By Nila Harris
It started with a dream…actually, it probably started before that.
Bob Myers came to Pendleton County High School as a choral director in 1975. Within two years, Myers was doing a high school musical. Since PCHS did not have a stage at that time, the play Hello Dolly was performed at Northern Elementary on its stage. Cliff Wallace, then principal at PCHS and a music major himself, was excited about the performance and musical. He began to develop a “dream." The dream was to create a community theater using professional and local talent. Originally, the hope was that a theater and lodge would be built at Kincaid Lake State Park, hence the name “Kincaid Regional Theater."
When funding fell through with that idea, Wallace and others did not give up. They found a place to house the theater—the old Falmouth High School building on Chapel Street in Falmouth.
Leva Kidd spent several years serving on the theater board and nine years as general manager. Kidd worked in the Pendleton County Schools Central Office when Wallace became Superintendent in the late 70s. Kidd remembered Wallace telling her, “We’re going to Frankfort to get some foundation money to start a theater.” At that time, there were state grants available to entities applying and submitting grant applications. Kidd stated that although they had missed the grant deadline, “We left there with $50,000 worth of grants.”
The first production began in 1983 with the Sound of Music, which featured Bob Myers’ wife Becky in the lead role of Maria. Myers told Wallace in the beginning that the productions they would do needed to be shows with which he was familiar. He also found early on that it was challenging being a director, and in charge of the music. Fortunately, there were lots of people who stepped up to help.
From the get-go, one of the biggest difficulties of KRT has been funding. “Whenever you’re in a project, you have to get people who know how to raise money. You need to have people who will donate thousands, not hundreds,” according to Myers. Kidd stated that Ann Delaney was one of those people who knew how to raise money. “She was a big money raiser. Nobody would tell her no,” Kidd laughingly admitted.
She remembered talking with a man who was a CEO at the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky airport. At first, things didn’t seem too promising on getting a donation, but they left there with $5,000, thanks to Delaney’s gentle prodding.
Things improved when the theater earned the
501(c)(3)distinction. This allowed the theater to have tax-exempt status, and its contributors could use donations as tax incentives. The 501(c)(3) must be re-filed every year. Once, a person in charge failed to renew the 501(c)(3) which created a hardship for theater. And then of course, there was 1997, when a devastating flood hit Falmouth. There were no shows that season, allowing local businesses and residents to recoup. Fortunately, the next year (1998), they were back at it with two shows: Hello Dolly and The Fantastiks.
Another troublesome time in the history of KRT was “the Covid year”--2020. During a time when many theaters and venues were shut down, KRT held three shows—Annual Gala-the Roarin’ 20s, The Very Unmerry Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Many changes and precautions took place to pull off these productions, such as hosting events outside.
Many people have been such a large part in the history of KRT. Myers calls people such as Becky Thomas, Shirley Tuemler, Jim Deaton, and Sally and OT Gillespie “go-getters." Costumes were made, and sets were created. Traveling actors were often housed at local residents’ homes. Young PC talent such as Jim Deaton, Alan Hall, Becky Fogle, and Lisa Asher made the stage come alive.
Shirley Merrill, retired choral director at Northern Elementary, served on the KRT board and as general manager for several years. During her tenure, she experienced firsthand the financial difficulties, including having to leave their first theater home on Chapel Street, to purchasing and abandoning a property on Main Street, to starting the process to buy the Stonewood Garden property during a pandemic! She is happy to see KRT thriving and growing at its new location at 208 Memory Drive, Falmouth.
One interesting tidbit that Merrill has discovered about the theater is how youngsters can grow and thrive. A couple of actors involved in KRT have seen their grades improve after being part of the rehearsal projects. Others who were once shy and quiet have “come out of their shells” after participating in theater. A clinician that Wallace brought it once stated that children need to be seeing, hearing, and doing. On the stage, children are doing just that.
Another thing Merrill is excited about is seeing theater kids come back to the theater as adults. Brett Price who serves as the artistic director, started his acting career as part of educational workshops presented by Merrill and Barb Ritter. Cassandra Jacobs, fundraising director, got involved in KRT when her oldest child Jackson attended the musical workshop Frozen Jr. Christina Jeans couldn’t help but be involved in the theater since her mother Debbie Jeans was the Arts and Humanities teacher at PCHS and involved with KRT. “When I was in Kindergarten, I was at every rehearsal and knew every blocking for the King and I production that KRT was doing at the time,” Christina stated. She went on to say that although she performed in church plays during her childhood years, it wasn’t until she was in college at Morehead that her professors noticed her talent for movement and dance. “They started challenging me to choreograph musicals each year.” They also pushed her to take as many dance and creative choreography classes as she could. Christina is the current main stage choreographer at KRT. And her mother Debbie continues to be actively involved at KRT.
As KRT enters its 40th season, it would be a great time to come out and support the theater. Their next performance is 39 Steps. This murder-mystery dinner theater will be held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays June 2-11.
This summer will feature the children’s workshop theater Finding Nemo, Jr., August 11-20. Interested families may sign up their child for this workshop at krtshows.com/education. Deadline for applying is May 20th.
Million Dollar Quartet, sponsored by Woodhead Funeral Home & Memorials will be presented July 14-30th. This musical was inspired by the musical talents of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.
KRT staff, current and past, are appreciative of all the people who have played a role in getting this theater off the ground and keeping it running. Numerous local people volunteered on the board, worked as ushers and concessions, put together playbills, participated in fund-raising, and much more. They are also thankful for the community support. Without the community, this theater would not be possible. Come support your local theater and see what Kincaid Regional Theater is all about. You’ll be glad you did!