OUR
NAME
The Redbud tree has a special meaning to most people in the
Klamath-Trinity area, as it is one of the earliest trees to bloom and
a harbinger of spring, a welcome sight after winter. Just as the tree
starts its cycle in the early spring, so does Redbud Theatre begin its
season in spring with it's annual Gala Premiere Dinner.
OUR
HISTORY
In 1970, the "Fire Belles," a women's auxilliary
for the Willow Creek Fire Department, decided to produce a play to raise
money for the Hoopa High School scholarship fund. With no cast, crew,
director, or play in mind, they turned to a local man, Glenn North,
for guidance. Pleased at the chance to again be active in theatre, Glenn
pulled together the needed ingredients and produced a successful production.
It ran for only two nights, but made a large amount of money for the
scholarship and showed Glenn the possibility of starting a community
theatre. North
rounded up a group of would-be actors, dubbed them the Klamity Players,
and managed to produce one play a year. A very few workers did everything
involved with production, from acting, to selling tickets, to hauling
the church's chairs back and forth. Finally, lack of facilities and
just plain tiredness wore everyone down and the Players were disbanded.
Several
years passed until one of the ex-Players approached Glenn and told him
of an available hall that could be turned into a theatre, thus encouraging
him to get the theatare going again. The Players got busy and built
a stage, sewed a curtain, and once more starting hauling chairs. A
year later the group became incorporated, obtained non-profit status,
organized a Board of Directors, adopted the name of Redbud Theatre,
and started producing four plays a year. In the ensuing years Redbud
has involved a large number of people in the surrounding communities
in commiting melodrama, madness, and mahem on its stages. Redbud has
imporved it's facility over the years by acquiring comfortable theatre
seating and a good lighting system.
Starting in 1978, Redbud Theatre rented the Salyer Theatre, adjacent to The Whole Enchilada restaurant, for its productions, and summer performances were held on the outdoor stage behind Cinnabar Sam’s Restaurant in Willow Creek. While we have been very fortunate to have had good partnerships with the owners of the theatre and the patronage of Cinnabar’s owner, Steve Paine, we never had a place to call our own.
THE SHOW GOES ON AT CAMP KIMTU!
In Spring of 2006 Camp Kimtu became available. Camp Kimtu offers everything we need to carry on our tradition of live community theatre, outdoor summer comedy, and premiere dinners. We’ve come a very long way since the early days of the Klamity Players, hauling chairs, and relying on the elementary school to lend us space for our shows.
OUR
FUTURE
Redbud continues to rely almost solely on volunteer effort
to keep it alive, as well as revenues from plays and a Patron program.
Redbud sponsors workshops and Dell Arte productions. The annual gala Premiere dinner
in spring is always a sold out affair. Play attendance shows the continued support Redbud receives
from the people of the surrounding communities.
We are grateful for the countless hours and hard work of our members, the donations and support of local businesses, and very thankful for you, our audiences, who have stayed with us through all the years, making sure that the show, indeed, will continue to go on! |
