SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
The Sioux City Community Theatre is looking forward to a major milestone, 65 years of performing productions, on stage.
With temperatures nearing 90-degrees outside, performers wearing wool costumes feel every degree inside the Sioux City Community Theatre. They're rehearsing for Oliver. It's a musical that director Kristy Tremayne knows well.
"It's a lot of fun," she said. Tremayne directed "Oliver" 14 years ago, on the same stage. "We have some of the same people back playing the characters. It's like a reunion."
Oliver is just one of hundreds of productions staged by the community theatre since the very first one-- The Late Christopher Bean-- in 1947. Though the troupe moved around in the early years, its made the former Shore Acres ballroom its home since 1968.
"This was meant to be a temporary location," said Actor/Director Greg Gregerson. And 44 years later, "It's its own community," he said.
Greg Gregerson has acted in and directed dozens of productions. Greg Gregerson, Actor/Director said, "It's that synergistic group that all of a sudden creates something, I think, in the very beginning we never thought we never thought we could create."
But, it isn't just bringing people to the theatre., it's taking the theatre to the people. Christine Wolf, SCCT Education Director said, "A big part of our mission is arts education, and reaching out to the community is one of the things that's really important to us."
Education director Christine Wolf points to Spotlight on Literacy project, partnering with KTIV to read to kids at local schools. Then, the kids come to the theatre to see the book come to life, on stage.
The theatre's "spotlight" is getting bigger, expanding to include social subjects, like bullying.
Christine Wolf, SCCT Education Director said, "We're really focusing on awareness. It's okay to be yourself. One of our main goals is to get out there into the community and use those subjects as a teaching tool using theatre."
Building awareness, and an audience. Kristy Tremayne, "Oliver" Director said, "What we should be proud of is that this is a theatre that belongs to the community." For 64-years, and counting.
"Oliver" runs from July 13th through the 29th. For tickets, call the box office at (712) 233-2788.
