Greeley Community Theatre Troupe looking for a new direction

John Adams, middle, played by Joe Cervone, chokes John Dickenson, played by Al Dominguez, Tuesday during a rehearsal for �1776� presented by the Greeley Community Theatre Troupe at West Greeley Baptist Church.

BRET HARTMAN | bhartman@greeleytribune.com

When Noel Johnston first came to Greeley in 1974, community theaters were like rabbits. They seemed to multiply at every turn.

Now he�s the president of what could be considered the last community theater in town. And he wants the new Stampede Troupe to grow into a full-fledged theater once again.

There are some ambitious ideas floating around the troupe these days, including a full season and an academy for children.

But first things first. The troupe will put on �1776� as a part of its new direction � for two days only � starting Sept. 12. It�s a play as ambitious as its goals, with 23 guys and two women.

�It�s pretty much everyone I know in town,� said Diane Cays, the play�s director who also teaches some theater at the University of Northern Colorado and directs the box office there, �and then the actors found each other as well.�

The Stampede Troupe isn�t a new company at all. It started the same year Johnston came to Greeley, in 1974, as the Greeley Independence Stampede Troupe, when it presented summer musicals. In 2002 it became the Greeley Community Theatre Troupe and put on Christmas productions. Now it�s the Stampede Troupe, and the name change reflects its history as well as many new goals.

Part of the problem of community theaters � and the reason why they vanished one by one � Johnston said, is they usually are run by actors who, understandably, only want to act.

�They don�t want to worry about the business side of it,� he said. �Sure enough, we were sort of spinning our wheels. So we wanted to see if there was a reason for us to exist anymore. We really were on more of a show-to-show basis.�

The first goal was to gain nonprofit status, and that meant putting together a board of directors. They did that and named Johnston its president. The next may be putting together a full season of at least three shows, and maybe even thinking of a season or two seasons out, like many of the top community theaters across the country. The reason for that, of course, is balance. A theater needs its popular moneymakers, such as �Fiddler on the Roof,� as well as its experimental plays.

�We�ve always had little pockets of some stellar things,� Cays said. �We�ve had children�s shows and Christmas show and these light, fluffy farces, and I think we can still do those. But I think we can also grow in other ways, too, and give some of the really good actors to really show what they can do.�

One of those shows will be its annual Christmas productions, a show that, quite frankly, was a good cash cow. The Stampede Troupe will be holding auditions for �Miracle on 34th Street� in a couple weeks. �I Hate Hamlet� will hit the stage in March.

A third goal was possibly hiring an artistic director, and talk is Johnston may become that guy, although he�s not sure he wants to do that.

�I took the presidency because I didn�t want to see this group go down,� he said.
A fourth is a permanent home. Johnston doesn�t mean a performance hall so much as a good place to rehearse. He taught at Greeley Central High School for so long he forgot what it was like to be an outsider, until last year, when he retired. He had to juggle space at Central during the crazy Christmas season to put on last year�s holiday production, and at times, it was a teeth-grinding challenge.

The troupe�s final goal is putting on a children�s theater academy. The idea would be to offer low-cost classes to kids and maybe spark new interest.

�We think we can fill the void in theater education in K-6,� Johnston said.

After all, it�s fine to talk about new directions and new goals. Sparking an interest might just give them a future as well.

AUDITION

Auditions for the Stampede Troupe�s �Miracle on 34th Street� will take place the weekend of Sept. 19-20. Children in the third through ninth grades can audition from 6-9 p.m. at the Greeley Central High School Auditorium, 1515 14th Ave., Greeley. Children must prepare a verse from a Christmas song or carol to sing. Some script reading will also be required and selected children will need to come back for call-backs the next day. Adults and students 10th grade and older will be from 1-4 p.m. Sept. 20 at Central. Cold readings and interaction with children will be included. Families may audition on Sept. 19. Call 330.6936.

�1776�

�1776,� a musical about the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, will be produced by the Stampede Troupe at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12-13 at the Union Colony Civic Center. Tickets are $14 and are on sale at 356-5000. Students, seniors and groups of 10 or more pay $12. At the end of each performance all veterans will be asked to stand as a moment of appreciation. The director and cast will stay on stage following the performance for a talk about the show.

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Greeley Community Theatre Troupe looking for a new direction

Dan England