Gladstone Amphitheatre Rises From Ashes for Triumphant 20th Year
20th year, community, culture, gladstone amphitheatre, triumphant, volunteers,
For two decades‚ the Gladstone Amphitheatre has hosted summer productions that draw thousands to the Oak Grove Park venue for evenings of theatrical magic.
Theatre In The Park has been an institution in the area since the first production‚ Oliver‚ was performed in 1988 on a temporary stage of two-by-fours and plywood. A permanent structure was built in 1995‚ only to burn to the ground at the hands of vandals seven years later.
Literally rising from the ashes‚ a new amphitheatre was ready for the 2003 season‚ thanks to ongoing community support and tireless fund raising efforts.
“We’ve been doing community thea ter for 20 years‚” says Sheila Lillis‚ director of the Gladstone Parks and Recreation Department for the last five years of her 20 as a department employee. “It has definitely been very much a community-based program. We have volunteers from all different avenues helping us put these productions together.”
Two musical productions are staged at the amphitheatre each summer‚ as well as a number of other annual events including appearances by the Kansas City Ballet‚ the Gladstone Bluesfest in June‚ movie showings in June and July‚ and Friday Fright Night in late October. The 2007 shows were Cinderella‚ July 6-8‚ with 80 cast members‚ and Beauty and the Beast‚ Aug. 3-5 and Aug. 10-12‚ with 110 performers. There is no admission charge‚ but actors and actresses pass the hat for donations.
“Sometimes we get $20‚ sometimes $50 and sometimes $1‚” Lillis says. “Every little bit helps. This is some times the only exposure to a professional stage production that people can afford.
“All performers are volunteers‚ with people in their 70s to those as young as 10 years‚” Lillis adds.
The North Star Community Band performs the music‚ and the Ibsen Dance Theatre provides its expertise in choreography.
When the amphitheatre was rebuilt‚ a fly system and other equipment was added‚ along with outside lighting‚ a blue tin roof with the city logo in the middle‚ dressing room space and an expanded area for the pit band.
Seating is on the lawn and a tradition called the chair run happens at 3 p.m. before the evening shows. Patrons line up and touch the shelter house‚ and when the signal is given‚ they run to put down chairs and blankets to claim a spot for the evening performance.
“It’s a nice‚ sloped‚ grassy venue‚” Lillis says. “It’s very picturesque.
“Theatre In The Park has been so well received and so well attended‚” Lillis says. “It’s a community gathering spot – a place where people can come and know they’re going to do or see something that’s fun and family oriented. It’s been a very positive place in our history and our community.”
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Wes Aldridge
