After opening nite our our new theatre building, we continued to produce about 4-5 shows a season. We procured good directors and even better actors. Our patron paying base of regular givers kept rising. We sold out nearly every production. Our volunteer Board of Directors and volunteer players, director and technical folk worked often round the clock to keep the theatre a success. It was a good 10 years. It was time to grow again...and we began increasing our schedule. We added childrens shows and musicals. Again, we sold out. The involvement of children garnered nearly a 100 auditioners for one musical. The need was evident and we met it. Our childrens shows would sell out before they opened.

It was an exciting and prosperous time.

debt here we come!

Up until this point in our short history, we had no debt. We managed financially play to play, existing and maintaining just on ticket income and a handful of annual paying patrons. We had a couple of businesses that came on board and kicked in more than their share. But our coffers were small.

It was at this point, with not a "pot", we came across an old warehouse in the "Heart of Danville" and thought it might just be the perfect spot for our new home. We met, we discussed, we agonized over borrowing the money to get us started. One of the local banks believed in us, we had some friends that were builders and architects and our dream came into focus.

We had a major fund raising campaign and raised enough to make us feel it might be possible. And it was. We built, with the help of hundreds of local committed folk, a beautiful, State approved - 125 seat theatre! It was replete with restrooms, dressing rooms, a small green room, a workshop, a lobby area, a technical booth, and a very expensive sprinkler system!

While we were still waiting for paint to dry we opened "Inherit the Wind" in our new building! It was an exhilirating, satisfying and incredible night as George McClure and Dorothy Belle Hill ceremoniously cut the yellow ribbon across the stage on opening nite!

Ah...we were more than on our way!

going on with our leader

The days following the loss of West T. Hill were difficult ones. But the one who suffered the most was the one who encouraged and pushed us on at every turn. Dorothy Belle was truly our beloved matriarch. She cajoled her friends to volunteer, to give money, to work, to do whatever was necessary to keep the theatre afloat. It more than floated.

No one said "no" to Dorothy Belle. You simply couldn't. She was ever bit the Southern Belle she seemed to be and her care was far reaching. For those of us who were trying to direct and lead, she was the ever present cheerleader. She worked tirelessly to establish regular paying patrons and to make them feel needed.

The plays got produced and received raving reviews at every turn. The play selection was diverse and educational and well as entertaining. By this time, and fortunately, before his death, we renamed the theatre after our founder. West T. Hill Community Theatre was well on its way of establishing an excellent reputation State wide and beyond.

Suddenly property became available and it was time to kick ourselves into high gear!

Dr. Hill gets ill

Just when things were really kicking into gear, West T. Hill finds out that he has a disabilitating disease of the bones. For the next several years, with Dorothy Belle by his side, he continues to direct our plays with diligence. There were times his pain was so bad sitting in his wheelchair, he would ask one of the fellas to lift him out and simply put him on the floor. From the floor he would continue to direct, never missing a beat in guiding his actors.

It was hard for those of us who held them dear to see them both suffer so. Dorothy Belle suffered along with her beloved and we all went along for the ride.

The theatre flourished and grew.

Plans were made to buy our own building.

At some point, Dorothy Belle couldn't manage anymore and we saw less and less of West. He took several of us under his wing and passed on his directing acumen. I was one of those lucky ones.

Before we knew it he was gone. Dorothy Belle picked herself up and continued on with the theatre. She did EVERYTHING but direct.

growing pains

For the first ten years of our organization (or so)...we were called the "Danville-Boyle County Community Theatre". We had a great core group and wonderful followers, who became patrons for a minimal fee of $10.00 annually. That barely kept us afloat and we kept our expenses at a minimum.

At some point, Centre College offered us a couple of basement rooms in one of their older buildings. We got together one Saturday morning and painted EVERYTHING...black. The BLACK BOX was born. It was wonderful to have "our own space". There were drawbacks, of course. They played basketball above our heads in an old gym and the nearest restrooms were down the hall and we had to share them. There was no air conditioning. AND...there were poles in the sight lines of our stage. These were structural building poles, nothing that we could "remove". We just tried very hard not to seat folks in front of one, but there were about 8 and that was not easy. We had full houses for almost every show, so invariably somebody had to crane their neck, but there were no major complaints.

in the beginning...

It was around this time of the year in 1979 that West T. and his loving wife, Dorothy Belle held a meeting in the Danville City Hall to see how many folks might be interested in forming a community theatre.

Shortly after that meeting they held auditions for the first production. Many showed up. I showed up. I auditioned. I wasn't cast. I couldn't imagine that. But, I persevered and it wasn't long before West T. Hill decided I merited a second look and he cast me in a play and it was a "doozy"...a little story about George Bernard Shaw, entitled "Dear Liar".

The interest in a community theatre was great. A handful of actor wannabes came together about 2-3 times a year for the first few years and produced plays wherever they could "hang their hat". The quality of the performances was excellent and we were off and running...

Was it just 30 years ago

On the eve of celebrating the 30 anniversary of the creation of West T. Hill Community Theatre, in Danville, Kentucky, I thought it was appropriate that some things be put to writing for "posterity". It seems that "posterity" is a wealthy creature, having volumes of things to share on thousands of topics. But, for the purpose of this particular journal, I will attempt to go back to our beginnings of a community theatre and hope that in my journaling, others will learn and enjoy the growing pains of a small community theatre. As the theatre's current managing director, as well as an actor and technical person, I think I have a lot of memories and thoughts to share. I look forward to any comments and the sharing of like experiences from any readers we may garner.