History
In 1970, a group of
local residents, with a strong interest in the performing arts, met in
Walhalla to discuss the formation of a community theatre. A steering
committee was established chaired by Mrs. Gloria B. Adams. On September
15, 1971, the Oconee Community Theatre was founded. The theatre was
officially incorporated the following month and the Rev. George Shealy
served as the theatre’s first president.
In its infancy, the Oconee Community Theatre presented primarily
children’s theatre productions. In 1971, Oconee County was introduced to
live, local theatre when OCT presented its first production, a very
popular rendition of Oliver, under the direction of Mr. Michael Andron,
at the Seneca Junior High School. It wasn’t until a year later that the
Oconee Community Theatre presented its first “adult” production, The Red
Stocking Review. In April 1973 the first issue of The Spotlight, the
theatre’s newsletter was published.
In June 1973, the theatre moved into its first “home”. After two years
of presenting performances throughout Oconee County, the theatre moved
into the old Home Furniture Bargain Barn on North First Street and named
their new theatre space The Mask. The Mask was an intimate, flexible
theatre space that allowed for a variety of theatre styles, including
theatre-in-the-round. In January 1980, the theatre purchased their first
permanent home, an abandoned movie house on North First St. in Seneca.
For nine years the Theatre worked to renovate the movie house and then
on a fateful evening in 1989, the theatre was struck by lightning and
destroyed by the fire that followed. The new Seneca City Hall was built,
in part, on the site of that old theatre.
Without a moment to lose, the Oconee Community Theatre moved into the
former Utica Elementary School. This school, built by the Utica mill in
1926, was vacated by the school system the month prior. The old school
did not have air conditioning, theatre lighting or a stage suitable for
live theatre. With the hard work of several dedicated volunteers, the
theatre opened the 1989-1990 season with Annie Get Your Gun right on
schedule. The stage was extended, air conditioning was added, the wiring
updated and new lighting equipment was installed during that long hot
summer. Since the summer of 1989, the theatre has added new seating, a
sound system, a new roof, dressing rooms, a handicap accessible ramp and
lobby renovations to help make this old school a workable community
theatre.
For the past twelve years Oconee Community Theatre has conducted summer
youth drama workshops. These workshops are designed to give children
ages 4 - 18 a taste of live theatre for two weeks during their summer
break. Each of the past three years OCT has realized a 30 to 50%
increase in participation in its summer workshops.
Oconee Community Theatre enjoys the loyal support of its many patrons
whose continued participation in our programs bodes well for the future
of OCT.