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The Present
‘To Be or Not to Be’
Community theatre thrives in Peoria and central Illinois
O
ne is distinguishable by
the large, green tent that
goes up each summer in
Upper Bradley Park; the other by
the old fashioned lighted theatre
marquee at University and Lake.
Time was Corn Stock Theatre
and Peoria Players were about
the only games in town when it
came to community theatre. Corn
Stock dominated the summer and
Peoria Players the winter and,
considering there wasn’t the kind
of television fare we have now or
the number of movie screens, full
houses were the norm.
That isn’t the case now. Not
only is live theatre less of an en-
tertainment staple, but there are
more choices for theatre-goers in
the Peoria region. Eastlight The-
atre in East Peoria has become
a major player and the region’s
only professional theatre, Peoria
Cabaret Theatre, which uses
many of the community theatre
stars.
Here is a look at the biggest.
Peoria PlayersTheatre
Peoria Players is not only the
Peoria region’s longest continu-
ously running community the-
atre, it’s the oldest in the state of
Illinois and fourth in the nation.
It was founded in 1919.
Operating from a build-
ing in the Lakeview Museum
campus at University and Lake
streets adorned with the lighted
marquee, Peoria Players has a
season of six shows each year, at
least four of which are musicals,
a summer youth theatre produc-
tion and a Christmas show. It also
offers a musical with a short run
in the summer that is a fundraiser
for the organization.
There is also, of course, the
annual showing of the “Rocky
Horror Picture Show” at Hallow-
een, when members of the Peoria
Players company also act out the
parts as the film plays.
“It is our continuing goal to
provide culturally inclusive live
theatrical entertainment to our
area, as well as give the many
talented individuals in the area a
creative outlet and the opportuni-
ty to perform and grow in a safe,
artistically challenging environ-
ment,” part of the Peoria Players
mission reads.
Theatre manager Nicki
Haschke and a board of direc-
tors lead a group of volunteers to
keep Peoria Players one of the top
venues in the region.
Corn StockTheatre
Now in its 59th year, Corn
Stock Theatre is located in Upper
Bradley Park in Peoria. It has the
tent in the summer and, after it
comes down (leaving the steel
frame over the winter) shows
move to the smaller Winter Play-
house.
The two venues have one
manager, Cindy Hoey, and one
board of directors but are quite
different.
18
thePeorian.com
By Paul Gordon
“Big River” was presented earlier
this year at Peoria Players Theatre.
Corn Stock Theatre’s Winter
Playhouse presented “God of
Carnage” in February 2011.