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Theater Spotlight: Tyler Civic Theater Center By Emmitte Hall Tyler Civic Theater Center in Tyler is one of the oldest community theaters in Texas and begins their 63rd season in July with the musical presentation of Always, Patsy Cline. Dating back BEFORE World War II, the Tyler Civic Theater Center (TCTC) began as Tyler Little Theater in 1927 with a speaker’s platform and performances at Tyler High School and the Women’s Building on South Broadway. In 1939, the theater built their own theater on the corner of Houston and Glenwood streets but shuttered it during the war. In 1949, the citizens of Tyler decided the city needed a community theater. According to DeAnna Hargrove, the managing director of TCTC, “Al Gilliam literally drew out the plans for a theater-in- theround on a paper napkin.” That theater opened in 1951. It became one of the first, and now, one of the oldest theaters-in-the-round in the nation. Mr. Gilliam was the resident director until his death in 1988. In 2000, TCTC opened a brand new complex with twice the capacity of the original theater, seating over 350 people and providing more flexible stagings. The original theater was renovated and became the Rogers Children’s Theater and is currently used primarily for the many education programs and workshops the theater hosts. Tyler Civic Theater Center complex overlooks the famous Tyler Rose Gardens on Front Street.
Each year, TCTC presents popular musicals, children’s shows, mysteries, comedies and dramas all performed by talented local actors and production volunteers. During the summer, students from preschool to 12th grade can participate in the Summer Theater Arts Review or S.T.A.R Program for intensive drama workshops and theater camp. Students take lessons in acting, voice, movement, filmmaking, directing and playwriting. Students interested in musical theater can attend the musical theater camp and will perform in a full musical production at the end of the class. This year they will perform Annie Jr. Other students may choose specialty instruction; this summer’s class is on stage combat where stu-
dents will learn how to perform realistic fight scenes on stage. This year also marks the Sixth Annual New Play Festival. Playwrights from all over the country compete for inclusion in the annual play festival. Playwrights submit one act plays or portions of a full length play for adult or children/teen audiences. Junior Playwrights from 12-18 years of age compete in their own category. This year’s winning plays will be presented on Saturday, June 11 in the Rogers Children’s Theater and is free to the community.
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Theater-in-the-round is a more classic form of theater dating back to the days of the coliseum when there were no walls. “Theatre is like watching television. It’s a picture box, and you see things from one perspective only,” according to Ms. Hargrove, “Inthe-round the movement is more natural, and actors don’t have to play to that ‘fourth wall.’ Theater-in-theround gets back to the “roots” of theater”. Community Theater allows people of all ages, experience and skill levels to participate in live theater and perform in front of a live audience. Audition dates for the 2011-2012 season have already been scheduled, and anyone interested should plan on coming or at least observing the auditions.
Emmitte Hall’s articles and photographs have appeared in Southwest Blues magazine, E-Guide, Options, Vim and Vigor, East Texas Magazine, e-pinions and others. He has published four books of short stories and an illustrated children’s book. His work is available from Amazon.com, Xlibris Press and for Kindle e-books. His plays have been presented in Texas, Florida, Ohio and California.
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