A Fond Farewell

   It was 14 years ago today that I posted the first entry in this, the Tri-State Theatre blog - so my sense of symmetry tells me that it's a good date to bring it to an end.

   I was pulled into the project by my pal Dave Lavender, who sent me a message asking if I knew anyone who’d be interested in writing a blog for the Herald-Dispatch about local theatre. I replied, “You mean other than me?”

   I’ve certainly enjoyed working on the blog over the years, shining some light on a corner of the local arts effort that’s always in need of some coverage. Thanks to all those companies who have sent along info, interviews and photos over the years!

   I want to thank my pal and editor Andrea Copley-Smith for all her help and patience with me over the years - she’s awesome!

   Special thanks to all of you who have taken time to read and / or comment on posts here - according to the stats, more than 530,000 people have read posts over the years!

   Since this blog will apparently stay in place for a while, for my final posts I updated and re-posted the “History of Theatre in Huntington” originally written in 2006, then updated in 2014 and 2018 - so it’ll be here as reference for those interested in such things. 

   For theatre news I recommend joining the Tri-State Theatre Facebook group - it’s not my creation, but I pop up there from time to time - join it at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheatreTalk .

   There's a tantalizing photo from 1911 in James Casto's book Images of America: Cabell County that shows a group of solemn children dressed in overalls, getting ready to present The Mikado (of all things) in Huntington. (How I'd love to see that performance!) So theatre has been in the blood of the city for a long, long time.

   With three active performing groups in Huntington now, theatre continues to be a vibrant part of the city - and we wouldn't have it any other way!

   Take care, be safe, and (when they return after the ongoing shutdown) support your local theatre!

History of Theatre in Huntington #13 - Alchemy Theatre Troupe

    The newest theatre company in Huntington was created in 2018, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the group known as ARTS.

   When ARTS folded, several of the actors and directors involved banded together with other like-minded individuals and created a new company - the Alchemy Theatre Troupe.

   Established as a non-profit performing arts group, they are dedicated to forging powerful connections between artists and audiences through theater enriching our communities. 

   In their initial statement they announced their intention to provide educational outreach as well as collaborative opportunities between artists of different genres and the theater. They aspire to produce quality theater to delight and transform audiences. 

   Alchemy already has produced several excellent productions, including Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Dark of the Moon, and the musical Follies, which was presented on stage just before the COVID-19 outbreak shut down local theatre. 

   The group also is a prime mover in the WV Shakes festival - one of the group’s first performances was A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

   The future is bright for the newest company in town!

History of Theatre in Huntington #12 - HART in the Park

   In 2013 it seemed to be the end of summer theatre in Ritter Park when Huntington Outdoor Theatre (HOT) announced it was closing.

   Rather than allow the Ritter Park Amphitheatre to go dark, the Huntington Park Board decided to form its own theatre group, and it approached three Huntington theatre veterans - Clint McElroy and Mary and Tommy Smirl - and asked them to form a new theatre company based on the model of HOT.

   So they created Huntington Area Regional Theatre in the Park (HART), and in the summer of 2014 the group started presenting shows in the park focusing on family-friendly fare, beginning with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Nunsense.

    The next season featured Mary Poppins and Collis P! - which is an original musical created by Clint McElroy based on the life of the railroad magnate and founder of the town, Collis P. Huntington!

   The group has staged a number of shows, including Wizard of Oz, Seussical the Musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Musical and Disney's The Little Mermaid.

  

   Each show has included a children's pre-show and an assortment of local performers, all presented under that stars at Ritter Park.

    The group was shut down in 2020 by the COVID outbreak, but will return when possible - the next show planned is The Addams Family!

Next: The newest company in town! 

History of Theatre in Huntington #11 - Three More to Remember

    My pal Jonathan Joy (playwright, actor, director and blogger) had some thoughts to add to our history of local theatre, and he was nice enough to send this terrific essay along for us to enjoy. Thanks, Jon!

   The history of Huntington's community theatre was captured so well by Chuck Minsker in his theatre blog. I enjoyed reading of the history of a variety of groups, as much of it brought back memories. This is particularly the case with groups that I have been involved with: First Stage, First Church Dinner Theatre, Marshall, MAG, Free Spirit, and Community Players. But there are plenty of great memories associated with groups that I have never worked with as well. I thought back to the seven or eight HOT shows I enjoyed, numerous plays at City Hall, and more. Chuck's history is much more important, however, as it serves as a history of our great city.  

   I can think of three additional companies to add to Chuck's list, and I'm sure there are even more. My theatre history in this town only stretches back about 23 years. These three companies were all short-lived, but ambitious and successful artistically, if not financially.  They also meant a lot to me.  

   1) Beyond Community Players (1992) Probably not a great name for a group, but I get where he was going. The "he," in this case, was Fred Fout. Fred directed the first play I ever acted in, A Christmas Carol with Community Players, in the Fall of 1991. He was an excellent director and I learned a lot from him. I take it his experience with Community Players was fine, but that he longed for something a bit more unconventional... fringe theatre, if you will. I was a junior in high school and delighted to be cast in Hagar's Children by Ernest Joselovitz. The play was performed at the short-lived Artserve art gallery located across from the Keith-Albee in a building that has been empty since. The show was excellent, at least in my 17-year-old mind (maybe it really was) and I enjoyed getting to do something a bit out of the mainstream. The audiences were small, but enthusiastic.  The show was probably not profitable. Fred often talked of following it up with Edward Albee's Zoo Story, which really excited me. Unfortunately, that never happened.  

   2) Theatre Mystique (1996-97) I still think it is a great loss that this company never took off. Theatre Mystique was around for only two seasons, and staged three shows at the Huntington Museum of Art. The group was founded by Lisa Ritter and Mike Fesenmiere. The first production was a very successful staging of Waiting for Godot in the Fall of 1996. I played Lucky, under Mike and Lisa's direction. We played three performances over one weekend and close to a hundred folks showed up for each show. A few months later, Theatre Mystique followed up that with a double bill of Pinter's The Dumb Waiter and Ionesco's The Bald Soprano. To this day, playing the Fireman in the latter is one of my favorite roles. The shows were performed in the Spring of '97. They were both very good and the audiences were fine, though not as large as "Godot." The ambitious plan for the following season was to stage Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. The show was cast and rehearsals began, but it did not work out for a variety of reasons.  

   3) No Name Players (2000-...) This was a really fun one. To my knowledge the group still exists, though Pittsburgh is its home now. Still, the roots are in Huntington. In the Fall of 2000 I was contacted by a friend and then Marshall student Don Digulio about performing the role of Gaston in Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile with a new theatre company he had just formed. I jumped on board, along with many Marshall Theatre students. Dave Hall, Randi Lasky, Jason Eldridge and Chris Chambers were just a few featured. The play was performed the first full weekend of January 2001. For all the shows I have done at the Museum (at least a dozen) none had bigger and more engaged audiences than this one. It was a terrific experience for all involved. A big hit artistically and financially, Don quickly planned a huge summer season (2001) that featured three shows on the Museum stage in just under two months. One of those was Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor which I saw and enjoyed. I did not see and do not recall what the other two were. I don't think No Name Players staged any other shows in Huntington. After graduation, Don moved back to his hometown of Pittsburgh, and moved the theatre company there too. I have heard that the group is still active and that it has even won major awards in the city.  

   I am sure there are more out there. Many more will come and go. That is the nature of theatre. Hats off to anyone that endeavors to reach out to people in only the way that theatre can. 

 Next: The newest summer company!

History of Theatre in Huntington #10 - Remembering Past Companies

   Take my word for it - it’s not easy to stage a show. It takes a lot of people, time, effort, dedication and yes, money, to put one together. For that reason it’s not surprising that quite a few community theatre groups have faded away over the years. 

   I should add that there have probably been quite a few that I’ve never heard of - after all, I arrived in Huntington in 1976, and that’s where my memory starts. 

   Possibly the biggest group to fade away was the Community Players. I only remember seeing one show of theirs, A Christmas Carol, at the Abbott Theater on Huntington’s west end. The group spent quite a few years putting on shows - and I believe they were revived at least once along the way, but when the Abbott finally closed (and was later torn down), the group apparently disbanded. A few efforts have been made in the years since to revive the group, but for now, the group has apparently left the stage.

   Another group that I know about firsthand was the Appalachian Regional Theatre (known as ART, but not to be confused with the ARTS group in the Renaissance Theatre). Organized by Danny Ray, a stage veteran who returned to his home in Huntington, the group put on some outstanding shows, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Sound of Music, The Odd Couple, Noises Off and Into the Woods, to name a few. Sadly, the group shut down more than 10 years ago.

   And then there's the group headed by Eddie Harbert known as the Renaissance Players, and they've also staged a number of shows in the area, including Nunsense, Baby, Little Shop of Horrors, Closer Than Ever and The Rocky Horror Show. That group has been on hiatus for more than 10 years.

   My hat is off to anyone who undertakes the challenge of putting on a local show. It’s a near-impossible job - but it can also be lots of fun and very rewarding! 

 Tomorrow: More memories of past companies!

History of Theatre in Huntington #9 - First United Methodist & Pea Ridge Players

     Continuing our look at the history of theatre in Huntington, here are two groups that present shows for a higher cause!

   For years the First United Methodist Church in downtown Huntington staged an annual show to raise money as an integral part of First Church's Mission program, raising more than $40,000 for Mission projects through more than 20 productions. 

   The group has staged a variety of shows, including Nunsense and Godspell, among others. My personal favorite is the hilarious series of Bitsy and Boots plays written by Huntington playwright Jonathan Joy.

   The show is usually staged near Valentine’s Day (and includes a terrific dinner).

   Another church has also presented shows - if sporadically - over the past decade. 

   The Pea Ridge Players are found at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church (natch), and 10 years ago they presented performances of Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar - and finally got back to business with a rollicking production last summer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

   Plans were underway for another production this summer, but COVID-19 put those plans on hold - but hopefully both churches will be back on stage in the near future!

History of Theatre in Huntington #8 - CUP

    Continuing our history of Huntington's community theatre groups, we turn the spotlight on the group that was very productive during its short run:  

   The group known as CUP (Curtains Up Players) was first organized in 2010 under the name Pullman Players, with the original purpose of bringing crowds to the Pullman Plaza Hotel.

   Under the guidance of Debbie Wolfe, Shayne Gue, Paul Neace and Marina Jurica (among others), the group staged four shows at Pullman - and then broke away to form an independent group, changing its name to CUP.

   Relocating to the Jeslyn Theatre (the former Camelot Theatre), CUP presented more than a dozen shows, from small non-musicals like How I Learned to Drive, concert performances like Night of 100 Tonys, and big musicals like Avenue Q and Shrek: the Musical.

   It's been a couple of years since the group's last show, so they may have shut down - or they may still be plotting their return!

   They were a hard-working, experienced and ambitious group of veterans - hopefully they'll return for a future performance!

Next:  A higher cause!

History of Theatre in Huntington #7 - Free Spirit

    Free Spirit Productions (FSP) was founded in August 1998 by Tressa Preston, Cindy Sullivan and a volunteer force of 20 local theatre artists including Jonathan Joy, Herschel Jeffrey and Dave Hall. 

   The original intent was to renovate and re-open the John C.C. Mayo Amphitheater in Armco Park in Ashland. The group's name was chosen because of its imaginative and nonconformist connotation; FSP artists wanted to present shows that were rarely performed on stages in Ashland. 

   After a year of brainstorming and fundraising, the group produced its first play, Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, in July 1999. 

   After two years and three shows at the amphitheater, FSP became a group without a home. Managing the space was simply too much to bear for a group of young artists focused on performance over site maintenance; the group handed the space over to Backstage Players and moved its home base to Huntington in 2001 with a performance of Simply Selma at the Huntington Museum of Art. 

   In the years that followed, FSP would stage two or three straight plays a year, both new and classic, at venues throughout the Tri-State such as the Museum of Art, Marshall University, the Paramount Arts Center and the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center. 

   Shows included The Glass Menagerie (2002), Fool for Love (2003), an Irish Drama Festival (2004), The Santaland Diaries (2003 - '05), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (2007) and more. 

   The group has also presented several plays written by co-founder Jonathan Joy, including The Princess of Rome, Ohio (2005), Just Another Day in November (2006) and Lunch at the Fork n' Finger (2008). 

   FSP has represented Huntington at Festiv-all Charleston and once traveled a production to the Columbus Fringe Festival. The group has also performed for the West Virginia Shakespeare and Renaissance Association and was featured in a Marcus Gregio book about theatre companies around the world. 

   The troupe has been on hiatus - it's been years since their last major production.  

   If and when FSP will return is unsure - only time will tell. 

Next: Curtains Up Players.

History of Theatre in Huntington #6 - ARTS

 

   Here's the story of a theatre organization that got its start over 20 years ago, and began as a unique idea in Huntington - theatre groups working together!

   Arts Resources for the Tri-State (ARTS) got its start with the closing of Huntington High School in the Spring of 1996. The city leaders debated what to do with the structure, and finally decided to turn it over to the Housing Development Corporation to convert most of the building into Senior Housing. Parts of the building were also turned over to the Huntington YMCA, including the gymnasium.

    But someone else had a vision for a third purpose for the building. Local theatre veteran Clint McElroy had worked with every local theatre group, and realized the one thing the groups all needed:  a home.

   He worked with city officials to set aside part of the building - specifically the theatre, the old library and a few other classrooms - to be used jointly by local theatre groups.

   Those groups would include the Musical Arts Guild, Huntington Outdoor Theatre (HOT), the Musical Arts Guild - Children's Theatre (MAG-CT, now First Stage Theatre Company), and the Appalachian Youth Orchestra. 

   Sadly (and for assorted reasons) the idea didn’t work out and within a few years the original members of the organization all eventually left the ARTS organization.

   But that wasn't the end. The group's board continued on its own, managing the use of the auditorium and renting it out to other organizations. For several years the organization presented concert fundraisers.

   About 15 years ago the group started presenting stage shows as a way to raise money to refurbish the auditorium.

   The output was solid, including shows like Amahl and the Night Visitor, Fiddler on the Roof, Hello Dolly, Will Rogers Follies and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (among many others). 

   But in 2012, ARTS took a surprising new direction. It built a new structure, basing it around a team of four directors. 

   They auditioned and cast a resident acting company, and used that group to present a season of six shows in 2013, using open auditions to round out each cast. 

   It was a tremendous success, and they produced a number of terrific shows, from big musicals like Cabaret, The Pirates of Penzance, The Full Monty and The Boy Friend, to non-musicals like Twelve Angry Men, Fuddy Mears and Rabbit Hole, and annual Shakespeare productions including Much Ado About Nothing and Julius Caesar.  

   But problems began to make staging shows difficult. In 2016, water leaking into the building and electrical problems made the stage unusable. 

   ARTS moved its productions into the old library at the school, but disagreements with the building management continued to escalate, and finally the group dissolved in 2017.

   It was a sad end for what had started as a terrific concept of providing - for the first time - a home for all the wandering theatre troupes.

   But while ARTS may be gone, some of the players involved weren't finished yet. 

   But next, we'll talk about a group of Free Spirits!

   

History of Theatre in Huntington #5 - 5th Avenue Theatre

   For the latest chapter in our history of Huntington community theatre companies, here's a look at the long-running group based out of City Hall:

   The 5th Avenue Theatre Company was founded about 20 years ago for a unique purpose: to raise money for the City of Huntington Foundation.

   Back in 1991 the Foundation began the restoration of City Hall's auditorium. The city had planned to gut the old auditorium to create office space, but interior designer Jean Carlo Stephenson urged City Council to reconsider. She was the Foundation's first director, and because of her efforts, the auditorium is now named after her.

   But maintaining and making improvements to the facility takes a lot of cash. To raise money, the 5th Avenue Theatre Company was created - and in the years since, it has staged a number of shows, including Annie, West Side Story, Carousel, Christmas Carol, White Christmas, The Music Man, Camelot, Man of La Mancha and 9 to 5.

   Because of the uneven nature of bringing in money on shows (not every show makes money, as anyone in theatre can tell you), 5th Avenue has been cautious and focuses on presenting strong musicals. 

   In the meantime, the organization continued making improvements to the auditorium, including a new and improved sound system.

   The group hasn't staged a show in quite a few years, and there are conflicting reports about whether it will return to stage new shows - or if it's seen its final curtain.

   But whatever the case, the group enjoyed a strong run of shows, and hopefully has more to share one day soon!

   Next: A theatre group that supported a classic theater and took a new approach to community theatre!

History of Theatre in Huntington #4 - H.O.T.

    For Part IV of our history of Huntington's theatre groups, let's look at one of the area's biggest success stories - a 20-year tradition in the park!

   The Huntington Outdoor Theatre (HOT) got its start back in 1993, and - of course - its origins can be traced to the Musical Arts Guild. At one MAG performance Helen Freeman first met Patti Shaver. The two kicked around the idea of starting an outdoor theatre in Huntington - and finally decided to give it a try. 

   HOT’s shows have all been presented at Huntington's Ritter Park Amphitheater. The shows usually run through each weekend in July. Each year the group has presented one or two shows per summer.

    The group was led by Helen, who served as the President and Artistic Director, and Patti, who was Vice-President and Managing Director for most of the group's run. Helen directed most of the shows, and Patti choreographed and organized things behind the scenes. Of course, they had lots of help, with a board of directors and an small army of managers tackling every job from designing posters to selling tickets and T-shirts. 

    HOT established itself as a summer tradition, and focused on presenting big musicals, including shows like Guys and Dolls, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Legally Blonde, The Music Man, Huntington: The Jewel of West Virginia, Oklahoma and Hello, Dolly.

    Each show also featured a pre-show, with a variety of performers singing or dancing, and a prepared performance by young actors.

    HOT was a true success story, bringing in huge crowds through the summer. Like any outdoor theatre, its only enemy was bad weather, but thankfully Huntington’s summers are usually mild.

    But sadly, 2013 was the 20th and final season for HOT. The group went out on a high note, with a powerhouse presentation of the musical Hairspray. 

   The summer tradition has continued, but HOT (and Helen and Patty) are enshrined in the Huntington Theatre Hall of Fame for two decades of amazing shows!

    Next: A theatre group that was created for a specific purpose: to raise money for the City of Huntington!

History of Theatre in Huntington #3 - First Stage Theatre Company

 We've looked at Marshall University and Musical Arts Guild, so now it's time to look at the longest-running community theatre group (that's still active) in Huntington. The group has gone by two names over the years, but the one it's carried the longest is First Stage: 

   The First Stage Theatre Company got its start 30 years ago. After auditions in 1990 for shows like Annie and Hansel and Gretel brought in - literally - hundreds of kids, it was obvious that there was a need for an outlet for these young thespians. 

   As with many local theatre groups, its beginning are tied to the Musical Arts Guild (MAG). George Snider and Jennifer Salcines approached the board of MAG and asked the group to sponsor a children’s theatre, and that’s how the Musical Arts Guild – Children’s Theatre (MAG-CT) began. The group’s first production was You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Sept. 14 and 15, 1990, at Marshall University's Smith Hall.

   There are, basically, two kinds of children’s theatres. One features adults putting on shows for young people (with the cast perhaps including a few young actors), and the other stars young actors in the leads (with the cast sometimes including a few adults). MAG-CT would be the latter, and over the years it has allowed young people the chance to star in all kinds of shows, both musical and non-musical.

   Like any youth organization, the group has an ever-changing board, as young actors and their parents get involved, graduate and move on to other interests. 

    By 2001 it was obvious that MAG-CT was able to stand on its own two feet, so in an amicable split the two groups separated, and the children’s theatre adopted a new name (one suggested by then-board member Clint McElroy): the First Stage Theatre Company.  

    Like its parent group, First Stage was a theatre group without a home - so it roamed from theater to theater, depending on which one is available and which one fits the needs of the production. Every year the group produces either two or three shows (and in 2014 it did five shows), each one featuring young actors from across the Tri-State area. The purpose of the group is to provide young people with a positive experience either on the stage or working behind the scenes.  

    If anyone out there is avoiding their shows because it’s a “children’s theatre,” you’re missing out on some great young talent - many of whom you’ll see on stage in other local theatre productions. 

   Over the years the group has staged major shows like Newsies, Disney's Frozen, School of Rock, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seussical the Musical, Honk, Les Miserables the School Edition, The Little Mermaid, Jr., Cats and Bye, Bye Birdie, in addition to smaller shows like Tom Sawyer, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Winnie the Pooh, A Christmas Story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Three Musketeers and Babes in Toyland.

    First Stage also offers up two $1,000 scholarship programs - one named in honor of Jim Stone, a local actor who was a great supporter of the arts and a mentor to many young actors, and another in honor of Leslie McElroy, an actress and board member for First Stage. 

    First Stage has established itself as a great place for young people to get their start in theatre. There they gain the skills and confidence that will serve them well throughout their life. 

   The group's final show in the last season was You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, celebrating the show that started it all 30 years ago - and because of COVID-19 concerns, it was staged as a drive-in show in a parking lot. 

    Next: Started just a few years after the Children’s Theatre, this group once ruled the month of July - which is why it was called HOT.

History of Theatre in Huntington #2 - Musical Arts Guild

    Continuing the history of theatre in Huntington, originally written in 2006 and updated. Yesterday we looked at Marshall University's history (it's the longest-running continuous theatre company in the area). 

   The Musical Arts Guild (MAG) is the second-longest-running (and still active) community theater group in the Huntington area. The group got its start in 1965 when several area churches combined their choirs to provide music for a preaching mission. 

   Those early missions were presented for a while at the Keith-Albee Theater, and when that ended, the group continued doing concerts and finally “regular” stage shows at the original Huntington High School auditorium. 

   Over the years since, the group has produced some terrific shows and given stage time to some local talent, including Broadway stars Michael Cerveris and Mark and Beth McVey. 

    The group produced a couple of shows every year, covering everything from Mame to Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Sound of Music and many others.  Almost every other theatre group in Huntington has connections that go back to MAG.

    Unfortunately, it’s been a while since MAG tackled a stage show - their last stage show was The King and I, directed by the dearly departed Danny Ray and staged at the old Huntington East High School auditorium in 2003. The group is still active, but has gone back to its roots and presents shows in concert form only. 

   MAG annually holds a fundraising concert for the scholarships the group awards every year to Marshall students.

   They’ve carried the torch of community theatre for almost 50 years - and hopefully they’ll continue to bring the gift of music to the area for many more years to come.

    MAG was also directly responsible for the next-oldest local community theatre group - the one devoted to local children. Our next post will look at the group that provides many young performers their First Stage show.