The Cherryville Little Theater faded into the background for a while, putting on few programs over the last several years.
But organizers hope new blood, and young actors, will put the 41-year-old organization back in the limelight.
The community theater program formed in 1972 and brought its first production to the stage a year later, according to Terry Fisher, who’s been involved since 1974.
Over the years, volunteers have pulled together their talents to bring a slew of productions to the stage. But in recent years, the aging stage has seen fewer shows, until now, Fisher said.
Two women have helped bring new programs to the West Academy Street building, and with it they’re making up for a deficiency, Fisher said.
Connie Fox and Page Thompson, who have six children between them, wanted their children to learn about the theater. But there are no drama programs in public schools in Cherryville, Fox said.
So the women approached the Cherryville Little Theater board. Since that union, the women have directed two children’s plays and held auditions for a third.
They led acting classes that just wrapped up for the season, and hope to keep up their momentum.
“She and I are hoping to renew the interest in the arts and in the theater in the community,” Fox said.
The organization has operated out of the same building since its inception. Once a school auditorium, the city owns the building and leases it to the Little Theater for $1 a year.
Fisher recently approached Cherryville City Council about some repairs to the building. The heating and air conditioning units have been on the fritz for a while, Fisher said.
Council members told Fisher they’d see what they could do in the upcoming budget.
Repairs should cost between $4,000 and $5,000, Fisher said.
There are other upgrades that need to be made at the theater, but Fisher said he’s not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
“We’re grateful to the city. They’ve been more than gracious to us,” Fisher said.
There are some cosmetic repairs that would make the building more aesthetically pleasing, but there are also some flooding issues.
When heavy rains hit, water flows in under a store and can reach the third row of seats in the audience, Fisher said.
Aside from free rent and electricity provided by the city, the organization operates strictly on money from ticket sales and playbill ads.
Fisher said with the recent resurgence, he’s hopeful that the theater group can afford to spruce up the building and increase programming.
“We were sort of dormant there for a little while. We’re cranking back up again,” he said. “We really do want to get it going again.”
You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.