Can you share a brief history of the Flowertown Players and its significance to the town?
The building was built in 1935 by Carolina Films, Incorporated owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Legendre. The theatre, changing management several times, showed movies until the mid-1970s when single screens fell out of favor. The building remained empty when in August of 1976 a group of eight Summerville theater enthusiasts recognized a need for live theater in the area and established the Flowertown Players, Incorporated. The current owner of the existing building was contacted, and these thespians presented their vision of the Summerville Community Theatre. It was agreed that the Flowertown Players could use the facilities as long as it would not cause any loss or liability to the owner.
Every year following four or five shows were produced until 1983. Even with the constant reinvestment of proceeds into the upkeep of the building and purchase of theatrical equipment, they could not keep up with the deterioration of the original structure. The Players were forced to vacate. However, the Flowertown Players team was not to be deterred. Moving the productions to Ladson Elementary School and rehearsing at the Coastal Center, they entered into negotiations with the Town of Summerville for the restoration of the old Theatre building and the return of community theater to Main Street. The Town of Summerville decided to sell the building to the Players.
With a degree in theater, James F. Dean designed the interior of the auditorium with its raked, stadium seating and excellent acoustical projection from the stage. Through private investors, the building interior was gutted, and after a two-year renovation project performances came back to Summerville in 1988. The building is listed as part of the Historic District in the National Register of Historic Districts. Following Jim’s death as a member of the original movers and shakers, the building was renamed in his honor.
What are some notable performances or events that have taken place in the theater over the years?
We have had many notable events at the theater but one of the biggest was when Hollywood came to town! In 2003 we did a production of Purlie Victorious, written by the legendary actor Ossie Davis, who also starred in the title role on Broadway. The director of the play, John Barracuda, invited Mr. Davis to come to Summerville to see the show and he accepted. Can you imagine how our Purlie, played by local actor Henry Clay Middleton, felt to be performing the role originated by the Tony-nominated author himself, sitting in the audience? Flowertown Theater was all over the news with shots of Mr. Davis arriving in a limousine, touring our theater and heading to a special dinner event at Alexanders across the street. Mr. Davis pronounced the show excellent and Flowertown Theater had a memory that would last forever (commemorated by a plaque in our lobby!).
Are there any distinctive architectural features or design elements that make the theater building unique?
The theatre was originally a single screen movie theatre built in the 1930s. You can still see where the old theatre seats were attached to the concrete floor when you walk into what we call “the hall,” the room just off of the lobby where patrons gather at intermission to enjoy refreshments. If you happen to attempt the
Summerville B.I.R.D.S. Sculpture Trail, which is an artistic scavenger hunt featuring a series of life-size bird sculptures cleverly placed on buildings throughout our historic downtown, you may want to check out our very own James F. Dean Theatre to solve one of the clues (hint - look up!).
How does the Flowertown Players engage with the local community, both in terms of audience participation and collaboration with local artists or organizations?
We actively seek out partnerships with our local community. We are members of Summerville Dream and a partner organization with the Junior Service League. We formed a partnership this year with Beyond Basic, a local organization that works with individuals with intellectual disabilities to teach them life skills so that they become more independent. They work with us each month on various tasks around the theatre. We also just began talking to the staff of the Timrod Library to co-host an event that will publicize not only our production of 9 to 5, but also Dolly’s Imagination Library, a wonderful program started by Dolly Parton and her organization that provides free books to children up to age 5 when they start school.
Tell us about the impact that community theater can make on the local arts scene and what your vision is in terms of this.
Community theater is unique in its impact because it offers so many ways for a diverse group of people to work towards a common goal - it takes actors, directors, stage managers, props people, a backstage crew, box office staff, and costumers to come together, not to mention a dedicated staff including a Managing Director, an Artistic/Technical Director, and a Board of Directors, all working to ensure we can produce and present quality theater for our community. And let’s not forget the last piece of the puzzle - our amazing audience. Our vision is to continue this effort and grow our volunteers and audience by getting the word out about who we are and what we do so they can come be part of the magic!
Are there any upcoming productions that the Summerville community and visitors should be particularly excited about?
Certainly. Our annual Youth Production opens on March 15. This year we are performing Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. In April, we have our second Studio Spotlight Series production of the season, Take Me Out, performing in our studio space behind the main theater. We also have the final mainstage production of the season, 9 to 5 The Musical, opening on May 3. (Get Tickets)
Are there any insider tips for getting the most out of a visit to the Flowertown Players?
If you’re local, the biggest bang for your buck is to buy a season ticket - it will save you money, you’ll get a complimentary Bring a Friend ticket for each show and you can pick your seats for the whole season! If you’re just visiting our lovely town, we encourage you to come by to find out what we have going on - chances are you can browse the shops and restaurants all around us, get tickets to our latest show and enjoy a wonderful night of theater and take an evening stroll around our Town Square.
Any closing thoughts?
We love it when people stop in randomly and want to see the theatre. There are so many people who are new to the area or who have lived here for years and didn’t realize that we are here. We welcome them to stop in and talk to us and learn more about who we are, what we do, and how they can get involved.
Check out their website for tickets and information:
https://www.flowertownplayers.org
133 South Main St., Summerville SC
