| Theatre
7 started as a spin off from another Decatur theatrical group
called "Town and Gown." It was directed by Gerald
Michel, a Millikin University theatre director, who preferred
doing the classics. A number of members of this group
wanted to do more commercial material and, after a rehearsal
one night, discussed starting a new theatre group. In December
1963, approximately thirty people organized what would become
Theatre 7. Today
there are 150 members performing onstage and working behind
the scenes, plus business and community support. Our production
history has consisted of musicals, comedies, mysteries,
dramas (as well as "mellerdrammers") one-act plays,
variety shows, and also a "travel troupe".
As
an all volunteer community theatre group, Theatre 7 welcomes
anyone interested in becoming involved. There are lots
of opportunities in Theatre 7, both performing onstage and
working backstage.
Theatre 7 also
has an ever expanding collection of costumes and props that
it makes available to the community for rental.
Theatre
7’s Headquarters has been located throughout downtown
Decatur before the purchase of the present building at 131
N. Water St. in 1991. They included the following locations;
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Swain & Myers Building
(300 W. Cerro Gordo St.), above Greenburg’s Shoe Outlet
(600 N. Water St.), Old St. Nick Hotel (101 South Main St.),
and 111 North Main St.
Performance
locations have included Masonic Temple, Millikin University’s
Albert Taylor Hall and Kirkland Fine Arts Center, Decatur
Civic Center Theater, churches, high school auditoriums, taverns
and bars, and even an automobile sales showroom.
First
full production
- Light Up the Sky in May 1964.
First show mounted on Kirkland’s
stage
- Theatre 7’s My Fair Lady, 1971
First show in the Decatur Civic Center
- Hello Dolly, 1980 |
l |
Original T7 Officers
President
- Gerald Waldera
Vice President
- Ralph Donovan
Secretary
- Coleen Harman
Treasurer
- Robert C. Ruski
Executive Board Members
- Michael Duggan
- Jeanne Robertson
- Marjorie Sangster
Some
of Theatre 7’s founding members:
- Bob and Dorothy Cargill
- Sue and Ralph Donovan
- Orv and Donna Graham
- Nancy Kaltenbach
- Charlene and Jack Robb
- Ken and Jean Robertson
- Eileen and Bob Ruski
- Marjorie and Jack Sangster
- Anne and Paul Swearingen
- Jean and Jerry Waldera
- Jack and Rowena Woodard
Theatre
7’s name has no meaning of any significance and was simply
created at the suggestion of member Ralph Donovan to reflect
the trend of the day (the whole "name with a number attached"
thing).
In Theatre 7’s first production Light
Up the Sky, a parrot name Jay Jay prophetically squawked,
"SRO, Darling, SRO," which meant "Standing
Room Only." Curiously enough, one year from the opening
night of Theatre 7’s first show, the production of Guys
and Dolls had a standing-room-only crowd. As a result
of this, the acting awards given each year are small gold
parrots called Jay-Jays. |
