Theatre Memphis facts for kids
Theatre Memphis is a special place in Memphis, Tennessee, where people can enjoy live plays. It's a non-profit community theatre, which means it's run by people who love theatre and want to share it with everyone, not to make money. It's one of the oldest and most successful community theatres in the United States. Theatre Memphis gives people of all skill levels a chance to be part of creating amazing shows. The building has two stages: the main stage, called the Lohrey Theatre, which can seat up to 411 people, and a smaller, more flexible stage called the Next Stage, which holds about 100 people.
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The Start of Theatre Memphis
In 1920, a woman named Mrs. Fairfax Proudfit Walkup had an idea. She gathered some friends to start a "little theatre" in Memphis. This group became the Memphis Little Theatre Players. They started with 56 members and put on their very first show on May 20, 1921. It was a night of three short plays performed at Germania Hall.
The theatre officially became a group on January 17, 1922. Their goal was to put on plays, help people write new plays, and make theatre better. In 1925, they joined with another group called the Drama League and became the new Memphis Little Theatre.
Finding a Home
Also in 1925, the theatre found its first permanent home. It was called the Stable Playhouse and could seat 90 people. This small theatre was in a former stable on the grounds of the James Lee Art Academy.
Thanks to many generous people in Memphis, the theatre moved to its second permanent home in October 1929. This new place was called the Pink Palace Playhouse. It was a 272-seat theatre located in the east wing of the Memphis Museum of Natural History and Industrial Arts, now known as the Pink Palace. This museum was once the unfinished home of Piggly Wiggly founder, Clarence Saunders. Believe it or not, the theatre was set up in the shallow end of the mansion's swimming pool!
New Directors and Growth
In its early years, the plays weren't always super popular. So, the theatre looked for a new director to bring in more types of plays and more people. In September 1932, Eugart Yerian became the theatre director. He had studied at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. Eugart Yerian led the theatre until 1961 (except for a break from 1939-1947). During his time, the Memphis Little Theatre became known across the country as one of the best amateur theatres. Eugart Yerian won many awards for his amazing directing.
In 1962, Sherwood Lohrey took over as theatre director and stayed until he retired in 1995. In the 1960s, the theatre's leaders started planning a brand new building. The city agreed to let them use a piece of land at 630 Perkins Extended, right across from Audubon Park.
A New Building for Theatre Memphis
Building a new theatre was a big project! It was planned to cost $600,000, but prices went up, and it ended up costing $1.3 million. In September 1970, newspapers announced a huge effort to raise money for the new playhouse. By the summer of 1973, enough money was promised to start construction. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 3, 1973.
In 1974, the theatre's board decided on a new name: Theatre Memphis. The building was finished in April 1975. On May 1, 1975, Theatre Memphis opened its doors at its new home with a show called My Fair Lady. This new theatre had 435 seats and is still its home today.
Modern Updates
Theatre Memphis has continued to grow and improve. In 1985, they added more space, including a rehearsal hall, offices, and a much bigger production shop.
More recently, a big renovation project started in December 2019. This project added more restrooms (going from 8 to 21!), larger areas for snacks, bigger common spaces, and a new kitchen for events. On March 9, 2020, the City of Memphis even gave the land at 630 South Perkins to the Theatre. The grand re-opening was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in August 2021, Theatre Memphis officially re-opened. They celebrated their upgraded building and their 100th anniversary!
Today, Theatre Memphis has a two-acre campus with its two modern stages. It has grown to have 14 full-time staff members and over 700 volunteers who help make everything happen. They also work to reach out to the community and manage their finances well.
Fairfax Proudfit Walkup
Fairfax Proudfit Walkup was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1887. She was the person who first brought together friends to start the "little theatre" that became Theatre Memphis in 1920. She later studied theatre, costume, and set design in college. She became a well-known figure in the theatre world, acting, designing costumes, and teaching at the Pasadena Community Playhouse in California. She even became a dean and vice-president there.
Theatre Leaders
Theatre Memphis has had many important leaders over the years. Here are some of the people who have served as Executive Producers:
- * 1920-1921 Mr. Harrison Crofford
- * 1921-1925 Mrs. John Frederick Bruce
- * 1925-1926 Mr. Minor Coburn
- * 1926-1927 Mr. Colin Clements
- * 1927-1929 Mr. Alexander Wyckoff
- * 1930-1932 Mr. Blanchard McKee
- * 1932-1939 Mr. Eugart Yerian
- * 1939-1941 Mr. Talbot Pearson
- * 1941-1943 Mr. Fred Sears
- * 1943-1944 Mr. George F. Sparks
- * 1944-1946 Mr. William Courneed
- * 1946-1947 Mr. Charles F. Coghlan
- * 1947-1961 Mr. Eugart Yerian
- * 1962-1995 Mr. Sherwood Lohrey
- * 1995-2000 Mr. Michael Fortner
- * 2000-2001 Mr. Andre Bruce Ward
- * 2001-2004 Mr. Ted Strickland
- * 2004–Present Mrs. Debbie Litch
Debbie Litch's Leadership
Since June 2004, Debbie Litch has been the executive producer. She is known for helping the theatre become very successful. Before joining Theatre Memphis, she worked at other important arts organizations in Memphis, like the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
Debbie Litch has won many awards for her great work in the arts. She even helped Theatre Memphis receive a national award called the Twink Lynch Award. This award is given for successfully moving in new directions and expanding services to the community. She is a key person in helping the arts grow in Memphis.
The Lon Anthony Sculptures
In 1978, Theatre Memphis asked a Memphis artist named Lawrence (Lon) K. Anthony to create nine sculptures. These sculptures were paid for by grants and a generous gift. They are made of strong steel and show characters from different times in theatre history. They were put in place in September 1979. This sculpture garden, called Dramatis Personae, was named an official Urban Art Public Heritage Site in 2008, which was the first in Memphis!
The sculptures include:
- Medea -- a powerful sorceress from an ancient Greek play.
- Cleopatra -- a famous queen from plays by Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw.
- Punchinello -- a traditional clown character from 16th-century Italian comedy.
- Le Bourgeois Gentolhomme -- a character from a 17th-century play about someone trying to climb the social ladder.
- Cyrano de Bergerac -- the main character of a late 19th-century play known for his wit and style.
- Mme. Sarah Bernhardt -- a very famous French actress, whose name means great acting.
- Earnest -- from Oscar Wilde's funny play The Importance of Being Earnest.
- Christy Mahon -- the hero of an Irish play called The Playboy of the Western World.
- Hamm -- a character from the modern play Endgame by Samuel Beckett.
Showagon: Theatre on the Go!
Showagon is a special program by Theatre Memphis that focuses on education. It has four actors who travel to local schools, libraries, and other places. They perform different plays and shows, bringing the magic of theatre directly to the community.
Famous Productions
Theatre Memphis puts on a yearly show of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This tradition was started by Sherwood Lohrey in 1978. In 2010, the show got a brand new set after using the same one for 32 years!
Achievements and Awards
In 2011, the American Association of Community Theatre recognized Theatre Memphis for its excellent service to community theatres. They were praised for keeping their budget balanced for six years in a row while also growing their operations. They also received awards for their artistic quality and for adding more staff to keep their productions consistent and high-quality. Theatre Memphis was also recognized for its education programs and for finding new ways to raise money and attract audiences.
In 2020, Theatre Memphis received the Diamond Crown Award from the American Association of Community Theatre. This award honors it as one of the most successful community theatres in the country. It's given to theatres that have shown continuous growth and have the potential to keep growing in the future. This shows how important Theatre Memphis is to the creative life of its community.
