Kankakee Valley Theatre
|
WHAT IS KVT? Kankakee Valley Theatre had its roots with a group
calling themselves “The Key City Players.”
In 1962, a fine arts committee of the American Association of University
Women with the aid of a Bourbonnais priest presented a children’s theatre
production of Hansel and Gretel. The
women of the group wrote the play, made sets and costumes, sold popcorn, and
toured local schools with the proceeds going to Riverside Hospital in Kankakee.
A
nucleus from that group formed the Kankakee Little Theatre sponsored by the
Kankakee Park District. Its first
season was performed on the stage of the Civic Auditorium.
Audiences paid $1.50 for adults and $1.00 for students to sit on wooden
folding chairs padded with cushions sewn at a local upholstery plant.
In
1965, the Kankakee Little Theatre renovated two rooms in the Unity Building in
Kankakee for their first official headquarters. The season had expanded to three productions.
In
May of 1969 during its annual meeting, the membership adopted a new constitution
and by-laws. This officially
changed the group’s name to Kankakee Valley Theatre to reflect more accurately
the area of the organization and in keeping with the name change of its sponsor,
Kankakee Valley Park District.
The
1969-70 season brought major growth and community recognition to KVT.
Audience attendance grew so dramatically, that the last two season
productions had to be moved to the Westview High School auditorium to
accommodate larger audiences. The group had run the gamut from performing fairy tales to
greek classics to Broadway musicals!
By
this time, the headquarters had become overrun with props and storage.
To our rescue came a local patron with an offer of an empty warehouse
downtown that could be rented for a nominal fee.
The
demand from the community for more musicals reshaped the selection of seasons
from then on to include at least one and more often two musicals per season.
We now could compliment our musicals with full orchestras.
In 1973, KVT joined the Illinois Theatre Association.
By 1975, massive reorganization was needed and implemented.
An auxiliary group called The Spotlighters took shape to help with
membership drives, mailings and patron lounge.
A telephone box office system was also introduced to meet ticket demands.
By
1985, our walls were again bursting at the seams.
We purchased the building in which our warehouse storage space had been
located. With added room to breathe
came many added expenses of building maintenance and remodeling.
With the help of a city block grant and pledges from a community fund
raising campaign, KVT had its first real home.
We now had a set shop and storage area, costume shop, board room,
rehearsal hall, box office, prop shop, lighting and sound shop, and even our own
150 seat little theater.
In
1993, local developers proceeded to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.
They relocated us in a downtown Kankakee location, which was fully
renovated to our specifications. This
new home stood adjacent to a closed movie theater.
High hopes were given from community leaders that funds would be sought
to remodel this space into a center for the performing arts.
Unfortunately, major structural deterioration and stringent building code
demands made staying in this location safety and cost prohibitive.
Thus the quest for a new, better home began. In July 1999, after much preparation, KVT merged with Young Peoples Theatre. We now offer theatre production experiences for audiences of all ages. Not only have we expanded our volunteer membership base, but also continue to broaden our audience base to include more families with children. We have a cooperative agreement with Shapiro Developmental Center for rehearsal space, and our performances are held in two school auditoriums. In the fall of 2000 major structural defects in our warehouse precipitated the move to another rented 12,000 sq. foot home with the prospect of expansion.
|
||
|
1963
Hansel and Gretel
A King Shall Reign
1964-65
Sabrina Fair
The Solid Gold Cadillac
Song of Glory
The Little Foxes
1965-66
Come Blow Your Horn
The Desk Set
A Visit to a Small Planet 1966-67
Born Yesterday
Blithe Spirit
Dirty Work at the Crossroads 1967-68
Light Up the Sky
See How They Run
Mary, Mary
An Evening of One-Acts
1968-69
Ten Little Indians
The Glass Menagerie
Everybody Loves Opal 1969-70
Barefoot in the Park
Medea
Once Upon a Mattress 1970-71
Curse You, Jack Dalton
The Man in the Dog Suit
The Crucible
The Fantastiks 1971-72
Don’t Drink the Water
The Pajama Game
Star-Spangled Girl 1972-73
Man of LaMancha
The Seven Year Itch
Mame 1973-74
No, No A Million Times No
The Curious Savage
George M 1974-75
Brigadoon
Wait Until Dark
Exit the Body 1975-76
Gypsy
Cactus Flower
The Music Man 1976-77
The Gingerbread Lady
The Odd Couple
My Fair Lady 1977-78
The Sound of Music
Never Too Late
Jesus Christ Superstar
Applause
No
Sex, Please; We’re British
Something’s
Afoot
1979-80
A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
South
Pacific
Encore
(a musical revue)
1980-81
Oliver!
40
Carats
Oklahoma
1981-82
Arsenic
and Old Lace
Fiddler
on the Roof
Guys
and Dolls
1982-83
Camelot
Grease Death Trap
1983-84
The
King and I
I’m
Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road Peccadillos (a musical revue)
1984-85
Come
Back, Little Sheba
The
Nutcracker
6
Rms RiVu
Annie
1985-86
Dracula
Sugar
Barnum |
1986-87
The
Wizard of Oz
The
Prisoner of 2nd Avenue
Show
Boat
1987-88
Cinderella
The
Gazebo
Hello,
Dolly
1988-89
The
Sound of Music
Little
Shop of Horrors
My
Fair Lady
1989-90
Mame
Noises
Off
Do
Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
1990-91
Into
the Woods
Steel
Magnolias
A
Chorus Line
1991-92
Some
Enchanted Evening
The
Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
Li’l
Abner
1992-93
Annie
Barefoot in the Park
Nunsense 1993-94
A Christmas Carol
The Mousetrap
Fiddler on the Roof 1994-95
The 1940’s Radio Hour
Pump Boys and Dinettes
The Music Man 1995-96
Gypsy
The Miracle Worker
Godspell 1996-97
Cabaret
E/R (Emergency Room)
Oliver! 1997-98
South Pacific
Harvey Once Upon a Mattress 1998-99
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
It’s A Wonderful Life
The King and I 1999-2000
Cinderella
Nunsense 2: The Second Coming
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 2000-01
You Can’t Take It With You
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Evita 2001-02
Meet Me In St. Louis
The Odd Couple West Side Story 2002-03
Brigadoon A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum The Sound of Music
2003-04
Fiddler on the Roof
Do Black Patent
Leather Shoes Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2004-05
Damn Yankees On Golden Pond Big, the Musical
2005-06
Guys and Dolls Cheaper by the Dozen Annie Get Your Gun
2006-07
Beauty and the Beast M*A*S*H Crazy for You 2007-08
Singin' in the Rain Noises Off Footloose 2008-09
State Fair To Kill a Mockingbird Pirates of Penzance |
|