Summer Theater: Slow Start but Fast Finish

By Betty O’Neal Giboney

The applause has ended, the music stilled, lights are out. Summer Theater in the Park, sponsored for a five-week season by Raintree County Opera House Guild, Inc., has ended its first season.

And, as the season was concluded, it was a wow. It didn’t appear like that in the beginning, however. Getting started was a hassle.

Dick Willis, Chrysler High School teacher of English and drama, long had a dream of summer theater in the Shelter House in Memorial Park.

He had another dream, too—restoration of Guyer Opera House in Lewisville . So, he thought, what could be better, since the opera house is not ready to receive the public, than to raise money for it through a summer theater. And there was Della Mae Tronchuk to serve as music director.

Getting shows in the park was no simple matter. Talent was here, but money was needed. Several avenues were traveled. Miss Juanita Jane Rucker, former head of speech and broadcasting department in Chrysler High School and later associate professor of radio and television at Ball State University—a sort of spiritual head and fount of encouragement for Raintree County Opera House Guild—presented the case before the board of Henry County Commissioners. Jack Reno, Henry Township trustee, was enthusiastic, but he had playground equipment to buy. New Castle merchants and industry were asked for $500, but that did not work either.

By late May, or early June, plays still had not been ordered, nor copyrights cleared. But Willis had a schedule and he put out an advertising brochure. Two thousand flyers were printed and mailed, with a small band of faithful affixing addresses.

Finally a sister organization, First Nighters, Inc., came through with a loan of $1,500. It was a deal. The theater group would advance the money if Willis would direct a play for them during the coming season. He agreed.

About one week before the opening July 12 with “Two by Two” obstacles had been cleared. In the beginning, if you remember—and who can forget—the weather was no help. Attendance was disappointing. With scorching days and steaming nights, nobody wanted to go anywhere, or do anything.

Except, that is, actors of Summer Theater in the Park. Because of the sultry weather on opening night for “Star Spangled Girl” there may have been as many as 13 people in the audience. That was the low point of the season.

It must be said, however, despite the intolerable weather and almost total lack of audience, Vicki Horn, Jim Baird and Phil Barr turned in brilliant performances. For an actor to act, an audience is a necessity. Singers may sing, pianists violinists and other may play and enjoy their own music.

With an actor, things are different. Others must be there to appreciate the performance. The actors that night made the most of each spectator.

After that night, things got better. Weather improved, word got around. People came from relatively distant places—Lafayette, Terre Haute, Greensburg, Indianapolis, Lewisville, home of Guyer Opera House, came en masse. Residents there take pride in what they have spawned. About half the audience had come from beyond New Castle. In the end, Theater in the Park could have put up SRO signs—standing room only—except the house manager simply put up more chairs.

Equipment had come all the way from South Whitley, although Bundy Auditorium, First Nighters, and interested individuals contributed generously.

Vickie Willis designed the costumes, and made many of them. In a pinch, the entire cast helped. One or two of the men brought cots and camped in the Shelter House each night to protect the expensive borrowed equipment against possible intruders.

Before the end of the season, as Dick Willis wrote last week, all bills were paid and borrowed money—specifically the $1,500 advanced by First Nighters—was repaid. Final accounting has not been made, but an estimated $1,000 will be available to go into the Guyer Opera House fund for full restoration of the old theater. Sponsors are awaiting architect’s report, necessary to have before status of an Indiana Historical Landmark can be bestowed. The sponsors have been assured the Lewisville theater is worthy of preservation.

Caption: Members of the repertory company, Summer Theater in the Park, temporarily have put aside the glamour of acting for post-season cleanup. At left is Vickie Willis sorting costumes at while at right Vicki Horn attempts to bring order to a table top. While summer theater groups are notorious for losing money for the first season, Raintree County Opera House Guild, Inc., the parent company, was able to pay all expenses, repay a loan from First Nighters, Inc., and have an estimated $1,000 left over to apply on restoration of the Guyer Opera House in Lewisville.