| That time is still vivid in the minds of some Turners
Falls residents as a time of five cent matinees, movie serials and
(in the thirties) dish nights, when you could see a movie and add a
piece of "Depression Glass" or china to your table setting. The
Royal Rose Collection is currently displayed in the Shea lobby. The
set, purchased in the late 1930's - early 40's was donated by Debra
Marini.
The stage was the home for amateur theater productions put on by
such groups as the American Legion Auxiliary, the Rotary Club, and
the Turners High School Senior Play (until they had an auditorium of
their own). Shea also brought in occasional vaudeville shows. He ran
the theater until 1943 when he hired someone to manage it for him.
He died in 1945 and his family sold it two years later. It continued
to operate under various owners until 1956. It then remained dark
except for a short time in 1963-64.
In 1973 a commune known as the Renaissance Community bought the
Shea and used it as a recording studio and site for their religious
activities. In 1986 they sold it to the Franklin County Community
Development Corp, who launched the restoration project. The town of
Montague bought the property from the F.C.C.D.C. and rents it to the
non-profit Shea Community Theater at the cost of $1.00 a year. A
dedicated group of local citizens raised over $200,000 for the
renovation. The new interior was designed with an eye for the
practical as well as the aesthetic while retaining reference to the
original design. The front was preserved as were the corbel ended
wood box beams in the theater. In 1990 the Shea opened its doors
with a production of Butterflies Are Free staged by The
Country Players, still one of our resident theater groups.
The Shea provides performance space for a variety of attractions
designed to appeal to the widest range of tastes. Musical offerings
include folk, pop, rock, swing, jazz, country and traditional.
Theatrical productions encompass musical comedy, drama, comedy, and
political satire. In addition, audiences can take advantage of magic
shows, children's shows and silent film revivals.
An increasingly popular program of drama classes and summer camp
workshops has attracted to its staff some of the most talented
teachers in the area. There is also an exciting curriculum based
school program open to local schools at affordable prices.
The Shea, with the help of a wonderful corps of volunteers, has
been attracting a growing audience and as a result is bringing
people into Turners Falls from an ever larger geographical area.
This growth has put the Shea on a firmer financial footing,
providing the basis for expectations of an even more exciting future
for this vital community asset.
[Home]
[Productions] [Acting Classes]
[Performances for Young People]
[History] [Membership]
[Resident Companies] [Auditions]
Contact The Shea,
,
*
|
