History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHEYENNE LITTLE THEATRE PLAYERS
1930 – 2005
Written by Jim Johns

Panorama of 16th and Ferguson (Carey), ca. 1900

As of February 2005, Cheyenne Little Theatre Players (CLTP) will have been in existence for seventy-five years. CLTP has used this seven-decade period of providing entertainment and cultural activities to develop a reputation causing one historian to conclude that it has “become one of the oldest and most successful community groups in the nation.” During the winter of 1930 at a small, private gathering of close and socially active friends, an idea was germinated about establishing a community theatre for the people of Cheyenne. Planning was quickly translated into action, and CLTP premiered in May 1930 with three one act plays – The Valiant, Meet the Missus and The Twelve Pound Look. These creative and enthusiastic citizens were seeking to fill a void in regular theatre and live entertainment left by the demise of professional road touring during the late 1920s. Whether intentionally or not, they also were continuing a tradition of live theatre in Cheyenne that dates back to the founding of the city in 1867 when traveling theatre troupes provided entertainment in saloons and gambling halls.

200 Block of West Lincoln Way, ca. 1908-1914, Cheyenne

Today, CLTP defines itself “as a non-profit community theatre whose mission is to consistently bring high quality community-based theatrical entertainment and education to audiences of all ages in the tri-state area of Wyoming, Northern Colorado, and Western Nebraska.” This mission statement is consistent with the original 1930 purposes of an organization that was non-commercial, dependent on volunteers and local talent and determined to provide quality entertainment and cultural experiences. However, while remaining true to the intent and spirit of “community theatre,” CLTP has evolved with the times in response to changing community entertainment and cultural expectations. For example, CLTP currently offers programming and productions for a variety of audiences and entertainment tastes. This is in contrast to the early years of CLTP when participation in the form of production staff, actors and audience typically involved Cheyenne's “upper crust” and a few talented artists. CLTP did not exclude the general public, but those who choose to participate in CLTP activities usually came from the cultural elite. Script selection also reflected the interests of this narrow group.

Atlas Theater exterior, ca. 1970's

Especially since the early 1960's, CLTP has made significant and successful efforts to broaden the base of its operations. For example, in 1957 CLTP acquired the Melodrama (currently known as the Old Fashioned Melodrama) and began its tradition of producing and offering “popular” theatre during the summer months for audiences that cut across a broad spectrum of the population. The Old Fashioned Melodrama provides fun and humorous insight into western mythology for audiences, serves an outlet for talented local scriptwriters and performers, and provides a much-needed source of revenue for CLTP. How could one not be highly amused and entertained by a melodrama titled She Was Chaste on the Plains and Won in the West (1966)? It was also in the late 1960s that CLTP premiered its first children's theatre production with Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates. Currently, CLTP annually produces two family theatre performances, a holiday production involving children, and is sponsoring the recently developed Cheyenne Theatre Academy. The purpose of the Cheyenne Theatre Academy is to stimulate and enhance the cultural life of the Cheyenne community by offering theatrical experiences for children through a variety of learning opportunities. The curriculum nurtures and supports each student in developing theatre knowledge, confidence, creativity and imagination in order to expand students' self-awareness. The repertory of CLTP also changed and expanded during the 1950's and 1960's to include more comedies and musicals. In 1965 the CLTP produced the hit musical Show Boat which not only was a major undertaking but also delighted the Cheyenne audience. Increasingly, musicals were added to the CLTP's tradition of offering popular Broadway stage and “period” productions based mostly on twentieth century plays. Throughout its history, CLTP has remained sensitive to the values and entertainment tastes of the community and has accordingly modified its programming.

Atlas Theatre, exterior, looking south west, ca 1970

In addition to reshaping its standard repertory and adding the Old Fashioned Melodrama and a Children's Theatre, CLTP evolved by successfully responding to the need for acquiring facilities suitable for its productions. The search for appropriate facilities has not been without its challenges, but innovative and determined CLTP personnel made sure the “show went on.” From its inception in 1930 and until 1968, the CLTP leased and rented theatre space for its productions. The main “home” for CLTP performances from 1930 until the summer of 1953 was the Consistory Auditorium (20th and Capitol), which was built in 1922 and had a 740 seat capacity. This facility was suitable for CLTP productions, but the unexpected loss of a lease resulted in a search for another home. The next site, the Lincoln Theater, only marginally met the needs of CLTP because limited two-day access to this very suitable “movie palace” created numerous challenges due to time constraints for rehearsals and set preparation. For the next fifteen years, CLTP volunteers put forth heroic efforts to produce four shows a year. Some relief arrived in 1958 when the Cheyenne Little Theatre Studio and Virginia Wortley Green Room were built on Pershing Blvd. For the first time, CLTP had its own rehearsal hall and shop space for set construction. However, the Lincoln Theater continued to be used for plays until 1968 when the Pershing Blvd. building was expanded to include a theatre. Today, this facility with its 292 seat theatre, a lobby, dressing room and work areas is known as the Mary Godfrey Playhouse.

Stage of Atlas Theater, interior

Another important CLTP facility is the Historic Atlas Theatre. Acquisition of the Atlas Theatre building by the CLTP in 1971 and subsequent renovations of this historic structure gave the Old Fashioned Melodrama a permanent home. Even though the Atlas Theatre building dates back to the late nineteenth century, it did not serve as an entertainment center until 1908 when it became Cheyenne's first popularly priced vaudeville theatre. Subsequently, the structure had been remodeled and has been called the Strand Theatre and the Pink Pony nightclub. Fortunately for the preservation of an important Cheyenne historic site, the CLTP first rented (1966-1971) and then purchased the Atlas Theatre building for its melodramas. A partially restored Atlas Theatre is now used by the CLTP to entertain audiences during all seasons of the year. The Historic Atlas Theatre and the Mary Godfrey Playhouse have allowed CLTP to dramatically expand its productions from four one-evening shows per year to the current season of nine full-scale and multi-evening productions involving approximately 350 volunteers and serving audiences totaling in excess of 18,000.

Looking East on 16th Street, Cheyenne, ca 1920

Throughout its seventy-five year history, CLTP has persisted and succeeded in its mission primarily due to the dedication and creativity of many volunteers, and more recently, paid professional staff. Board members, directors, scenic artists, costume designers, performers, scriptwriters and readers, clerical and business staff, and a host of other volunteers have made CLTP a success story. Very much alive in 2004-2005 is the legacy left by the original CLTP pioneers---William DeVere, Mrs. Agnes O'Mahoney, Mrs. Daze Bristol, Barrie O'Daniels and Frederick “Bunk” Porter. These individuals and other early-day volunteers established a solid foundation upon which many hard working and talented people subsequently have built a community theatre central to the entertainment and cultural life of Cheyenne and the surrounding region.

Two excellent sources of general information about the origins and development of CLTP are Dennis Madigan's thesis History of Theatre in Cheyenne, Wyoming, 1867 to 1990 and Lou Burton's articles in Annals of Wyoming, “Broadway in Cow Country: The History of Cheyenne Little Theatre.”