 NORTH MICHIGAN DIAL 3-1833 ~ M.) J ‘\ v- .y .‘ \.\ \A. \ . ,\ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL (THIS SIDE OFCARD IS FOR ADDRESS) WWWWMNB Jennery 309 IRSO THE MIDLAND LITTLE THEATRE GUILD PRESENTS a 13s WORKSHOP PLAY Reservations for ."the Singapore Spider" a ORGQBCC play to be presented Feb. 1 and 2 at the Post Street PlaYhouse at 8:15 P.M. can nou'be made by calling Molly'Francis, phone 1636-J before #:00 P.M. or Judy Ashby, phone 3957¢M after #:00 P.M. Jan. 30, 1950 thru Feb. 2, 1950. Reservations are open to both active and sustaining members. Except for chairs now owned by the Guild there will be no seating arrangements. 80—obring your own bridge chairs or pillows for your own comfort. Refredhments will be served after each performance. Should your response warrant it the run of the play will be extended beyond Feb. 2. Non-mem- bers 50¢ per venom Workshop may Project Committe THE MIULAND LITTLE THEATRE -\_ GUILD HICHIGRN STATE UNIV. LIBRARIES ll lllllll I"! lllllllllll l 9 0 312 30 7958436