The History of Scripps
Ranch Theatre - In 3 Parts
Part
Two
A Trip Down Memory
Lane...1984-1992
By Sharon K. Hays
Scripps Ranch Theatre’s seventh season opened
with the hugely successful, box office sellout, Oliver. This was the
first, full-scale musical SRT put on. SRT publicized this show with a 4th
of July parade entry with an Oliver motif, winning 1st place
in the Civic Spirit Division. This season also initiated the 24-hour answering
service, which at the time was located in the home of Jerry and Joyce Oen and
subsequently moved to the home of Muriel and Walt Bossert. SRT also tackled its
first psychological drama, Five Finger Exercises.
| During the 1985-86 season, a continued push was
made for new Board members and new leadership. As a volunteer
organization, it was and continues to be a challenge to enlist new blood
and to interest people to serve in leadership roles. That season, SRT
continued its community spirit with another successful 4th of
July parade entry of a huge wedding cake that featured actors as the
bride, groom and pastor carrying a Bible. A “wedding party” carrying
1,000 balloons followed the float. In the 1986-87 season, patrons
were turned away for the last performance of the successful production
of Come Blow Your Horn. SRT began the first of its Sunday
matinees this season. Jane Merrill combined children’s theater with the
Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club for a one-time showing of The
Wicked Witch. During this time, the Timberlane condos provided
rehearsal space and performances were held at Mira Mesa High School.
SRT celebrated its 10th
anniversary (1987-88 season) with a revival of Our Town, the
first play that launched SRT. |
Season plays
1984-85 – Oliver, Five Finger
Exercises, Exit the Body
1985-86 – Marriage Go Round; Dear
Me, The Sky is Falling; Witness for the Prosecution
1986-87 – Come Blow Your Horn, The
Deadly Game, Never Too Late
1987-88 – Our Town, The Imaginary
Invalid, The Hound of the Baskervilles
1988-89 – Days of Wine and Roses,
UTBU, California Suite
1989-90 – Dark
1990-91 - Twelve Angry Jurors
and Murder on the Rerun
1991-92 – Ten Little Indians and
Quilters
|
During the 11th
season the Board had a dilemma. Many Board members had served at least two
terms, SRT was without a permanent home, and productions were done with skeleton
crews. After much deliberation, the Board voted to suspend season 12.
Then-President Tom O’Neill said, “I hope that taking a year to reflect and
start fresh with new people and a new place to call home would be what is needed
for creating theater magic.” The Board was suspended and a “caretaker” Board
was named.
While the theater was dark in 1989-90, the
“caretaker” Board was very active. During the first two months, the Board
oversaw the disposition and preservation of assets. Then-Board President Arnie
Gass outlined four issues that had to be addressed: 1) need for a new home; 2)
need for an Artistic Director; 3) definition of artistic mission; and 4) role of
the Board vis a vis the theater and community. In the following four
months, the Board planned and produced the Art Auction fundraiser that was held
in February 1990. In the subsequent four months, it laid the groundwork for the
1990-91 season.
Two shows were produced in both the 1990-91 and
1991-92 seasons. Scripps Ranch Theatre was not only back in business, it was
back in competition. In the ’91-‘92 season SRT garnered 13 Aubrey nominations.
Performances of Quilters were sold out before opening night. The final
performance of Ten Little Indians contained its own real-life drama.
Before Captain Lombard (Rodney See) escorted Vera Claythorne (Teresa Shaffer)
offstage, a final, unscripted line was added to the play when he asked her to
marry him. She accepted!
In reflecting upon the 1984-92 years, Arnie
Gass said, “those were arguably the most tempestuous, tumultuous, and unsettling
years in SRT’s history.” The search for a permanent home was a major obstacle.
Production space many times drove play selection so as to have sets that did not
require special lighting or complex set dressing. Spots consisted of eight
lights mounted on a beam. SRT joined in talks with the architect who was
designing the permanent Scripps Ranch Library with hopes that the Community Room
could be used for theater space. In the end that did not work out, although SRT
participated in the library groundbreaking ceremony with Rachel Somerville and
Arnie Gass performing a modified rendition of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
However, amidst the struggles, Scripps Ranch
Theatre was coming of age by the close of its 14th season.
Then-President Arnie Gass summed it up best by saying, “Scripps Ranch Community
Theatre has reached a new level in its depth of acting and directorial talent.”
Clearly, the early Board members and other
volunteers laid the foundation for what SRT is today. They are owed a debt of
gratitude for their persistence, vision and tenacity.
Scripps Ranch Theatre History - the first 25 years
Scripps Ranch Theatre History - Part 1
Scripps Ranch Theatre History - Part 2
Scripps Ranch Theatre History - Part 3
