A STAGE WITHOUT CURTAINS

THE HISTORY OF THE STAINED GLASS PLAYHOUSE

Is a theater a stage if it has no curtains? The answer to that question is the Stained Glass Playhouse. The size and shape of the stage is not limited by where the curtains happen to be. That dictates and allows creativity to run rampant during productions. Creativity is a very important thread in the history of the Stained Glass Playhouse (SGP).

The theater is located in the old sanctuary of Marvin United Methodist Church, which was vacated in 1960. Renovations began in the early 1980's with a core group of six people. Over the years, the founding members have been responsible for set building, running lights, writing, directing, singing, acting and other unseen but very important backstage duties. Currently four of the original core remains active in SGP productions.

The Stained Glass Playhouse was an outgrowth of the youth group doing Easter and Christmas productions in the sanctuary. The set had to be constructed and removed on the same day. These limitations were the primary reason to fix up the old sanctuary to use for seasonal productions and concerts by the group's members, known as Resurrection Joy.

The dedication of SGP occurred in 1981. This was followed by three concerts, a Christmas production and an Easter drama OUTLAW which had originally been performed in the sanctuary. The first major production was done in 1983 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church. The musical, SAND TO STONE was written by Douglas Poorman, one of the founding members. The play concerned the faith journey of Simon Peter as his faith changed from sand to stone. The set was designed by another founding member, Paula Webster, and allowed Peter to walk on water, at least for a few seconds. This production showed the versatility of the "Stage Without Curtains." The set had a seaside scene, a garden scene and an Upper room scene.

The SGP ended the decade of the 80's with two more Christmas productions and another Easter drama which marked the 10th production. One of the Christmas shows, ARCH THE ANGEL had two distinctions. The W-S Journal ran an article about the show, marking the first notice of the SGP to the general public. Also, another church member, Alvin Tyndall, made his debut as director. Even though there were less than fifty active members at the church, there was a director, a scene designer, a writer and a costume mistress on hand. I guess you could say the stage was set.

The next ten productions were done from the spring of 1991 to the winter of 1993. Variety was evident with the production of two youth musicals, FRIENDS FOREVER and THE BIG PICTURE. The first dinner theater presentation was THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM. There was a reader’s theater version of a Christmas legend, ROADS and a three act Christian comedy, CAMP W. Another original production by Douglas Poorman was entitled, JUST DESSERTS. The dramatic comedy tells the story of peace talks that takes place at Adam's All-Night Diner. The twist is that the two warring parties happen to be God and the Devil. Two days before opening night, air conditioning was installed which made summer productions now possible.

The next piece of history for SGP ranged from March 1994 to November 1996 when 14 productions were staged. Outside groups rented the SGP for the first time. Bishop McGuiness High School had two productions, and Theatre Alliance used the Playhouse for two of their shows.

SGP had spring productions that included a Reader's Theatre piece about Judas and Peter, TWO FACES IN THE SHADOWS, a dinner theatre show about David and Goliath, set in the Old West, DAVE, and a professional one-man show about meeting Jesus Christ, up close and personal, FROM THE MOUNT. The fall productions were youth musicals, ETERNITY'S ALMOST FINAL EXAM, and THE RIDE. Also presented were two fantasies from "The Land of Never Was, But Could Have Been" written by Mr. Poorman. LAUGHALOT was presented in the SGP and DRAGON TALES was a coffee house presentation in the fellowship hall. Thanks to the air-conditioned comfort of the Playhouse, the best attended performances are the summer productions. AFTER THE LAUGHTER had an article with pictures in the local newspaper, and the stage was not used. The action took place under a circus tent and the audience was on raised platforms in front of the center ring.

That set the stage for the building of the town of Antatevka for the Broadway show, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in 1995. The final weekends of the show were sell-outs after the paper ran an article about the play. The picture of our fiddler on the roof of the SGP also caught the community's attention. The 1996 production of GODSPELL drew even more attention when two local TV stations brought their cameras into the playhouse. The production was done in the round and featured Jesus as teacher to a class of pre-school disciples. This musical also had some sold-out performances.

The Spring of 1997 brought another first in the production of RUN TO CATCH A PINE CONE. The author, who lives in South Dakota played flute in the orchestra for the shows, which marked the first use of a woodwind orchestra in the SGP. Also, the lead in the show was Eliza Webster, daughter of two of the founding members, David and Paula Webster.

On June 1, 1997, the Stained Glass Playhouse incorporated as a 501-C3 entity to begin a new chapter in its diverse and truly unique history.

Please Select A Season

1997-1998 | 1998-1999 | 1999-2000 | 2000-2001 | 2001-2002 | 2002-2003

2003-2004 | 2004-2005 | 2006-2007 | 2007-2008

The 1997-1998 season was the first season that four productions were presented. The summer musical was MAN OF LaMANCHA which featured the lead being cast after reading the audition notice in the paper, right after moving down from Pennsylvania. The Fall show was a musical comedy about the infamous Count from Transylvania, entitled DRACULA, BABY. For the first time, SGP had a winter production especially for Valentine's Day. TUG OF THE HEARTSTRINGS was a love story from “The Land of Never Was, But Could Have Been" and allowed Eliza Webster to direct her 1st SGP production as well as have one of the lead roles. The season closed in May 1998 with the production of DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE, written by Mark Twain and adapted by David Birney. This two person show cast former Bishop McGuiness’ students who had been directed in various school shows by Alvin Tyndall.

The 1998-1999 season began with THE SOUND OF MUSIC and featured several newcomers to the SGP family. A group of talented youngsters brought the Von Trapp Family children to vibrant life. The fall production was another 2 person cast entitled LOOK AWAY. This historical drama presented a look into a troubled period in the life of Mary Todd Lincoln (Joyce Allen) and her seamstress and friend, Elizabeth Keckley (Maybelle Steele). The beginning of regular dinner theatre shows began with the winter production of DEATH, MOST PECULIAR? This mystery featuring detectives, Watson Holmes and Christy Mystery was another script by Mr. Poorman. Another of his plays began road show performances. OUT TO PASTURE is the retelling of the 23rd Psalm through the eyes of three sheep and a sheep dog named Sebastian. The final production of the season was a dinner theatre presentation of a family drama about the sandwich generation (Taking care of their children & their parents). PAP'S PLACE was written by the author of CAMP W and featured a blend of SGP veterans and newcomers. The SGP Board chairman, Alvin Tyndall returned to perform on the stage for the first time since 1776 (The W-S Little Theatre production, not the year.)

The 1999-2000 season opened in August with the lively production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. A very ambitious set featured our very own pyramid and elaborate choreography for Joseph's brothers. The season continued in the fall with a stirring production of DRIVING MISS DAISY. This show marked the SGP directorial debut of Randall C. Morris from Kernersville Little Theatre. The audience responded with a rousing standing ovation after every show. The first show of the year 2000 was a lunch-dinner theatre presentation of the comedy, I HATE HAMLET. The lofty set for the legendary appearance of John Barrymore was quite impressive and featured four, almost five sold-out audiences. The spring show was a new dinner Mess Hall production of CAMP W. The director of the show, Eliza Webster was one of the leads in the first production.

The 2000-2001 season began with the musical, CAMELOT featuring John Rushton as King Arthur and Ben Walker (Joseph) as Lancelot. The fall production was the Agatha Christie's mystery thriller, MOUSETRAP. Keeping with the theme, instead of dinner theatre, tea and finger sandwiches were served for "A Spot of Tea." The winter show proved to be one of the best attended shows in SGP history when FOXFIRE was presented to glowing audience reviews. The spring show was a revival of the 1993 show, JUST DESSERTS with 3 of the original cast, even though 2 were in different roles.

The 2001-2002 season began with the flashy production of HELLO DOLLY which featured a set on wheels that proved to be quite moving. The fall production, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS was a historical drama which had not been presented in Winston-Salem for almost 30 years. The winter production was A RAISIN IN THE SUN followed by the spring production of Neil Simon's version of the biblical book of Job, GOD'S FAVORITE, (the first show to use a scrim.)

The 2002-2003 season began with the production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical SOUTH PACIFIC, (also used a scrim). The Fall show was the well received DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Winter brought our dinner theater production of BLESSED ASSURANCE in honor of Black History Month and the Spring production of the perennial favorite HARVEY rounded out a fine season.

The 2003-2004 season began with a bang with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical CINDERELLA, our highest grossing show of all time. The classic farce ARSENIC AND OLD LACE had bodies in the basement, bats and presidents in the belfry and the audience laughing in our Fall show. HOME, a tale of coming of age and homecoming was our dinner theater production in honor of Black History Month for the Winter season. Spring brought the highly successful THE MIRACLE WORKER , the touching story of Helen Keller which gives us all insight into conquering the challenges in our own lives.

Plays for the 2004-2005 season: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (the play we always dreamed of doing, but feared needlessly); THE SUNSHINE BOYS, unique in that one of the two male leads was hospitalized mid-run, forcing the stage manager to go on stage with a script (which no one seemed to notice) to save the show; STEAL AWAY (the story of religious African-American ladies who rob a bank); and BUS STOP (the classic tale of what can happen when a bus stops at a lonely restaurant during the middle of the night).

2005-2006: WIZARD OF OZ (Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion, with children as Munchkins, Poppies, Snowflakes and Flying Monkeys, a Witch and Toto, too), THE BOYS NEXT DOOR ( an exciting visit into a Group Home), MISS EVERS’ BOYS (tales of discrimination and rural life in Southern Black America and DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (the chilling tale of Nazi persecution of Jews prior to and including World War II in Holland).

2006-2007: Our season began with 1776 (a dramatic representation of the Second Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This play included a cast of 26 men and 2 women in Colonial Costumes. This was the most difficult opportunity the Playhouse has undertaken, but turned out to become the most successful summer musical production in our history! The fall brought the family favorite ON GOLDEN POND. Delightful characters, mom & pop, daughter Chelsea, her boyfriend and his son, along with the postman in a cabin out next to Golden Pond. It was wonderful. The winter “Black History Month” performance in February was CROWNS. Based on stories from the Winston-Salem area in a book by local author and photographer, this play with music became the most successful theatrical presentation of the Stained Glass Playhouse’s history! Currently in preparation is ANASTASIA. This is the story of the Grand Duchess of Russia who has escaped assassination, but has amnesia. She is found by a promoter in Berlin who wants to use her to obtain the fortune of the Czar, if she is confirmed by the Dowager Empress.

2007-2008: In the Summer, SGP produced A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM which turned out to be the highest grossing musical in the Playhouse’s history. Alvin Tyndall directed a cast of outstanding actors and actresses which received the acclaim of sold-out audiences Fall brought ROMANOFF AND JULIET; an unknown comedy by Peter Ustinov. The Winter performance of LIVIN' FATwas a delightful comedy for Black History Month. THE CEMETARY CLUB, a comedy of three Jewish widows who meet monthly, have tea, and then visit the graves of their late husbands, until Sam the Butcher comes along, was a laugh-a- minute success.

2008-2009: Scheduled are BRIGADOON, DEATHTRAP, MAHALIA, and THE LILIES OF THE FIELD.

The Stained Glass Playhouse's history reminds us that our lives are "A Stage Without Curtains." We laugh and cry, live and learn about love, joy and peace with no curtains to hide behind.