Timber Lake Playhouse

The Timber Lake Playhouse is the oldest continuously operating professional summer theatre company in Illinois, having been founded in 1961.[1][2]

The playhouse stands in rural Mount Carroll Township, Carroll County, Illinois, a short distance southeast of the town of Mount Carroll. It is located on the Timber Lake reservoir, on the east branch of Johnson Creek, near the Timber Lake resort.[2]

The current theatre, built in 1974, houses 371 fixed seats overlooking a 45-foot semi-thrust revolving stage.[3] An additional 14 buildings dot the grounds, serving functions from housing to costumes.[3]

History

Every company member was a star, everyone an apprentice. All work was shared. Every actor was a stage technician, and vice-versa. All were janitors, seamstresses, box office staffers, grounds keepers, concessionaires. We were there to practice total theater.[2]

The playhouse had its origins in the community of Shimer College, then located in Mount Carroll. The initial movers of the project included Shimer chaplain Andrew Bro and numerous members of the Shimer administration and board of trustees.[2] Shimer trustee Don Mackay, the original landowner, had first constructed the Timber Lake reservoir in order to ensure a regular supply of water for his nursery business, later adding a resort when he recognized the commercial potential.[4]

The organization was formed and a wooden building, with proscenium stage, was completed in the fall of 1961.[5] The company opened its first season on June 28, 1962,[3] with a nine-day run of Teahouse of the August Moon.[6]

The original 370-seat playhouse building was destroyed by fire in the early morning of July 22, 1974, shortly after a sold-out showing of Under the Gaslight.[4] It was replaced by the current structure.[3]

In 2006, the company put on its first all-black production, Ain't Misbehavin', to sold-out crowds.[7]

In 2013, the company announced the first regional production of the Monty Python musical adaptation Spamalot.[8] The company secured the rights in 2012, but was not allowed to announce this fact until May 2013.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Marcia Schnedler (1995). Country Roads of Illinois. p. 14. ISBN 1566260892.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Andrew Bro (2001). "Putting It All Together". TLP Stories. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "About Us". Timber Lake Playhouse. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  4. 1 2 "Mystery fire levels Mt. Carroll theater". Rockford Register-Republic. 1962-07-22. p. 20.
  5. ↑ Consolidated News Service (1961-11-12). "Carroll Group Plans to Build Summer Theater". Rockford Morning Star.
  6. ↑ Campbell Titchener (1962-07-01). "Backstage". Rockford Morning Star.
  7. ↑ Chuck Smith. "Afterword". Best Black Plays. p. 214. ISBN 0810123908.
  8. 1 2 "Monty Python's 'Spamalot' to premiere at Timber Lake, opening Aug. 1". Rock River Times. 2013-05-15.

External links

Coordinates: 42°03′08″N 89°56′19″W / 42.05233°N 89.93848°W / 42.05233; -89.93848

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