KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013
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Saturday, June 8
East Noble Theatre’s history filled with highs BY DENNIS NARTKER dennisn@kpcnews.net
KENDALLVILLE — East Noble Theatre recently completed its 47th season with performances of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” “Grease,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Breakfast With Santa,” and “Jungle Book.” One constant through all but two of those years has been Craig Munk, who recently completed his 45th year as East Noble Theatre director. He is the face and, many East Noble Theatre alumni would say, the “voice” of one of the most successful high school theater programs in Indiana. The program’s history could not be told without his input. The theater has seen numerous changes over its history, but the tradition of quality has never changed. “Act well your part for there all honor lies” has been the motto of Thespian Troupe 1106 since it was formed at Kendallville High School more than 60 years ago. Larry Newton was the first East Noble director of theater, 1966-67, and served as the head director until the spring of 1969. Already on the scene was a new assistant director, Craig Munk, who had started teaching at East Noble High School in the fall of 1968 and was later to become head director in the fall of 1969. Munk attended Rome City High School from 1961-1963 and joined in that school’s productions of “Oklahoma” and “Brigadoon.” He moved to Kendallville High School his last two years, joined Thespian Troupe 1106 and played a prince in the production of the musical “The King and I.” The late Bill Savage was the director. Munk graduated from Kendallville High School in 1964 and went on to Ball State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in theater. He later received a master’s degree in theater from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. With the new theater program having been formed, many changes took place. One was the introduction of the Homecoming Variety Show in the fall of 1970. The show featured many performing groups of high school students and even high
school faculty. Later called the Variety Show, it continued until the fall of 1984, with the last show titled “Break Through.” The theater season went from a three-show season to a four-show season in 1972 with the addition of dinner theater. The East Noble High School cafeteria was turned into an elegant and intimate dinner theater. The first show was “The Fantasticks.” Dinner theater was new for high school and became very popular with the community, according to Munk. The dinner theater concept was moved to the Cole Auditorium backstage in 1982 and ran until the fall of 1988. “This intimate setting allowed the theater to present shows that would not have been presented on the main stage,” said Munk. Such shows as “Stop the World,” “Gypsy” and “Applause” were among the Broadway favorites. “Quilters” was the last dinner theater production the winter of 1992. The production on the main stage still included a ham-and-bean supper for patrons, Munk recalled. Now with a four-show season running quite smoothly it was time to expand the program. “It was always my goal to have a year-long theater season,” he said. In the winter of 1975, An Evening of Theatre was added, and the talents of an additional director, Bob Avery, were evident. He has directed every Evening of Theatre production since that time except for one. “He continues to bring fine drama to the East Noble stage and give the school and community a well-rounded theater season,” said Munk. In the summer of 1975, a summer theater season was added, and audiences enjoyed “Harvey” and “Brigadoon.” The summer program later became Kendallville Summer Theatre and eventually Gaslight Playhouse Theatre. In the spring of 1981, East Noble Theatre said farewell to its home in Central Auditorium (now the East Noble Middle School Auditorium) with a production of “The Wiz” and a special farewell presentation. Five months later in the fall of 1981, East Noble Theatre moved to its new home, Cole Auditorium. Central Auditorium could seat about 350, and the new Cole
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Auditorium seats 750. A gala opening celebration called “Overtures of a Celebration” featured community, alumni and high school talent. The new auditorium allowed Munk to introduce Stagecraft into the high school curriculum. “Kids in our shows today are so spoiled. They can walk from their classrooms into a beautiful auditorium with the sets waiting for them,” Munk said. Before Cole Auditorium, students had to go to the Central Auditorium for auditions and rehearsals and work on weekends on the sets and costumes. “In those days, mothers of cast members did the sewing and fitting of costumes in their homes,” said Munk. “That’s not true today.” Cole Auditorium storage areas are full of costumes and stage sets and props, and Munk orders costumes for his shows. The new theater brought another change to the theater season with the introduction of children’s theater. “Lemonade Joe Rides Again” was the first production in the fall of 1982. Munk’s theater classes created the very popular “Breakfast With Santa” in the winter of 1983. For 30 years the show has served nearly 500 guests each year before Christmas with a breakfast, a visit from Santa, costumed waiters and waitresses, a live stage show and the tradition of a live Nativity.
In the fall of 1989, the theater teamed up with the high school’s vocal music department to create “Raise A Ruckus.” This country-style variety show is now part of the Apple Festival of Kendallville. “Raise A Ruckus” has been presented throughout the state and featured at state and national conventions. Since 1992, the reigning Miss Indiana has been a special guest each year.
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Suzanne (Mustard) Coffman as Dolly sings during an East Noble Theatre performance of a “Hello, Dolly!” number for the gala celebration of the opening of Cole
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East Noble Theatre celebrates a milestone. Their support is a major reason for East Noble Theatre’s success. Although East Noble Children’s Theatre started in 1982, it wasn’t until 1996 that this family-friendly production was performed for all East Noble second- and thirdgraders during the school day, and now all second- and thirdgraders from Noble County
East Noble Theatre director Craig Munk speaks with former East Noble High School English teacher Karen Horn at the opening of Cole Auditorium in 1981.
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In the spring of 1991, East Noble Theatre celebrated 25 years of theater with a gala production featuring students and alumni from all 25 years, according to Munk. A special, permanent theater photo exhibit was made possible by the Olive B. Cole Foundation, and has been enjoyed by theater patrons for the past 22 years. Munk said he is extremely proud of the response from alumni when
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