History of slt

A Timeline of Artistry

and Achievement

Black and white photo of a city street with vintage cars parked along the curb, a fire hydrant, pedestrians, and a large brick hotel building labeled 'Cleveland Hotel' in the background.

1946

A group gathered for dinner at the Cleveland Hotel to form a literary club, which evolved into the Little Theatre of Spartanburg at a meeting on June 21, 1946, in St. Paul's Catholic Church Parish Hall. First officers included Dr. J.M. Wallace (President), John Carrington (Vice-President), Mrs. Jameston Fant (Secretary), and Jameston Fant (Treasurer).

Membership grew rapidly. The theatre staged its first production in November—a one-act play, Candlelight by P.G. Wodehouse, directed by Mrs. Dan Mitro at City Recreation Hall.

Three people in a vintage office or classroom setting: a woman standing on the left, a man seated at a desk with papers, and a young man standing on the right holding a comic book, all engaged in conversation or presentation.

1947

David W. Reid, a Camp Croft veteran who became Converse College's public relations director, directed the second play, The Late Christopher Bean. He would serve as director, producer, and actor until his retirement in 1982.

Key production staff emerged, including stage manager and scenic designer Ed McGrath, music directors Henry Janiec, John Mabry, Pat Dillard, and Gary McCraw, choreographers Barbara Ferguson and Marianna Miller, and lighting designer Rene Royaards.

Black and white photo of a building with a sign that reads "Little Theatre." The building has horizontal siding, a small window, and a porch area with support columns. Trees are visible in the background, and there is a sidewalk and well-maintained grass in the foreground.

1949

The Spartanburg County Foundation leased the Camp Croft movie theater to the theatre for one dollar per year.

1950

The Man Who Came to Dinner opened the new venue.

1953

The theatre's first musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Allegro, was the first non-professional production permitted of any Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. This success led to the first non-professional production of Carousel the following season.

A black and white photo of a group of people, possibly performers, holding hands and raising their arms on stage with a curtain backdrop. A man at the front is walking away from the group.

1970

A Spartanburg Herald-Journal article commemorating the 25th anniversary honored the countless actors "who, for a few short hours, bring to life the magic and glamour of an art as old as man himself" and through whose "untiring efforts the show will go on—and on—and on."

A woman smiling and sitting at a table with two puppets, one on her left with a doll face and the other on her right with a dog face, both wearing striped clothing. The background shows wooden cabinets.

1973

The theatre founded the Spartanburg Youth Theatre, which became the state's second-oldest youth theatre. Under Mary Nicholson's direction, it performed for approximately 300,000 Spartanburg County young people before her retirement in June 2008 after 35 years of service.

1978

The County Foundation deeded the theatre and grounds to the Little Theatre.

1982

Improvements funded by the County Foundation, Junior League, Friends of the Arts, and area corporations led to the facility being renamed the David W. Reid Playhouse.

The Chapman Cultural Center building with a wide sidewalk, trees, and flags in front, under a blue sky with clouds.

2007

After 50 years at Camp Croft, Spartanburg Little Theatre relocated to the new Chapman Cultural Center, moving both its administrative offices and those of Spartanburg Youth Theatre.

A man in a blue suit and a woman in glasses and a beige jacket are standing together at an award ceremony, holding an award plaque. Another man in the background is clapping, wearing a black suit and glasses.

2020

The South Carolina Theatre Association honored Spartanburg Little Theatre with the SC Theatre of Distinction Award, recognizing its "history of artistic, professional, or educational excellence, producing seasons of high artistic quality and establishing a strong presence in the statewide theatre community."