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theater arts
WRITTEN BY BOBBIE HAYSE PHOTO BY AP IMAGERY
There is a reason Theatre Workshop of Owensboro is known as the longest running show in town. For more than 60 years, Owensboro’s premiere theater company has been performing several productions a year, including those done with area children and school groups. In 2011, the group purchased what is now known as the Empress Theatre and since then, its board of directors and staff members have been devoted to preserving more than the art of theater in Owensboro. Running an operation out of a historic theater isn’t new to the theater company, said Todd Reynolds, TWO’s executive director. The Trinity Centre, at 407 West Fifth St., has been a permanent home for TWO since the early 1970s. Built in 1875, the building is one of the oldest area examples of Gothic architecture, Reynolds said. “We were already acclimated to historical buildings,” Reynolds said. “When we had a chance to get another iconic building downtown, we took it.” He said a lot of people have been entertained in the Empress Theatre building, at 418 Frederica St., which was built in 1912 and was the Empress and Malco movie theaters and then home to Goldie’s Best Little Opryhouse for several years.
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G R E A T E R
For the past few years, TWO has been renovating the facility with grant funds and donations from sponsors and local individuals. The series of makeovers included roof work, boiler and air-conditioning work and the replacement of the old curtains that hung inside. The well-known cream color of the facade has been restored back to its original red brick. And then began the process of “tuck pointing,” which Reynolds said is the process of repairing mortar joints. Work was also done to the marquee, with paint reapplied, broken and cracked spaces replaced and the neon and florescent lights replaced with LED. The display windows out front have been replaced, new seating was installed and TWO did a complete overhaul of the bathrooms. The group also worked on building a new green room and bathrooms in the back of the theater for those participating in productions. All of this, Reynolds said, is just part of the responsibility of being owners of a historic building. And TWO’s board of directors, he said, feel it’s something owed to the residents of Owensboro. “A lot of people made some good memories in the building,” he said. “We felt it was important to take good care of it.” TWO performs six or more plays a year. In 2018, the group will produce “12 Angry Men” at the Empress. It’s the story of one man in a jury who is trying to prevent a miscarriage of justice by having his colleagues reconsider the evidence. Performance dates are Feb. 23-24 and March 2-4. Rounding out the season will be “The (Female) Odd Couple” at the Trinity Centre. This show is modeled after Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” only with ladies. Audition dates are Feb. 18-19 and performances are April 13-15 and 20-22. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. except Sunday matinees. For more information about TWO, visit www.theatre workshop.org. O W E N S B O R O
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FA S T F A C T S A B O U T
T W O • The Empress was built in 1912 and was previously the Malco movie theater and Goldie’s Best Little Opryhouse.
• The Trinity Centre, built in 1875, is one of the oldest examples of Gothic architecture in the commonwealth. • TWO’s tagline, “The longest running show in town,” is actually true! It’s been around since 1955. • TWO holds children’s theater performances several times a year and teams up with area high schools to perform at least one production yearly. TWO also hosts camps and clubs during school breaks.