Marys Community Players (SMCP) is a vibrant not-for-profit and award-winning community theatre group that has been illuminating the stage since its inception in 1974. There were only three costumes rented for that production, as more than 60 volunteers from St. Marys and area designed, cut and sewed the rest of the costumes from old drapes, curtains and sheets (it sounds as if they took a page fro
m Scarlett O'Hara's 'cape from the drapes' in Gone With the Wind!). The performance of The Desert Song was a huge success, releasing the "theatre bug" into the town and ultimately leading to the formation of the St. After setting the goal of their membership campaign at 1000, the group was no doubt delighted when the first day found 800 signed on and a full waiting list by the end of the week! Successful dramas filled the next ten years, some good enough to compete in the prestigious Dominion Drama Festivals. The advent of television stole the attention from live theatre and a talented theatre community lay dormant. It wasn't until October of 1974 that the Little Theatre was re-born as St. Since that time, the group has produced years of excellent comedies, dramas and musicals, including Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls, Music Man, On Golden Pond, The Odd Couple, The Mouse Trap, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Mame and many others. [For more recent productions, see the Photos of Past Productions page link at the top of this page.]
In 1981, a contest was held to design a logo for SMCP. Peggy McQuirk's logo was outstanding in combining the theatre mask with the letters in our name
Community Players is blessed with a host of dedicated people who offer their talents in production areas such as producing and administration, costuming, hair design, set design, construction, decoration and "front-of-house" ushering and ticket selling. These jobs are every bit as important to the success of any production as the more obvious directors, actors and musicians. The door is always open to anyone who is interested in taking part in community theatre in St. Come on out to audition for a role, help backstage (where another "show" simultaneously goes on quietly in the dark!), or join the audience. Whatever your choice, we feel sure that you will enjoy the experience.
