THEATRE LAWRENCE HISTORY

(LAWRENCE COMMUNITY THEATRE)

THEATRE LAWRENCE HISTORY  (LAWRENCE COMMUNITY THEATRE)

MISSION:  Theatre Lawrence partners with volunteers to create and deliver extraordinary theatre and education programs that engage community members of all ages and backgrounds as audience members and participants.

EARLY YEARS:  The Theatre (originally called Lawrence Community Theatre or LCT) began performances in the mid 1970’s at the Lawrence Arts Center (now the Carnegie Building) when that facility was undergoing conversion from a library.  LCT was organized at a meeting called by Mary Doveton in 1977 and a first show, The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, presented April 15 and 16, 1977.  It was incorporated as a not for profit in 1978 by a handful of individuals with a “kitty” of $500.  Scheduling at the Arts Center led to a traveling existence for LCT with rehearsals scattered   around the city, storage in basements, garages and barns and set construction outdoors (subject to birds) or indoors (sometimes subject to leaky roofs and flooding). In its search for additional performance space LCT did shows in South Park, Trinity Episcopal Church and at Teepee Junction. 

1501 NEW HAMPSHIRE: It became increasingly obvious that the expanding Theatre program and the expanding Arts Center could not remain in a single building.  In 1984 LCT moved to a former church at 1501 New Hampshire.  This facility was purchased and renovated with the help of many community volunteers.  In addition to doing major fund raising for professional renovation work, LCT received large amounts of donated services and volunteer labor.  Architect, Larry Good and retired KU Technical Director and Lighting Designer Charles Lown collaborated on the planning and oversight of the project.  The Theatre opened in January of 1985 with an original script by local playwright John Clifford, entitled I WAS RIGHT HERE A MOMENT AGO.

Many capital improvements were made to the facility in the intervening years including a transition from church pews to regular theatre seats.  In the summer of 1992 when the Granada movie theatre in Lawrence was remodeled its seats were offered for sale at a very reasonable price.  The seats were in disrepair, but thousands of hours of volunteer labor, scraping, scrubbing, painting and upholstering, restored them to their former plush art deco glory.

A fire in December of 2003 did over $150,000 damage to the theatre and its contents attributed to a faulty lighting fixture in the costume storage area.  Almost two thirds of the theatre’s costumes were destroyed and the building suffered extensive smoke damage.  Insurance help and the enormous efforts of many volunteers put the building back together with scrubbed walls, fresh paint, and new carpet. 

Name Change to THEATRE LAWRENCE: In September of 2010 the theatre announced a name change to more accurately reflect the breadth and depth of programming offered.  It was felt that “Lawrence Community Theatre” conjured visions of a small amateur group who got together to do plays (Judy and Mickey in the barn).  As a move to a new facility became imminent, a name was needed that better reflected the many programs and outreach activities that the Theatre engaged in.

4660 BAUER FARM DR: As theatre programs continued to grow, and more individuals participated, a need for a new building became apparent.  A lengthy and at times rocky search was made for a new property or facility.  Focus groups, a feasibility study, two different locations, a 4+ year rewriting of city zoning codes and a recession all went into the process.  

A successful capital campaign ultimately raised $7.2 million to develop 3.2 acres of gifted land at Bauer Farm, 6th and Wakarusa.  Funding and construction were a true community effort with generous gifts ranging from pennies to millions of dollars contributed by hundreds of individuals, families, businesses and foundations from across the area.

The new 35,000 square foot theatre and education facility opened in June of 2013 with gala celebrations and a production of RAGTIME, the musical.

In 2017 the Theatre won the prestigious Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award, presented by the American Association of Community Theatre for its growth and innovations to building and programming.

PROGRAMMING: Working with 500 volunteers each year, Theatre Lawrence has staged hundreds of shows and classes. Quality productions attract actors and audience from Lawrence as well as the surrounding Kansas City and Topeka areas.  It speaks to the Theatre’s high production standards that volunteer actors are willing to spend their own money and time to drive (some for an hour each way) to participate in productions.  Approximately 24% of Theatre audiences also travel from outside the city limits to attend productions.  Touring productions have visited a number of communities in Kansas, including Topeka, Kansas City, Leavenworth, Chanute, Baldwin, Salina and Wichita.

The Theatre produces six to eight major shows each year, touring shows, an extensive youth program, senior programming, a summer program and a script library.  Speakers as well as performers are also available for meetings and conventions.

Youth Education Program 

“School’s Out–Theatre’s In” is a program for children in grades one through five that takes place on school holidays and in the summer.  This is a special series of intensive drama workshops targeted to take place when children are out of school, but many parents work.  The workshops typically combine storytelling, mime, acting games, music, and arts and crafts all focused around a central theme.  Over the years this program became  a model for other similar programs in the Midwest.

Youth Companies 

The theatre currently offers performance based after school companies for both elementary and middle/high school companies.  Typically these are 8 week sessions that end in performance.  In summer of 2017 a fully produced show was added to the summer session with full production values.

In 2004 children’s programming was extended to reach homeschoolers. The success of that program led to an increased number of offerings for homeschoolers through the Virtual School.  The pilot program was launched in 2005 and continued into the 2006-2007 school year.  As that program phased out, homeschoolers currently work with our after school companies. 

The Penguin Project

In 2019 Theatre Lawrence became a chapter of the National Penguin Project.  This is programming which partners young people with disabilities between the ages of 10 and 21 (artists) with normally developing youth (mentors) of similar ages and interests.  The group work together over a 3 month period with the goal of performing a fully staged musical, with “artists” in all the leading roles.  The first production was Disney’s Aladdin, Jr followed in 2021 with Disney’s Aristocats, Kids and summer of 2022 with Shrek, Jr.  The program forges friendships, mutual learning, skill and confidence building and often leads to lasting relationships and friendships among those involved.

School and Community Partnerships

Third Grade Arts Day:  The Theatre partners with LAC and the Lied Center.  Every 3rd grade student in the district is bused to one of the three theatres and spends a day learning and experiencing the arts.  Theatre Lawrence serves about 400 students per year in this program

School Groups: frequently visit the theatre for field trips and activities

Previous Outreach Programs:

Brave New Girls

Special grants also enabled the theatre to launch a program for girls in grades 6-8.  Entitled “Brave New Girls,” the program works to enhance leadership skills, self-esteem and confidence using theatre games and activities as tools.  Summers since 2007 the program has been offered through eight week sessions with the Boys and Girls Club.  A fall program was also introduced in 2010 and a summer program in 2011.

Little Actors included preschool activities for children age 4-5.  They consisted of stories and activities in a series of 8, 45 minutes sessions.  Parents often stayed as well.  

Girl Scouts

Workshops for Girl Scouts and Brownies aid girls in achieving badges in several areas.  One of the most popular workshops is usually held in conjunction with the winter family show.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters’ Program.  Special theatre sessions have been held in the past to bring “bigs” and “littles” together to learn improv games.

Lawrence Housing Authority and with families at Alvamar Country Club.  The Housing Authority partnership continued from 2010 until fall of 2014 when grant money dried up.

Boys and Girls Club In 2015 funding from DCCCA began enabling us to bring in groups from the Boys and Girls Club to tour the theatre and participate in special activities.  Beginning in 2018 we have also partnered with the Native American Enrichment Program through USD #497.  

Vintage Players

At the other end of the spectrum, the Vintage Players, are the theatre’s senior acting troupe.  This group meets twice a month and performs for clubs and retirement homes.  They also have an intergenerational program with second graders at Deerfield and Cordley Elementary Schools.  Members of the Players read to the children and then together they act out the stories.  This program works with the core curriculum  for 2nd grade learning by enhancing the abilities of the students to learn plot and character development and to visualize the written word.

The Travelers

Some seasons also included special performances by The Travelers, the touring wing of Theatre Lawrence.  Murder mystery dinner theatres were being performed in Lawrence, Leavenworth and Topeka for convention groups and parties. A musical cabaret was also available for special bookings and a sub-group performed weekly on the Kansas Belle Dinner Train in Baldwin City.

Past Special Events

In August of 1998 LCT worked with Kay Kuhlmann on ABIDE THE DAWN.  This was an outdoor historical drama about the effects of Quantrill’s raid on the people of Lawrence.  Audience members rode trams from the Theatre to the Cemetery with stops along the way for various scenes, and were then returned to the Theatre for a full western breakfast.

The 1998-99 season brought awards and regional recognition to LCT.  GRACE AND GLORIE, a show originally produced in conjunction with Douglas County Hospice, featuring Jane Malin and Peggy Sampson and directed by Piet Knetsch took first place on the state level at the American Association of Community Theatre Festival in Hayes.  The show went on to a 7 state regional competition where it placed third.  Jane and Piet also garnered state and regional awards for acting and direction.

In July of 2000, LCT mounted a production of TONY ’N’ TINA’S WEDDING.  The audience participation play began at the Theatre for the ‘wedding,’ then moved downtown to the Camelot for the dinner, dance and reception and was later performed at a similar venue in Kansas City.  This was repeated in July 2001 as a fund raiser.  An additional audience participation show, “Knock ‘Em Dead” was produced in the spring of 2003 for special performances for SUA.  Our Silver Anniversary Season in 2001-2002 offered special receptions and a year end gala reuniting performers from previous seasons.

Songs for Sweethearts was a fund raiser for the theatre that combined musical cabaret with dinner and an auction of special valentine related gift items.  It served the theatre well for 5 years.  In 2011 the Theatre began a fund raiser called Dueling Divas.  This has morphed and featured Dukes and Duos as well.  The evening includes a dinner, show, voting and some silent and live auction items. 

A partnership exists with the Lawrence Art Guild whereby different members of that organization exhibit their work during productions.  

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Cooperative projects and involvement with other community organizations are often sought.  A partner has been USD 497 in a joint production of the popular HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.  In 2009 our Youth Education Program did a special project entitled ORPHAN TRAIN, where the students studied the history surrounding the orphan train movement and then collaborated with the Vintage Players to produce the show as a fundraiser for The Shelter, Inc.  A reception and talkback followed the show.  

Other events have included: January of 1998, FLYIN’ WEST, a saga of black women settling Nicodemus, Kansas was produced in collaboration with the Office of Minority Affairs at KU.  Additional programming was done in cooperation with KU and with the Lawrence Public Library.  The Theatre  has also worked with the Watkins Community Museum, the Spencer Archives and the Convention and Tourism Bureau, to offer activities relating to the Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial during the production of GOING TO SEE THE ELEPHANT.  Other productions  draw classes and groups who discuss the philosophy and issues raised in plays.  For example, a  production of Arthur Miller’s ALL MY SONS attracted high school and university classes, and the Theatre offered some special discussions with World War II veterans following the show.  The spring 2000 production of A RAISIN IN THE SUN drew almost 1000 KU English department students in addition to our regular audience.

Past seasons have involved cooperative projects with Brandon Woods Retirement Community, Douglas County Mental Health Department, Central Junior High School, the Jewish Community Center, Kaw Valley Quilters, the KU Business School, the Museum of Anthropology, Bert Nash Mental Health Center, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, the Holocaust Center in KC and the KU Gerontology Center.  Discussion opportunities following performances are often lively and well attended.  

The Theatre’s biggest collaborative effort has probably been To Kill a Mockingbird:  Partnering with Lawrence Public Library.  This was the “Read Across Lawrence” book.  Setting up book discussion groups at various locations.  Library bringing in Charles Shields (Harper Lee biographer) for talks at library and schools.  Dole Institute of Politics bringing in Alex Heard (author of “Eyes of Willie McGee” a new book about an incident in Mississippi that parallels events in Mockingbird.  Involvement of KU Law Library, Spencer Archives, Douglas County Bar Association, NAACP, Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, USD 497, Altrusa, Bishop Seabury Academy etc. Other presentations and a showing of the movie also occurred.  This combined series of 27 events reached over 2600 individuals.

Collaborations for the 2014-2015 season included projects with Lawrence Opera Theatre, KU Theatre, Willow Domestic Violence Safe House, and the Natural History Museum.  Others will be added throughout the 2015-2016 season.

The Theatre also worked with the city’s courts.   Individuals assigned to TL by court services often found great satisfaction in the work they accomplished with the Theatre– one young lady told us how proud she was of the painting she did on a set and brought in some of her friends to see it as well, and several individuals who came to the Theatre as members of this program have continued as volunteers.

TL has also worked with the Pelathe Indian Center through a federal jobs program for youth. TL has worked with interns from Doane College in Nebraska, Ottawa University, Drake University, KU, Van Go Mobile Arts and partnered with the Community Transitions Program in the Lawrence School District.  

In 2017 the Theatre served as an information substation for the National Jr. Olympics championships, and continues to forge partnerships with other Lawrence businesses and institutions.

SPECIAL NEEDS

In the summer of 1999 in celebration of events leading to the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act LCT was awarded the first of twelve Excellence in Access Awards presented by Cottonwood, Independence Inc. and KLWN/KLZR.  The award was based on nominations made by clients of the those organizations.  In the 1980’s LCT had received one of the first Community Access Awards presented by Independence, Inc. for work with special populations.  As an ongoing part of this outreach program individuals associated with Cottonwood are often theatre guests at dress rehearsals. 

The theatre currently works with Audio-Reader to offer audio description of performances to the visually impaired.  A Loop Hearing System was installed in the new theatre to offer enhanced hearing assistance to individuals with hearing loss.

NEW PLAYS

TL was a leader in the presentation of original scripts by community theatres. A new play contest offered script in hand productions of new works by area playwrights.  The summer of 2008 saw a world premiere of A SONG ON THE WIND by local playwright Betty Laird.  The show was presented as part of Civil War on the Western Front and also featured displays from the Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum.

In 1998 LCT presented DESERT HOLIDAY by popular Kansas City playwright, Ron Simonian. In 1991 LCT hosted the opening of BERTHA, THE SEWING MACHINE GIRL, a musical written by two New York playwrights who visited Lawrence to work with our director, Dr. Lewin Goff.  Based on videos and recordings of the LCT production, the musical was considered for professional representation.  In 1981, one of Paul Stephen Lim’s scripts, FLESH, FLASH AND FRANK HARRIS, premiered at TL and went on to Off-Broadway production in New York.  National attention was also drawn to TL’s presentation of LEE AND THE BOYS IN THE BACKROOM, a work by Mr. Lim, based on a novel and the unpublished correspondence of William Burroughs.  

The Theatre also garnered state awards in 1987 for its presentation of an original script by John Clifford.  A new play by John Clifford which garnered the 1994 Kansas Arts Commission’s Play writing Fellowship, premiered at the Theatre in  January 1995 to mark LCT’s tenth anniversary in this facility.  Since the building opened with one of John’s plays, it was especially appropriate to celebrate with another one.  This was also  the 100th production for the Theatre! This partnership was recognized with a special achievement award from the Association of Kansas Theatre. 

A new play competition has also been offered in our new space with productions offered as a part of LIVE IN THE LOBBY.

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Theatre Lawrence is primarily a volunteer organization with a small professional staff, while teachers and artistic staff for individual productions are paid honoraria.  In an average season some 500 individual volunteers contribute over 31,000 documented hours of service onstage, backstage, and in committee work. The numbers are probably much larger, since volunteers often don’t remember to sign in and out. This is a staggering commitment, since volunteer work is often the donation of services at which the individual is not only skilled, but professionally trained.  Theatre volunteers are honored each year with the presentation of the “Charley Awards.”  Named after Charley Oldfather and Charles Lown these awards honor volunteers for hours of service.

RENTALS

In addition to its own programming Theatre Lawrence is sometimes able to makes its spaces available for community rentals.  These have ranged from concerts and weddings to church services and an international conference.

THE PANDEMIC

In March of 2020 Theatre Lawrence closed its doors and put all of it programming on hold as the Coronavirus swept the country.  By summer, staff and volunteers had moved programming outdoors with a newly constructed stage.  Drive-in movies were shown on the side of the building.  Small shows with masked actors graced the stage.  As summer turned into fall “pods” replaced the cars in the parking lot and the show continued.  Our flexible 2020-2021 season included outdoor shows, indoor shows with special clear masks, and streamed shows.  We all learned a lot as we picked, plotted and zoomed our way through rehearsals, meetings and classes.

By spring of 2021 we added a new activity to the theatre calendar, as theatre volunteers partnered with Sigler Pharmacy and turned the theatre into a vaccination center, offering 37 separate clinics and resulting in 11,000 vaccinations.

Summer of 2021 continued with multiple activities on and around the outdoor stage using the designated seating pods in the parking lot, until finally with fall of 2021 Theatre Lawrence resumed its regular operations indoors while retaining the ability to do outdoor programming as well.

785-843-SHOW (7469)
4660 Bauer Farm Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66049
Box Office Hours: 11:30 - 4:30 M-F