ATHLETES TAKE THE STAGE — FACT 7 OF 50
Did you know that GMVS has been running an annual theater production since 1978?
It was in 1978 when the school moved to its current location on Bragg Hill and GMVS students prepared for their roles in Godspell, the first of a series of annual musicals to be directed by Headmaster Dave Gavett. At the time they probably didn’t realize they were paving the way for one of the school’s most cherished and long-standing traditions. Dave’s vision to create the theater program was met with the full support of GMVS founder Al Hobart and has been an integral part of the GMVS experience ever since his arrival.
The first production of Godspell was performed in the Dining Hall. Following performances moved off campus to larger locations in town. Odd Fellows Hall was home to Man of La Mancha, Pippin, Grease, King of Hearts, and Godspell, and in 1984 the production of Cabaret was performed at Edison’s Studio.
In 1985 the cast and crew moved the production back on campus to the Doug Parker Center (DPC) and has been performing there ever since. At the time the DPC was the school’s gym for athlete workouts and training, but in the week leading up to the opening night, the interior was transformed into a theater – large rolls of flooring were laid, the stage was built from the ground up, and folding chairs were lined up for audience seating. Just as quickly as the theater was built each year, when the show was over the auditorium was dismantled and returned to its original state.
In 2014 when the Racing Performance Center (RPC) was constructed, the DPC was transformed into a permanent theater, complete with stadium seating and a stage that remains up throughout the year.
Productions through the years:
1978 -Godspell
1979 – Man of LaMancha
1980 -Pippin
1981 -Grease
1982 -King of Hearts
1983 -Godspell
1984 – Caberet
1985 – Oliver
1986 – Camelot
1987 – L’il Abner
1988 – Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1989 – Leader of the Pack
1990 – Godspell
1991 – Annie
1992 – Oklahoma
1993 -Man of LaMancha
1994 – Anything Goes
1995 – Guys and Dolls
1996 – Sweet Charity
1997 – 42nd Street
1998 – Little Shop of Horrors
1999 – The King of Hearts
2000 – The WIZ
2001 – Fiddler on the Roof
2002 – Les Miserables
2003 – City Of Angels
2004 – Seussical The Musical
2005 – Beauty and the Beast
2006 – Urinetown
2007 – Little Women
2008 – Footloose
2009 – Grease
2010 – Anything Goes
2011 – Cats
2012 – Godspell
2013 – Shrek
2014 – Beauty and the Beast
2015 – Les Miserables
2016 – Legally Blonde
2017 – Chicago
2018 – Footloose
2019 – Grease
2020 – Godspell (Cancelled)
2021 – Mama Mia!
2022 – Newsies