A Little About Our History...

Born in the Roaring Twenties, the Civic Players, as it was called in 1926, reflected a national movement toward establishing "little theaters." Eight individuals met at Ottawa Hills High School to form the theatre group and agreed to produce four plays in the St. Cecilia Auditorium. Prosperity hit early on and the Civic Players moved to Germania Hall on Front Street. Then came the Depression. Membership fell and funds were low. As one of its first fundraisers, the Civic Players held a debate between the already-famous Clarence Darrow and Dr. Alfred Wishart of Fountain Street Church. That simple device netted the theatre $2,000 and it survived another season.

In the early thirties, the Civic Players performed quite comfortably at the Ladies Literary Clubhouse under the three-year tenure of Director Edward J. Crowley. As the organization grew, the theatre needed more space for seating, for the stage, and for set construction. The not-so-little theatre group moved back to St. Cecilia in 1939 when Bertram Yarborough came to direct for eleven seasons. In 1935 the name of the organization was officially changed from The Civic Players to The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.

By 1940 season ticket membership was over 1,600 and each of the six productions drew audiences of over 4,000 patrons. Civic Theatre had an identity but no permanent home of its own. In 1948, St. Cecilia closed down and Civic moved to the Foto News Theatre, previously known as the Powers Theatre and later named the Midtown.

During the fifties, increased competition for the entertainment dollar caused a decline in revenues and made necessary a reduction in professional staff. The all-volunteer theatre group struggled to reorganize and develop a new vision for the future of the theatre in Grand Rapids. Finally, in the late fifties, a search was conducted to find a new, professional artistic director.

In 1960, Paul Dreher, actor, lighting designer, and director from South Carolina by way of New York and Manistee, was hired. He arrived in time to direct the Civic Theatre's move from St. Cecilia to the Isis Theatre on Monroe Street. Plans for another move for the theatre, this time to Leonard Street, brought this decade to a close.

During the sixties, the theatre experienced unprecedented growth. By 1966, the Civic Theatre had over 3,300 season ticket holders. In 1969 the first full-time director for the Young People's Theatre was hired. A cooperative venture between the Civic and the Grand Rapids Public Schools' Board of Education offered daily Educational Park theatre classes to young people.

In 1974, the theatre launched an experimental theatre called Second Space, housed in Junior College's Spectrum Theatre. Here productions with a narrower audience appeal than was possible to offer on the main stage were offered. As the decade closed, the now very successful Civic Theatre moved in 1979 to its present home in the turn-of-the-century auditorium previously known as the Majestic Theater. The Majestic Theater, built in 1903, had become a movie house. With the expert help of the construction company, Owen, Ames and Kimball, the theatre structure and three adjacent buildings were renovated and turned into The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre complex, opening its doors to the public in October of 1979.

The eighties brought growth and prosperity. The professional staff increased, as did the activities in the educational and out reach programs. By the end of the decade the theatre had outgrown this space and began investigating a way for expansion.

In 1994-95 the Setting the Stage capital campaign secured the adjacent Wenham Building for additional office, classroom space and rehearsal halls. The expanded facility boasts a 777-seat air-conditioned auditorium, large scene and costume shops, complete dressing rooms, 3 rehearsal halls/classrooms, business offices, and a dance studio. Each year, over 800 volunteers are involved in productions as actors, technicians, season ticket campaign workers, ushers, doorkeepers, box office personnel and guild members.

In 1996 the Acting School curriculum was expanded to include dance and voice. The Acting School changed its name to The Civic School of Theatre Arts. Currently the school offers classes for students age 4-adult. Four terms a year are scheduled and over 1,000 students are served. A professional faculty of 20 teachers is headed by a full time Education Director.

After 73 years of operation, 1999 brought significant changes and improvements. An innovative fund drive, “Rehearsing for the Future” afforded us the opportunity to improve facilities and increase our Endowment, reaching our goal of 1 Million Dollars. And after 39 years, Managing Director, Paul Dreher retired. His successor, Bruce Tinker, is leading the Theatre into the new millenium.