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.
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 “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 musical highest grossing financial success 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’ Fat” was
a delightful comedy for Black History Month. “The Cemetery 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: “Brigadoon” was the most successful musical ever done at the Playhouse.
Fantastic music and scenes of old Scotland delighted our audiences. A folding set
and the sounds of bagpipes were highlights. “Deathtrap” was a murder-mystery which
excited the audience with scores of weapons, marital discords and unusual endings.
“Mahalia” was the glorious story of Mahalia Jackson. LaShon Hill was outstanding
as Mahalia. “Lilies of the Field” was the story of nuns who were in the southwest
of the United States, working on a farm. They are joined by a traveling former-soldier
who works with the nuns and eventually builds a chapel for worship. This proved
to be the largest of spring and fall shows for the Playhouse.
2009 – 2010: “The Fantasticks” began the year with an intimate musical of a boy,
a girl, their fathers and a delightful collection of characters that embellished
their lives and experiences. “The Lion in Winter” was a delightful adventure into
the time of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, their three sons, Henry’s mistress and
the young King of France. Elegant costumes and an inspiring set were audience delights.
“To be Young, Gifted and Black”, the story of Lorraine Hansberry, her life, her plays,
her journal, and her poetry was a feature of Black History Month. “Mass Appeal” was
the story of a Catholic Priest and a young seminarian who are forced together a become
friends and confidants in the most difficult of times, learning to care for the other
and capturing the audience as well.
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.
