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Organizational History of Country Theatre Workshop The Country Theatre Workshop (CTW) was established in 1982 by Wilma J. Dryden, a retiring theatre arts instructor, and two of her former pupils, Richard Baier and Dick Reutter, in order to provide the opportunity of live theatre in this rural area. Traditional theatre space was not available, so imagination and vision were a necessity. A tin farm building, originally used to store farm machinery and plumbing supplies, was purchased at auction. Concrete soon replaced the dirt floor, pigeons and sparrows were chased out, a stage was constructed with donated, used lumber, and tables were made from discarded utility wire spools. During the first production, a heavy rain on the original tin roof forced an "emergency intermission." Later that year, the roof was covered with fiberglass roofing to quiet future rains. For the first years of its existence, CTW would produce four or five productions during each summer’s season. However, in 1990 it was decided to start a Children’s Theatre program. This would not only give younger children a chance to perform on stage and learn about theatre, but it would also build interest and increase the number of people auditioning for our adult shows. In 1998 it was decided to change the name of this program to "Youth on Stage" to stress that it is appropriate for teens to participate as well as younger children. As the years progressed, CTW became confined by the structure of that tin building. Originally the cast changed in one small room off the kitchen, and sometimes in the kitchen. The backstage area was minimal with no real access from one side of the stage to the other. So, in 1991 an expansion and remodeling project was started. The project began with constructing an addition to the building. New dressing rooms and a green room for the cast were built in that addition. At the same time the kitchen was remodeled and the restrooms were enlarged and made handicap accessible. In addition, the auditorium was remodeled using a tiered system for the viewing convenience of our patrons. This also increased the seating capacity from 130 to 160. As CTW grew through the years, the number of costumes and props also grew. However, our storage space at the theatre did not grow so we had to rely on the generosity of others to store our materials. In addition, since we might have up to three different shows rehearsing at the same time, we were constantly looking for rehearsal space. To alleviate this problem, CTW borrowed money in December of 1996 to erect a building behind our existing theatre. This building is used for storage, set construction and rehearsal space. In addition to the building, a piece of land adjacent to the theatre was purchased in 1996 to increase our parking capacity. What started out on a shoestring, is today a growing, vital organization. CTW has drawn volunteers from nearly an hour away with patrons from more than a 100-mile radius. The Country Theatre Workshop strives to provide a quality community theatre program to a very rural area.
1982 I Remember Mama I Do! I Do! Meet Me at the Fair Harvey
1983 Rainbows in the Sky On Borrowed Time The Fantasticks Life With Father
1984 The Odd Couple Ain't We Got Fun Perfectly Frank Oh! Susanna The Curious Savage
1985 Snoopy You Can't Take It With You Brigadoon Twelve Angry Peers
1986 The Miracle Worker Arsenic & Old Lace Once Upon a Mattress Blithe Spirit
1987 Bus Stop Dial M for Murder Cole Never Too Late
1988 The Mouse That Roared Plain & Fancy On Golden Pond The City Slicker and our Nell
1989 God's Favorite Godspell Greater Tuna Fanny, the Farmer's Daughter
1990 Allocating Annie South Pacific Charley's Aunt The Saloonkeeper's Daughter Cinderella
1991 Everybody Loves Opal Fiddler on the Roof There Goes the Bride Nell of the Ozarks Snow White
1992 Let's Murder Marsha Guys and Dolls June Groom How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Alice in Wonderland
1993 Pump Boys and Dinettes Love, Sex, and the I.R.S. Meet Me in St. Louis Out of Order Jack and the Beanstalk
1994 Nunsense Right Bed, Wrong Husband Hello, Dolly Don't Drink the Water The Tortoise and the Hare 1995 Alone Together Barefoot in the Park The Sound of Music Lend Me a Tenor Pinocchio
1996 The Girls in 509 Oliver Pillow Talk Nunsense II
1997 Forever Plaid Come Blow Your Horn Sugar Steel Magnolias Tied to the Tracks
1998 Funny Money Play On Oklahoma Under the Yum-Yum Tree Tom Sawyer
1999 Sylvia Dames at Sea Saving Grace The Taffetas Peter Pan
2000 Cookin' with Gus State Fair Smoke on the Mountain Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect Krazy Kamp - the Musical
2001 Pump Boys and Dinettes Love, Sex and the I.R.S. The Sound of Music On Golden Pond You’re
A Grand Old Flag
2002 Resurrection Sunday Never Too Late Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Run For Your Wife Don't
Say No to the USO
2003 Forever Plaid Perfect Wedding Music Man Cemetery
Club
2004 Radio T.B.S.
2005
Natalie Needs a Nightie
2006 ©Country Theatre Workshop, 2006 |
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