Greenbrier Valley Theatre

GREENBRIER VALLEY THEATREThe State Professional Theatre of West VirginiaHOME SEASON EDUCATION CALENDAR ABOUT US CONTACT US

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Page 2 Greenbrier Valley TheatreA Brief HistoryGreenbrier Valley Theatre is a live-performance theatre and much more. GVT is involved in all aspects of the arts and humanities, with people of all ages. Here is a brief history of our amazing journey: From its 1966 productions in a tent alongside the Greenbrier River to Actor's Equity affiliation in a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Lewisburg, the Greenbrier Valley Theatre has adhered to the founders' concept: quality live theatre centered around a core of professional actors and directors with opportunities for members of the community to learn stagecraft.For our first three years, we performed in a tent beside the Greenbrier River. After performing in various borrowed spaces, in 1976 a temporary structure was erected on property loaned to us by the Greenbrier Valley Airport Authority. The facility, known as The Barn, was funded by the Benedum Foundation and built by dedicated volunteers. It served as our home for the next 21 years. During this time, through thick and thin, GVT pushed ahead, developing the framework of a regional cultural institution by hiring a full-time Artistic Director and Managing Director and a seasonal company of professional actors and technical staff. We began to blend a trained cadre of community-based actors into the resident company and orchestrate vigorous intern (college-age) and apprentice (high school) programs. Our programming also began embracing a full season of plays including experimental new works, a very successful after-school drama program, a summer camp for youngsters, classes, literary readings, special events performances, art appreciation activities, lectures, discussions, and workshops.Knowing that our temporary facility would not last forever, we searched for a permanent home, and in 1994, purchased the vacant Leggett's Department Store in downtown Lewisburg - a vital step in providing year-round live theatre and classes in a safe, comfortable and accessible setting. We began renovations in 1999, and in 2000 we moved into our new home. We raised a section of the roof to create flexible theatre space eliminating support columns to provide an unobstructed view. We also: created a spacious, attractive lobby for our patrons; created classroom/studio space; upgraded existing building systems to accommodate the demands of live theatre; and met all federal, state and local codes including accommodations under the American Disabilities Act as well as the expectationsof theatre professionals.Greenbrier Valley Theatre has enjoyed the support of a loyal community whose nurturing has developed a vigorous, professional organization with a vision to establish GVT as a significant regional performing theatre. In March 2006 GVT became West Virginia's Official Year-Round Professional Theatre. GVT HISTORY ENDNOTES[1] Certificate of Incorporation, Greenbrier Valley Theatre Archives[2] Letter, 4/7/76, GVT Archives[3] Article, Beckley Post Herald, 8/3/70, GVT Archives[4] Article, Greenbrier Independent, 4/18/74, GVT Archives[5] Articles Charleston Gazette, The Charleston Daily Mail, 4/27/74, GVT Archives[6] Article, White Sulphur Springs Star, 5/16/74, GVT Archives[7] Article, West Virginia Daily News, 3/1/75, GVT Archives[8] Letter, 4/4/75, GVT Archives[9] Program notes, You’re a Good Man, Charley Brown, 10/30-11/8/75, GVT Archives[10] Article, Greenbrier Independent, 2/26/76, GVT Archives[11] “ , Meadow River Post, undated, GVT Archives[12] op. cit.[13] Article, Greenbrier Independent, 4/22/76, “ “[14] “ , News Leader, 5/5/76, GVT Archives[15] Article, unattributed, undated, GVT Archives[16] Articles, “ “ “ “[17] Program, Fiddler on the Roof, 8/5-8/14/76, GVT Archives[18] Article, Covington Virginian, 9/11/76, GVT Archives[19] President’s Message, Limelight (GVT newsletter), Vol. 1, No. 1, March 1977, GVT Archives[20] Articles, WVU Atheneum & Barnesville OH Enterprise, 4/14/77, GVT Archives[21] Article, West Virginia Daily News, 4/19/77, GVT Archives[22] “ “ “ “ “, 5/13/77, “ “[23] “ “ “ “ “, 6/14/77, “ “[24] Office Records, GVT Archives[25] Program Note, Summer 1977, Greenbrier Historical Society Archives[26] Audition Sheet, May 1978, GVT Archives[27] Article, West Virginia Daily News, undated, GVT Archives[28] Program Notes, Summer 1987, GVT Archives[29] “ “ “ 1979, “ “[30] “ “ “ 1980, “ “[31] “ “ “ & Brochure, 1980, GVT Archives[32] Program Notes for Where’s Charley?, 1981, GVT Archives[33] GVT History by Robert Fisk, DO, GVT website (gvtheatre.org), 1/25/01[34] Message from the President, Spotlight newsletter, GVT Archives[35] op. cit.[36] Article, The Beckley Register Herald, 5/3/85[37] Program Notes for 110 in the Shade, June 27-29 & July 5-13, 1985, GVT Archives[38] Article, The West Virginia Daily News, 6/13/88, GVT Archives[39] “ “ “ “ “ , 8/1/88, “ “[40] Former President’s Message, Spotlight newsletter, Fall 1989, GVT Archives[41] Article, Spotlight newsletter, Fall 1993, GVT Archives[42] Physical Plant Development, Phase I, Proposal, Long Range Plan attachment, GVT Archives[43] op. cit., Appendix V[44] op. cit., cover letter A[45] op. cit., cover letter B[46] Article, Spotlight newsletter, Spring 1995, GVT Archives[47] Physical Plant Development, Phase I_, Long Range Plan Attachment, GVT Archives[48] Greenbrier Valley Theatre By-Laws, 8/97, GVT Archives[49] The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America, John Villani, copyright 1998, p. 228[50] Board Handbook, 1997, personal collection of Ann BenedictSpecial thanks to: Ramah Jones, Barbara Wygal, Rita Hassen, Mrs. Lawrence Persinger, Mitch Scott, Phyllis Tuckwiller, Roland Layton, John Benjamin
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STAFFCathey Crowell SawyerArtistic DirectorWaylon Lemasters Production ManagerKate BrittinghamProps Master/Box Office ManagerJenna BrownCostume Shop ManagerJoe Buttram (Volunteer)Gen Mngr/DevelopmentLauren DarrellMusical DirectorDaniel GrahamAssistant Technical DirectorMichelle JamesMarketing DirectorCourtney M JesserDevelopment DirectorJane MathenyHouse Manager/Volunteer DirectorPhilip McLaughlin, Jr.Marketing DirectorCarling McManusDevelopment AssociateMike RichmondBuilding MaintenanceJosh RobinsonTechnical DirectorCourtney SusmanEducation Director (Interim)
ADVISORY BOARDBill Baker - Beckley, WVRalph Ballard - Charleston, WVL. Thomas Bulla - Charleston, WVKatharine B. Becker - Charleston, WVDee Brown - Lewisburg, WVAllen Carson - Lewisburg, WVRoger Cerasoli - White Sulphur Springs, WVBrad Dourif - Tarzana, CAPat Fragile, Chair - Beckley, WVWarren Hammack - Nelson, NHWalt Helmick - Marlinton, WVJim Justice - Lewisburg, WVStephen King - White Sulphur Springs, WVRobert S. Kiss - Beckley, WVClaire LaRocco - Lewisburg, WVGayle Manchin - Charleston, WVEllis Marsalis - New Orleans, LABarbara Nissman - Lewisburg, WVBill Raney - Charleston, WVRandall Reid-Smith Charleston, WVSharon Rowe - Lewisburg, WVChris Sarandon - Beverly Hills, CARon Snyder - Lewisburg, WVJames Straw - Philadelphia, PAKate Udall - Morgantown, WVRick Whiting - St. Louis, MO
BOARD OF TRUSTEESMary Cowan, PresidentKirsten LaFollette, ChairpersonJudi Kenaston, 1st Vice PresidentDr. Mary Ann Mann, 2nd Vice PresSandra Neely, TreasurerAmy Criddle, SecretaryDebbie BallardJohn BarnesAnn BenedictPeggy BrownBetsy ConteAnn DaySandra DesbrowDr. Coy FlowersJerry GalyeanClaude GaujotEllen GoodwinCam HarknessMonika HussellDoug HyltonLana MartindaleJennifer Runyon MillerShannon RausenbergerJudy SeiferJustin Wigglesworth
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Award Winning!

2008 Awarded an Access to Artistic Excellence Grant for a production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird from the National Endowment for the Arts

2007 Awarded an Access to Artistic Excellence Grant for a production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire from the National Endowment for the Arts

2007 Awarded the Living the Dream Service Organization Honor Roll from the Martin Luther King, Jr., West Virginia Holiday Commission

2006 Awarded an Access to Artistic Excellence Grant for a production of The Diary of Anne Frank from the

National Endowment for the Arts

2006 Cathey Sawyer, Artistic Director, awarded Governor's Arts Award for "Artistic Excellence"

2006 Designated the State's Official Year Round Professional Theatre by the West Virginia Legislature

2005 Awarded a Creativity Grant for the creation of an historical play, Stories of Mountain Railroads, from the National Endowment for the Arts

2002 Awarded a Creativity Grant for the creation of an historical play, The Greenbrier Martyr, from the National Endowment for the Arts

2001 Designated West Virginia "Jewel of the Hills" by Governor Joe Manchin, III

Page 5 2010New Voices Original Short Play FestivalThe 39 StepsTaking StepsThe SeafarerIf You Give A Mouse A CookieThe Marvelous WonderettesMusical of Musicals (The Musical!)Death of a SalesmanNevermoreA Christmas Carol2009New Voices Original Short Play FestivalGuys & DollsThe Bridgroom of Blowing RockThe Greenbrier GhostAll the Great Books (abridged)Sherlock Holmes, The Final AdventureIf You Give a Mouse a CookieSUDSMacbethSweet and HotA Christmas Carol20085th Annual Festival of Community PlaysOklahoma!A Murder, A Mystery, and A MarriageThe UnderpantsThe Spitfire GrillBach at LeipzigHansel and GretelRoute 66To Kill A MockingbirdHome For ChristmasA Broadway Christmas Carol 20074th Annual Festival of Community Plays42nd StreetThe GuysUrinetown, the MusicalI'll Never Be Hungry AgainMoonlight and MagnoliasPicasso at the Lapin AgileThe Magic Mrs. Piggle-WiggleThursday's ChildAlways . . . Patsy ClineA Streetcar Named DesirePlaid TidingsA Christmas Carol 20063rd Annual Festival of Community PlaysThe Boy FriendPete 'n' KeelySomething's AfootSly FoxLying in StateSing Down The MoonThe Diary of Anne FrankThe Moving of Lilla BartonForever PlaidNutcracker 20052nd Annual Festival of Community PlaysHow To Succeed In Business Without Really TryingGod's Man In TexasStories of Mountain RailroadsFree Mel Greenberg!The Sugar Bean SistersThe Drawer BoyNoises OffTales of a Fourth Grade NothingOliver! 2004A Festival of Community PlaysThe Sound of MusicSide by Side by SondheimThe Greenbrier GhostThe Cripple of InishmaanThe Complete History of America (Abridged)I Love You, You're Perfect, Now ChangeAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayThe Subject Tonight Is LoveThe Honky Tonk AngelsA Tuna ChristmasA Christmas Carol 2003FootlooseGrace & GlorieThe Gin GameThe Greenbrier GhostFully CommittedThe Exact Center of the UniverseOld Wicked SongsLilly's Purple Plastic PurseAlways . . . Patsy ClineGreater TunaThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2002A Christmas Carol15 Plays from Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go BlindOver the River and Through the WoodsAll I Really Need to Know I Learned in KindergartenAlways...Patsy ClineThe WeirJack and the BeanstalkWiley and the Hairy ManBreaking LegsCompanyThe MartyrGreaseHow to Eat Like a ChildA Birthday Surprise 2001"Oh, Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write?"Full GallopGutman's ClimbA Little Night MusicOthelloOver the River and Through the WoodsA Chorus of DisapprovalThe Wind and the WillowsThe Glass MenagerieA Christmas CarolA Midsummer Night's Dream 2000GreenbrierThe Merry Wives of WindsorAll the King's MenTintypesThe Complete Works of William Shakespeare, AbridgedMiz Rawling's MessA Christmas Carol1999Free Mel GreenbergA Flea in Her EarThe Last Night of BallyhooAll My SonsConfronting DemonsSleeping BeautyIvy RoweTuna Christmas 1998ZonaEccentricitiesThe Mystery of Irma VepLight Up the SkyStuart Little 1997Rupert's Birthday and Other MonologuesSmoke on the MountainThe Learned LadiesLost in YonkersTalking PicturesPerfect WomenAesop's Fables 1996A...My Name is AliceA Patchwork AdventurePump Boys and DinettesColeThe Cemetery ClubThe Pride of East TexasCalling WandaLaundry & BourbonTarheel Tales 1995How to Eat Like a ChildA Voice of My OwnA Midsummer Night's DreamYou Belong to Me1940's Radio HourOur TownForever in Love 1994A...My Name is AliceA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumLend Me a TenorThe Voice of the PrairieMole HillThe Lion, The Witch and The WardrobeA 1993EleemosynaryNice People Dancing to Good Country MusicThe Pirates of PenzanceThe Boys Next DoorThe Dining RoomWelcome to Four WayAn Evening of One Act PlaysCharlotte's Web 1992Fiddler on the RoofCat on a Hot Tin RoofGreater TunaThe SpotTalking With...Alice in WonderlandThe Gift of the Magi 1991Beauty and the BeastMy Fair LadyBrighton Beach MemoirsMass AppealThe Feast of StephenPeter PanThe Hobbit 1990AnnieEducating RitaThe NerdThe Wizard of Oz1989Telling Wild Tales The Sound of MusicCrimes of the HeartSugarTo Gillian on her 37th Birthday 1988Hello DollyThe Foreigner 1987The Curious SavageSabrina FairAnything Goes; Tribute 1986Annie Get Your GunI Do! I Do!The Importance of Being EarnestArms and the ManOpal's Million Dollar DuckThe Glass Menagerie 1985Vanities6 Rms Riv Vu110 in the ShadeYou Can't Take it With You 1984LuvA Streetcar Named DesireIt Had to Be YouThe Music ManThe Lion in WinterDamn YankeesOn Golden Pond 1983Bus Stop Oliver Blithe SpiritDark of the MoonThe FourposterThe Real Inspector HoundArsenic and Old Lace 1982Life With FatherEverybody Loves OpalThe King and IStalag 17 1981OklahomaFiddleDeeDeeWhere's Charley?Little Mary SunshineThe Marriage Go RoundUnder the Yum Yum TreeLauraThe Tender TrapPajama Tops 1980How to Succeed In Business Without Really TryingHeaven Can WaitThe FantastiksOnce Upon a MattressYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown1979See How They RunTen Little IndiansThe TempestGuys and Dolls 1978Kiss Me, KateHarveyThe HobbitSouth PacificEverybody Loves OpalReynard the FoxTwo short GBS plays: Passion, Poison & Petrification & Overruled! 1977Barefoot in the ParkThe New RevueThe Deputy of Broken Bow & The Daniel JazzButterflies Are FreeStop the World, I Want to Get OffSleuthShenandoah 1976Barefoot in the ParkGodspellWitness for the ProsecutionFiddler on the RoofLove and Marriage, touring revueAn Evening with Mark TwainA Christmas CarolMother Goose and Other Oft-Told TalesRumplestiltskinCinderella 1975Down in the ValleyI Do! I Do!Rose Lee Simpson 1928-1956, originalwork by InnerarityA Thousand ClownsA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumLittle Red Riding HoodYou're a Good Man, Charlie BrownWinnie the Pooh, touring production 1974You Can't Take it With YouDiary of Anne FrankDames at SeaThe Student Review, original productionAn Evening with Mark TwainThe Fourposter 1972Oliver 1971OthelloFiddler on the RoofLook Homeward, AngelCompany 1970The Odd CoupleMan of La ManchaThe Glass MenagerieCamelot1969How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingA Thousand ClownsThe Apple Tree: The Diary of Adam and Eve/The Taming of the ShrewCharlie's AuntPeter Pan 1968BrigadoonThe FantastiksThe Little FoxesMy Three AngelsAnything Goes 1967Bye Bye BirdieArsenic and Old LaceThe Diary of Anne FrankAny Number Can DieAnnie Get Your Gun 1966Damn YankeesDraculaThe MousetrapThe Curious SavageLittle Mary Sunshine

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Golden Rules of Theatre Etiquette

(This article originally appeared in Stagebill.)

1. Go easy with the atomizer: many people are highly allergic to perfume and cologne.

2. If you bring a child, make sure etiquette is part of the experience.

3. Unwrap all candies and cough drops before the curtain goes up or the concert begins.

4. Make sure cell phones, beepers and watch alarms are OFF.

5. The overture is part of the performance. Please cease talking at this point.

6. THOU SHALT NOT TALK, or hum, or sing along or beat time with a body part.

7. Leaving while the show is in progress is discourteous.

8. The old standby: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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113 East Washington Street, Lewisburg, WV 24901 - 304.645.3838 - 866.888.1411 toll free - 304.645.3818 fax
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