About the Author: Vicki Shorter is a Professional Writing Major at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and also works full time at the Brazil Post Office. Vicki loves traveling and motorhome camping with her husband and two dogs. She hopes to one day be a travel writer! We welcome her contribution to SouthernIN.com this month. Vicki has been involved with the theater since 1985 as an actress, singer, director, choreographer and even helps out with set design & construction, costumes, and make-up. Community Theatre of Clay County Presents Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" By Vicki Shorter Community Theatre of Clay County has something for everyone! If you are looking for an evening of great fun, good food, and outstanding performances, CTCC offers six dinner theatre productions and a Children's Theatre show each year. For those who would like to be more involved, either on stage or behind the scenes, CTCC welcomes and encourages anyone and everyone to come be a part of their organization. Many volunteers are needed to make each and every production a success. Rehearsing clockwise from bottom left are Lee Reberger, Ashlee Vitz, T.J. Sneddon, Carl McKinney, and Greg Sloan Located at 8 East National Avenue (on Historic US 40) in Brazil, Indiana, Community Theatre of Clay County begins their 17th Season with the production of "Present Laughter" by Noel Coward on October 12, 13 and 14. The comedy is well known to theatergoers and fans of Noel Coward humor, the playwright who also wrote "Blithe Spirit." It is the story of actor Garry Essendine, portrayed by T.J. Sneddon, and all his zany, confused, and madcap friends. The cast of "Present Laughter," under the direction of T.J. Sneddon, can be found at the theatre three or four evenings each week, hard at work rehearsing their lines and stage directions. Carl McKinney, who portrays Fred in the show, is also in charge of set construction for CTCC. Carl can be found at the theatre on many weekends and just about any other time he can get access to the stage when rehearsals are not scheduled. Carl is just one of the many volunteers who contribute their time to CTCC. "Rehearsals are going really well and the cast is just wonderful," the show's director, T.J. said. "The show is full of Noel Coward's typical repartee and dazzling wit. And, not only will the audience recognize many familiar faces, we also have some wonderful new people in the show," T.J. added. Among the familiar faces in the cast is local attorney, Lee Reberger. Lee, who plays the part of Morris Dixon, has been involved with CTCC from the very beginning of the organization 17 years ago. "I like the family-like atmosphere here at the theatre. It's also something that both my wife and I can do together." Lee also added that he has made many friends at the theatre over the years and enjoys the fun and fellowship with the people in the organization. Another familiar face, Ashlee Vitz, a local high school student who portrays Daphne Stillington in the show, also likes the family-type atmosphere at the theatre. "The theatre is my second home. It's a way for me to get away from the stress of everyday life. I love it here!" Ashlee began with CTCC in the children's shows five years ago and although she is now too old for the children's productions, she is still involved as Student Director for this year's production of the musical "Robin Hood and Maid Marian" by Tim Kelly. According to Ashlee, "the children coined me 'Theatre Mom' two years ago. I just love all the hugs I get from the little kids at the practices." The cast of the children's production has been rehearsing since mid-September. Lynn Sims portrays Jonna Lyppiatt Rehearsing for two shows at the same time can often present many challenges, according to children's theatre director, Susan Sneddon. Susan, who is also playing the part of Lady Saltburn in "Present Laughter," is the President of the CTCC Board of Directors. This year's children's show has a cast of 62 wonderful kids who rehearse four days a week for six weeks. Some years there have been as many as 100 children participating in the show. For many people, organizing this many children for a stage production would be an impossible task, but not for Susan. She enjoys working with the children more so than the adults. "The fun thing about working with the children is how quickly they learn. I tell them once and they've got it! With adults, they have so many other things going on in their lives, that I often have to repeat eveything. It's also great to watch the children grow from the first time they step on the stage at auditions to the performance. It's great to watch them develop that self-confidence." Providing both children and adults an opportunity to develop self-confidence was just one of the original goals when CTCC was formed in 1983. The not-for-profit organization was founded to give the community an opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts. CTCC began with two dinner theatre productions a year at what was then known as Adami's and later the Waterwheel Restaurant. In 1988, the group moved to their current location when they purchased the old JC Penney store. Many donations and volunteer hours went into making the dream of their own building a reality. The building actually has quite a history of its own. Originally built in 1924, it was the home of the "Lark Theatre," one of the area's most elegant and elaborate movie and vaudeville theatre buildings. Around 1953, it was purchased and renovated for JC Penneys. Because of the changes that Penneys made to the building, it is the only fireproof building in town, according to Barbara Randall, one of CTCC Board of Directors. "Penneys made the floors, the upper walls and everything in concrete. They installed sprinkler systems everywhere, even going down into the basement. I think the only wood in the building is the stage we put in." Even though Penneys made many changes to the three-story building, evidence of the elegant "Lark Theatre" can still be seen. On the third floor, which houses CTCC's costumes and props, one can see the original ornate sculptured ceiling. And, according to Barbara Randall, there are even some leftover theatre seats hidden away on the upper floors. There are four other productions this season in addition to "Present Laughter" in October and the Children's Theatre on Nov. 10 and 11. The Christmas season would not be complete without the Dec. 5, and 7-9 production of "Christmas at the Lark ... A New Beginning." January brings "An Evening of One-Act Comedies" featuring a musical-melodrama and a one-act comedy on the 26 and 27. This is followed by the ever-popular musical "The Music Man" on March 2-3 and 8-10. The season finishes with the May 17-19 production of "Flappers, Jazz & Razamatazz!...The Roaring Twenties Musical Revue!" With the exception of the Children's Theatre, all shows include a buffet dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by the show at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $17.50 each and must be reserved in advance. The Children's Theatre production begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 2 p.m. Nov. 11. Tickets are $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children and sell-out very early. For ticket reservations, audition information, or any other additional information about CTCC, please contact Mrs. Barbara Randall, 5 West Hendrix St., Brazil, Ind., 47834 or you may call (812) 448-8772.

All Feature Articles, artwork and photographs ©2000 by Southernin.com. Some information on the 'County Info' pages is taken directly from brochures published by Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.