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HAPPY 6oth DCP Theatre
FOR RELEASE: DCP THEATRE
Sept. 17, 2010
TELFORD, PA
DCP Theatre (formerly Dutch Country Playhouse) is turning 60 years experienced in 2011! Imagine! Anything that lasts for 60 years is special: people, businesses and charitable organizations. But for an all volunteer community theater to be able to find new blood and continue for 60 years is really something special. By reaching the 60 year mark, dcp theatre is one of the oldest, continually running community theaters in the country. So, how do they do it?
To answer that question properly, we should go back to 1952 and understand how 5 couples, who loved theater, thought that it might be fun to put on productions of their own. And that’s how it all began. It didn’t take long for other folks to get involved and begin joining in the fun, camaraderie, and satisfaction of providing quality entertainment to the surrounding community. Through the years, the faces have changed there has been an ever growing body of work (plays) to choose from and always the opportunity to meet with other people who enjoy working together and having fun creating theater.
There have been banner years when every show of every production was ‘sold out’. There have been lean years, when there were serious discussions of whether to continue because of lack of audiences and consequently finances. But through it all was the indomitable spirit of the love of theater and the drive to provide quality entertainment at an affordable price. And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing for the last 59 years.
As the 60th season unfolds next year, things are looking up for dcp. Audiences are coming back in large numbers. The quality of the productions seems to get better every year. The current board of directors is fostering a culture of competent business sense, developing partnerships with area businesses and exploring ways to work with other charities in the area. One such partnership now experiencing great success at the theatre is with Drama Kids Classes & Camps who runs weekly drama classes and camps in cooperation with the theatre's community outreach program. As a 501 (c) 3, charitable organization, they are developing an endowment fund and working on ways to attract gifts.
Their fantastic 2011 Season slate will help in all those "transformation" efforts. It includes the "Patron Selected" Comedy, The Odd Couple, the edgy mystery, The Accomplice, the "Patron Selected" Musical, My Fair Lady, another Comedy, Born Yesterday and as we enter the haunting fall season the theatre has chosen Blithe Spirit and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to round out it's main stage season. The season also includes family programming for our younger audiences including: Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden and The Rented Christmas. These are shorter plays designed for kids to experience and enjoy live theatre. According to Ray Thompson, the Board President, "Good things are happening at dcp theatre; a new innovative culture, great choices in shows and our audiences and sponsors are glad to be a part of all of it."
So, Happy Birthday, dcp theatre and best wishes for another 60 years of providing quality, affordable theater to the Montgomery County area.
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