The Early Bird
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Decades of great performances began in a kitchen
BY DR. DELBERT BLICKENSTAFF,
SENIOR SCRIBE
www.darkecountyseniors.us
GREENVILLE -- Many good programs start in somebodys kitchen. So it was with DCCA, the Darke
County Center for the Arts. In 1978 a group of five inspired citizens met in Clara Elliots kitchen and the
concept of a community arts council was born. Other people present included John Winter, Nancy
Dunn, Ted Finnarn, and Martha Benkert. Jean Louise Thieme was the first Executive Director for
DCCA.
In the beginning, DCCA promoted the performances of local artists. The Greenville Symphony
Orchestra performed on Dec. 2, 1979 at St. Clair Memorial Hall, opening its concert with "Dance Suite" by Mozart. Three weeks later the Darke County Center Brass Group performed "Golden Christmas Music in Brass." On Dec. 7 and 14, 1980 the "Messiah" was performed by the Darke County Oratorio Society and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.
DCCA also promoted performances by the Darke County Civic Theatre (DCCT): "The Importance of Being Earnest," "The Miracle Worker," "Robin Hood," and "Oliver."
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(2) New Stories from 03/07/2010
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra was the first professional group to appear at St. Clair Memorial Hall sponsored by DCCA. Their concert took place on Nov. 22, 1980, and the program included works by Wagner, Beethoven, and Elgar. Since then the DCCA staff has procured the performances of a wide variety of programs, as indicated by the following list (which is by no means complete): Zvili, Songs and Dances of Yugoslavia, Robert Guralnik, Pianist, James Dapognys Chicago Jazz Band, The Four Freshmen, The Nebraska Theatre Caravans "A Christmas Carol", Banu Gibson and the New Orleans Hot Jazz Orchestra, Robert Page Singers and Orchestra, Gemini Folksingers, Andrew Gilpin Trio Classical Jazz, The Canadian Brass, The Hambro Quartet of Pianos, Michael Levine and the Dallas Brass, The Kings Singers, River City Ramblers Dixieland, Spirit of the Dance, Tannahill Weavers Celtic, Riders in the Sky, The Platters, The Marveletts, and Cornell Gunters Coasters, Grand Derangement Acadian, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and The Alley Cats.
These programs are a part of DCCAs Artists Series, but thats not all that DCCA does. In 1983 the Arts in Education feature was started, taking various performances to the students in their schools. In fact on Sept. 15, 1984 a group of 21 local performers produced "Songs of Broadway" at St. Clair Memorial Hall to raise funds for the Arts in Education program. They performed numbers from famous Broadway musicals such as "Oklahoma," "South Pacific," "My Fair Lady," "West Side Story," "Hello Dolly," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Camelot," and "Cats."
Another program, The Family Theatre Series, was started in 1997 and was designed to attract children, their parents and grandparents to St. Clair Memorial Hall. Some programs featured in this series include "Bunnicula" by Omaha Theatre, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
In 2002 the Missoula Childrens Theatre summer theatre program was started by DCCA to give local children an opportunity to perform on stage. For example, on Aug. 6, 2005 "The Jungle Book" was performed at St. Clair Memorial Hall, directed by the Missoula Childrens Theatre of Missoula, MT, giving 50 local children their opportunity to audition, rehearse, and perform.
The Coffee House Series was started in 2006 to bring artists into local cafes and coffeehouses. This series has featured "The Muleskinner Band," "Wild Carrot," Mark Dvorak," "Moscow Nights," and others.
In 1985 DCCA led the process of restoring St. Clair Memorial Hall to its original beauty, and it received generous support from the entire community. The stage area was restored first, replacing the main curtain and valance, and replacing the stage rigging. Next the stage floor was replaced, the orchestra pit was developed, new lighting and sound systems were added with a new control booth in the balcony. In 1991 the entire theatre and lobby were restored. DCCA has been intimately involved every step of the way.
The Anna Bier Gallery committee was formed in 1990 as a part of DCCA. The present Director is Marcia Weidner and the committee selects the fine arts displayed during performances in the DCCA Artists Series.
DCCA has enjoyed strong leadership from the very beginning. Jean Louise Thieme was the first Executive Director, and she was followed by Julie Graber, Roberta and David Feltman, Hattie Chaney, Marilyn Delk, and Julie Strait. A new position, Artistic Director, was filled in 2004 by Keith Rawlins. Many other prominent community leaders have played major roles in developing this Arts movement. And thanks, again, Clara Elliott for the use of your kitchen.
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