Greenwood Community Theatre
Encyclopedia
Greenwood Community Theatre, or GCT, is a non-profit theatre in Greenwood, South Carolina
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GCT reopened in January 2007 after an extensive 1.2 million dollar renovation project. Centrally located in the Emerald Triangle Cultural Arts District, GCT boasts a healthy offering of theatre, musical theatre, comedy, dramas, classic films, Indie films, music concerts and many rentals to local and touring organizations and businesses.
. GCT’s present home at 110 Main Street was built in 1934 as the State Theatre. The floor in the lobby is the original terrazzo tile.
Through the years the theatre went through several name changes including the Jerry Lewis
Theatre. In 1978, GCT (then called the Greenwood Little Theatre) was housed at the Village Theatre on Kirksey Drive. The old State Theatre building had fallen into disrepair and was even showing XXX rated movies. The GCT Board of Directors and Artistic Director Donald McKellar convinced the owners to sell the building. Support for much needed renovations came with the city’s decision in the early 2000s to anchor its downtown revival with historic properties.
After being closed for 18 months to remodel, the theatre re-opened in February 2007 for the production Anything Goes
. Renovations preserved the original terrazzo tile floor in the lobby. Improvements included seating capacity for nearly 300, better access for wheelchairs, new riggings, curtains, the addition of a catwalk, and an upgraded sound and lighting system.
Kids4Kids shows GCT has presented in the past include: 101 Dalmatians, Annie, Jr., The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
, Godspell, Jr., Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Alice in Wonderland, and many more...
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Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 22,071 at the 2000 census and had slightly increased to 22,710 according to a 2009 estimate.-Geography:...
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GCT reopened in January 2007 after an extensive 1.2 million dollar renovation project. Centrally located in the Emerald Triangle Cultural Arts District, GCT boasts a healthy offering of theatre, musical theatre, comedy, dramas, classic films, Indie films, music concerts and many rentals to local and touring organizations and businesses.
History
Greenwood Community Theatre officially began in 1954. Originally named the Greenwood Little Theater, the first production was Dear RuthDear Ruth
Dear Ruth is a 1947 romantic comedy film starring Joan Caulfield, William Holden, Mona Freeman, and Edward Arnold. It was based on the Broadway play of the same name by Norman Krasna. A teenage girl has a soldier for a pen pal, but uses her older sister's name and photograph...
. GCT’s present home at 110 Main Street was built in 1934 as the State Theatre. The floor in the lobby is the original terrazzo tile.
Through the years the theatre went through several name changes including the Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
Theatre. In 1978, GCT (then called the Greenwood Little Theatre) was housed at the Village Theatre on Kirksey Drive. The old State Theatre building had fallen into disrepair and was even showing XXX rated movies. The GCT Board of Directors and Artistic Director Donald McKellar convinced the owners to sell the building. Support for much needed renovations came with the city’s decision in the early 2000s to anchor its downtown revival with historic properties.
After being closed for 18 months to remodel, the theatre re-opened in February 2007 for the production Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
. Renovations preserved the original terrazzo tile floor in the lobby. Improvements included seating capacity for nearly 300, better access for wheelchairs, new riggings, curtains, the addition of a catwalk, and an upgraded sound and lighting system.
Greenwood Children's Theatre
Greenwood Children's Theatre is a program offered by Greenwood Community Theatre that includes children's plays and musicals, workshops, and summer camps.Kids4Kids
Kids4Kids productions are shows open to children 5–17 years old. Every season, two or three Kids4Kids productions are offered.Kids4Kids shows GCT has presented in the past include: 101 Dalmatians, Annie, Jr., The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a book written by Barbara Robinson in 1972. It tells the story of six delinquent children surnamed Herdman. They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers snacks...
, Godspell, Jr., Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Alice in Wonderland, and many more...
Workshops
Workshops are offered year round and are taught by local theatre, dance, and music professionals and students from Lander UniversityLander University
Lander University is a public university located in Greenwood, South Carolina. It is the state's smallest publicly-funded baccalaureate institution.-History:...
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