V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
“Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around, encouraging young things to grow.”
That famous line from “Hello Dolly” launched the beginning of 35 years of entertaining Jeffersonians with plays, musicals, radio-style performances, variety shows, and kick-off parties, for Jefferson’s Opera House Theatre Players.
Over the years the group has produced around 100 shows, “a miracle in itself,” according to founder Marcia Thomas.
“Most of this has been done without a theatre to work in,” she says. “All of it has been done through volunteer work of actors, stagehands, technicians, and donations by local citizens and businesses. People love what we do because we bring people to town and show them a good time and a great show for a very small ticket price.”
It all began, though, with a simple meeting with Lucille Terry regarding the need to reviving and expanding the arts in Jefferson.
Following that discussion, a group of enthusiastic citizens met at First Baptist Church and then approached the Jefferson City Council for assistance in getting things going.
“The aldermen voted to give us $5,000 for our beginning production,” Thomas said. “Stunned, we walked out of city hall in a daze. We purchased lights, equipment, built a stage, and made curtains.”
The first productions were done upstairs in the Jefferson Carnegie Library.
“[Hello Dolly] was a huge success, playing to standing room only audiences each night for four performances,” she said. “From then on, we were so confident that we continued to do big Broadway musicals for the next few years with usually about six months between productions.”
Four years later, the group found themselves needing to find a new home – an issue that continues though today.
“This is a challenge we are still trying to overcome,” Thomas said.
Thomas said OHTP has continued to do shows wherever they could – including a garage, tents, outdoors in a parking lot, church buildings, the visitors center, local businesses, or “any space that comes to them at a reasonable price.”
One of the more memorable events was when the group hosted a three-day event in 1999 to honor Stuart Hamblen, a radio and film singer and composer who was born in the Kellyville community.
“His family wished for him to be recognized in his old home area and we gladly stepped forward to put together an event that drew hundreds of his family, as well as visitors and friends to Jefferson,” she said.
Part of the event included the dedication of a plaque in Meade Park near the Stearne Fountain.
“We also dedicated a portion of one season to recognize Jefferson writer Barry Benefield,” Thomas said, “as some of his stories were transferred to acclaimed films.” Those included “Chicken Wagon Family” (1939), “Valiant Is the Word for Carrie” (1935), and “Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven” (1948).
OHTP’s production of “Show Boat” was one of the most lauded Thomas said.
“The production played to standing room only audiences for four performances and the actors worked under the most difficult circumstances to present an admirable production of the show which is known for being very complicated,” she said.
The group also sponsors the “YNOT Awards” each year. The awards publicly recognize actors, cast members, businesses, and individuals who have contributed to OHTP’s success that year.
“The YNOT awards were created and each actor is nominated for their role and voted on by the membership at the end of each season which occurs in July,” Thomas said.
The name is a play on words, Thomas explained. “It spells Tony (Antoinette Perry Award) backwards and lends itself to ‘why not.’ This award event is usually a dressy affair with dinner and a cocktail/wine hour before. During the evening, the awards are announced and each winner is given a trophy representing ‘the best’ in each category.”
In recent years, the group has been recreating “radio shows” like the Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca”.
These have a more intimate setting and doesn’t require as much space to perform, allowing for more local businesses to host the performances.
The 35th Season kicks off Labor Day Weekend at the Jefferson Visitors Center with a Jazz-themed party featuring The Hotsy Totsy Boys and the awarding of this year’s YNOT awards.