Community theatres are an important resource. The Dorset Players is an outstanding example. They not only offer an opportunity for children and adults to act in plays, they also give people a chance to develop their back stage skills such as building sets, hanging lights and all the other aspects of theatre. The major performer in one play might be working on costumes for the next. Although community theatres have to pay royalties for the plays , as all theatres do, community theatres can present classic plays which have large casts because the players volunteer their time.
Recognizing how inspiring the longevity of the Dorset Players is, Bob and I had the pleasure of interviewing Angie Merwin, currently the President of the Board. She also has been doing lighting for many years. Past presidents, Suzi Dorgeloh, who does costumes and directs and Errol Hill who acts, works on sets and does whatever needs to be done, also shared their experiences and gave us a sense of how valuable community theatre is to the volunteers and to their audiences.
Click below to listen to the interview.
Interview with Dorset Players Members
More Theatre Talk 