The newly organized volunteers of Venice Little Theatre moved onto their new home (rented at $1 a year), an abandoned barracks/warehouse at the former Venice Army Air Base and began the hard work of turning it into a place where the magic could happen. Everybody wore shoes and some of the men even had neckties on.” They found friends and neighbors who apparently shared this secret vice – interest in the theatre – and they further startled each other by being dressed up fit for a dog show. It was organized by its two founders, Muriel Olds-Dundas and Sonia Terry, and publicized with a note in The Venice Gondolier that read, “Active memberships, which will cost $5 (compared to $48.50 in 2015), will be available to those who want to act, usher, take tickets, clean out the place or whatnot.” Responders were promised a picnic lunch.Īfter the meeting, Frank Berger wrote in the same “Gondolier”, “The gratifying turnout for the first Venice “Little” Theatre group meeting last week at the country club surprised everyone who went. 23, 1950: The first organizational meeting of Venice Little Theatre. But this was chosen as a fitting framework upon which to hang this tale of how a small town in Southwest Florida, population of around 700 souls, came to create the second largest community theatre in the United States, an important presence in the cultural landscape of its region, and a significant factor in the international theatre scene. With apologies to playwrights living and dead, this history will now continue as a narrative, not as a drama. The Torchbearers! Now, let’s get to work! (general applause and cheers from both groups, as lights go to dark) MURIEL OLDS It gives me great pleasure to announce that the very first production of Venice Little Theatre will be….ĭON McCREARY Wait Muriel, drum roll please (drums on table) Frank Raeburn, whom we all know is the esteemed Mayor of our fair city, has agreed to allow us to use an old army barracks at the Venice Army Air Base for our productions! (general enthusiastic approval and applause) (MURIEL OLDS gesturing for order and looking at the gathered officers, who all nod their assent.
(general murmurs and anticipation from group) MURIEL OLDS As your new president, I have two very important announcements to make. I present, the first officers of the first Board of Directors of Venice Little Theatre! (general applause from group that has now moved to cluster around officer table) (the officers sit and seriously confer, shaking heads and generally coming to quick agreement) (MURIEL OLDS stands and addresses group) HARRY MORELL And Don McCreary will record everything as our new Secretary! (theatrically) Ladies and Gentlemen. Mundy will be our treasurer (aside) when we get some money! (laughter) (MURIEL OLDS rises and stands, HARRY MORELL impatiently gestures toward the table, she reacts and moves to the table and sits) Muriel Olds (eventually Olds-Dundas), President. Will the following people rise and take their place. Please hold your applause until I finish. HARRY MORELL Ok, ok, I was just getting ready. We don’t even have a play to perform and you are already auditioning! (general laughter and approval) MARY WAITE (smiling broadly) Oh, for Pete’s sake, Harry get on with it. (HARRY MORELL rises, clears his throat, theatrically, waves his arms in warm up fashion) SONIA TERRY Harry, will you please read the names of the nominees? Agreed? (More enthusiastic murmured approval from group) SONIA TERRY I suggest we cast one vote in favor of the nominees and let them get right to work. We need officers for this exciting new enterprise. We have more business, VERY important business to discuss. SONIA TERRY Come now, please come to order.
New board members gather in middle of stage right and obviously confer amiably with each other while murmuring, others murmur, SONIA TERRY calls for order) (SONIA TERRY encourages applause and joins Board of Directors at table. And thanks to all our brand new Venice Little Theatre Board of Directors! Thank you for also selecting me to be on the board. ISA RIPS rises slightly and acknowledges the approval nods of the group), and last but certainly not least, our good friend Harry Morell. SONIA TERRY (In a loud voice) Now that we have elected our first Board of Directors – let me see now, we have Francis Barkley, Mary Waite, Mrs. There is another table stage left with four chairs. The grouping of people is clustered stage right around a simple table. A large room at Venice Country Club with various mismatched chairs, some folding, others plush, peopled by 41 equally mismatched men and women in appropriate dressy casual 1950’s garb with a few neckties.
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