![]() GLT established its first full-time venue at a renovated movie theater on Lowndes Hill Road in 1948 and McLane became full-time director of the theater.įifteen years later, GLT’s board of directors purchased land in downtown Greenville to build a new theater where the Woman’s College, now merged with Furman University, had once stood. Many years ago, GLT named its annual in-house acting awards after Woodward. Woodward, now a Hollywood legend and widow of the late Paul Newman, remains the most famous actress to have graced the GLT stage. McLane, who would lead the theater for more than 20 years, was known particularly for jumping on the opportunity to produce a new Broadway play shortly after the rights had been released.Īmong the many plays McLane directed was a family drama, “I Remember Mama,” featuring a young high school student, Joanne Woodward. “That’s when Greenville Little Theatre really gained an identity,” McCalla said. Four plays were presented each year in various venues around town, including the Poinsett Hotel, but most shows took place on the stage of the Woman’s College.Īfter World War II, GLT gained a strong leader in Robert McLane, head of speech, art and drama at Greenville High School. Two years later the theater group renamed itself Community Little Theatre, then Greenville Little Theatre. “They had never done anything before but they had great costumes and painted sets.” “When I first saw the photos, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good,’” McCalla said. Barrie’s drama called “The 12 Pound Look,” about a woman who learns to type and leaves her cold, wealthy husband. The first performances in 1926 featured J.M. That college was located exactly where GLT stands today. “They just thought, we’ve got to have this in Greenville,” McCalla said. Just a few months later, the “Greenville Artists Guild” offered its first performances in the Ramsey Fine Arts Auditorium on the campus of Greenville Woman’s College. Representatives of the Town Theatre of Columbia had journeyed to Greenville to explain how residents here could start a theater. A group of 75 Greenvillians got together at the Greenville Library on Main Street. ![]() It all began in 1926, when the so-called Little Theatre Movement was sweeping the nation. “You always have to listen to the audience,” McCalla said.īut times have not always been easy for the theater. Throughout its history, Greenville Little Theatre has had a knack for knowing what its audiences want to see and hear. And GLT continues to be the destination for classic musicals as well. In a city blessed with eclectic theater offerings, GLT is the place to go for light comedy, mysteries (often by Agatha Christie) and the aforementioned rock musicals. “That was a record-breaker,” McCalla said. In 2014, GLT took a big financial risk on a local production of “Les Miserables” - and it paid off handsomely. “But now people want to see some newer things.” “I think we did the old classics at a good time,” McCalla said. ![]() That changed slowly over the last several years, as the theater increasingly pushed the envelope, offering musicals and revues of a more recent rockin’ vintage. GLT was once known as the local theater that championed classic musicals by the likes of Rodgers and Hammerstein but was a little wary of more modern shows. (Full disclosure: Yours truly also will be on stage.) ![]() The birthday shows spotlight longtime GLT performers such as Mary Freeman, John Brigham, Katie Rockwell and Jerry Witty. The three other performances will feature just the music revue. Sunday’s show will be a gala, with a silent auction, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a music revue. Some of the theater’s singers from yesteryear - and from as recently as last season - are returning for four performances, May 1 and 6-8. This weekend and next, the theater is throwing a big party to celebrate its birthday. “We’re doing more productions than we ever have and performing for more people than we ever have,” said Allen McCalla, the theater’s executive artistic director. GLT shows are seen by 60,000 theater-goers every year. These days, the nonagenarian theater, the oldest in Greenville, finds itself in the prime of life, with a budget exceeding $1 million for the first time. Next season, the theater will offer rock blockbusters such as “Footloose” and “Hairspray.” Greenville Little Theater is not acting its age.Īt 90 years old, GLT seems more youthful than ever, in recent years embracing pop-rock-inflected musicals like “Legally Blonde” and “All Shook Up.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |