History of BCT
Theatre Things Since 1927
Who Are We?
Bakersfield Community Theatre holds the distinction of being the longest running continuing community theatre in the state of California. Because we are a community theatre anyone in the community is welcome to participate. Since 1927, Bakersfield Community Theatre has involved thousands of directors, board members, actors, backstage crew, technicians, and most importantly audience members. The theatre has never shied away from producing plays with hard-hitting social issues along side the classic comedies and dramas of the twentieth century. Bakersfield Community Theatre (BCT) has been home for many actors in the Kern County area. It has provided an opportunity for cultural growth and enrichment of the community for its actors and all those who have graced its doors.
Bakersfield Community Theatre holds the distinction of being the longest running continuing community theatre in the state of California. Because we are a community theatre anyone in the community is welcome to participate. Since 1927, Bakersfield Community Theatre has involved thousands of directors, board members, actors, backstage crew, technicians, and most importantly audience members. The theatre has never shied away from producing plays with hard-hitting social issues along side the classic comedies and dramas of the twentieth century. Bakersfield Community Theatre (BCT) has been home for many actors in the Kern County area. It has provided an opportunity for cultural growth and enrichment of the community for its actors and all those who have graced its doors.
What Do We Do and How Do We Do It?
Since 1927, BCT has taken pride in its varied opportunities for community members to realize their artistic dreams. There are roughly 6 mainstage shows a year. Mainstage shows make the core of BCT's programing, comedic plays, tragedies, musicals, and fun Christmas shows offer opportunities for community members to direct, build sets, design lights, costume design, or perform in. The BCT One-Act Festival, which began in April 1988, provides training for upcoming directors. In the mid 1990's the BCT Board of Directors changed the scope of the One Act Festival by seeking out original scripts thus creating the opportunity to showcase local and potential future playwrights. In 2017, the One Act Festival celebrated thirty years. Marilyn B. McArthur who had headed up the youth theatre in the 1960’s and 1970’s revived the BCT Youth Theatre in the mid 1990’s. The BCT Youth Theatre Program is a free safe place for children to express themselves, learn, and be part of our wonderful community. The program produces four to five youth theatre productions each season along side the One Act Festival and the main stage productions. BCT strives to make sure there is something for everyone, for all ages, whether someone wants to watch a show, build a show, or star in a show, the opportunity is there.
Our Board is entirely volunteer, though voted on, and all ticket and concession sales go back to our shows and maintaining the theatre, but sometimes we still need a little bit of support. Our season pass holders and gracious donors also help us prefund our season, and over the years BCT has held multiple fun and eventful fundraisers to also lighten the burden. Casino Night, Karaoke, and Silent Auctions, are just a few of them. In 1988, a fundraiser of particular note was held at the Women's Club Building, where the theatre had been founded, featuring an evening World War II USO Dance theme and everyone turned out in costumes of the era.
Since 1927, BCT has taken pride in its varied opportunities for community members to realize their artistic dreams. There are roughly 6 mainstage shows a year. Mainstage shows make the core of BCT's programing, comedic plays, tragedies, musicals, and fun Christmas shows offer opportunities for community members to direct, build sets, design lights, costume design, or perform in. The BCT One-Act Festival, which began in April 1988, provides training for upcoming directors. In the mid 1990's the BCT Board of Directors changed the scope of the One Act Festival by seeking out original scripts thus creating the opportunity to showcase local and potential future playwrights. In 2017, the One Act Festival celebrated thirty years. Marilyn B. McArthur who had headed up the youth theatre in the 1960’s and 1970’s revived the BCT Youth Theatre in the mid 1990’s. The BCT Youth Theatre Program is a free safe place for children to express themselves, learn, and be part of our wonderful community. The program produces four to five youth theatre productions each season along side the One Act Festival and the main stage productions. BCT strives to make sure there is something for everyone, for all ages, whether someone wants to watch a show, build a show, or star in a show, the opportunity is there.
Our Board is entirely volunteer, though voted on, and all ticket and concession sales go back to our shows and maintaining the theatre, but sometimes we still need a little bit of support. Our season pass holders and gracious donors also help us prefund our season, and over the years BCT has held multiple fun and eventful fundraisers to also lighten the burden. Casino Night, Karaoke, and Silent Auctions, are just a few of them. In 1988, a fundraiser of particular note was held at the Women's Club Building, where the theatre had been founded, featuring an evening World War II USO Dance theme and everyone turned out in costumes of the era.
What's Our Story?
Our story in a word is 'long.' You don't get to become nearly a century old without having a long story. Before BCT's founding, community theatre productions were commonly produced in Bakersfield by a variety of clubs including The Bakersfield Women's Club, as well as the Elks, DeMolay, and the Plymouth Guild. Albert Johnson was also an influence in getting community theatre to become an important part of the Bakersfield cultural arts.
In 1926, Gilmor Brown of the Pasadena Community Playhouse gave an inspiring speech to the Bakersfield Women's Club, outlining a possible procedure for organizing a community theatre. "Call a mass meeting," Mr. Brown advised. "Sincere workers and promising talent will be found in unexpected places if the proposition is presented as a real community project." The women listened to what Mr. Brown said with deep interest.
In early May of 1927, Alma Campbell, Grace Bird, Ethel Robinson, Mrs. George Shearer, and Mrs. H.A. Peairs met at the Women's club with the purpose to found a community theatre. Using telephones and the newspaper they announced their public meeting to be held on May 16, 1927 at the clubhouse. More than 50 people attended and the founding group expanded to include Mrs. Ross C. Miller, Evelyn Derby, Dwight Clark, Thomas McManus and Laurence Taylor. Ten days later the founders had finished writing the constitution and bylaws, and had taken on 98 paid season members. By May 31, 1927 board members, offices, and paid membership had grown to 125 members. The first President elected was L.E. Chenoweth. Bakersfield Community Theatre (BCT) was founded in May 1927. The founding of the theatre had only taken a little over two weeks.
The first BCT production took place on October 31, 1927 at the old Bakersfield High School auditorium for a subscription audience of more than 400 patrons. The show was "The First Year" by Frank Craven, directed by Alma Campbell. The Bakersfield Californian's November 1, 1927 edition contained the first review for a BCT production, written by Mae Saunders. It read, "the translated dream of the several hundred persons present... a high standard of artistry… evenings performance presages a great future... much credit due Mrs. Campbell...”
Our story in a word is 'long.' You don't get to become nearly a century old without having a long story. Before BCT's founding, community theatre productions were commonly produced in Bakersfield by a variety of clubs including The Bakersfield Women's Club, as well as the Elks, DeMolay, and the Plymouth Guild. Albert Johnson was also an influence in getting community theatre to become an important part of the Bakersfield cultural arts.
In 1926, Gilmor Brown of the Pasadena Community Playhouse gave an inspiring speech to the Bakersfield Women's Club, outlining a possible procedure for organizing a community theatre. "Call a mass meeting," Mr. Brown advised. "Sincere workers and promising talent will be found in unexpected places if the proposition is presented as a real community project." The women listened to what Mr. Brown said with deep interest.
In early May of 1927, Alma Campbell, Grace Bird, Ethel Robinson, Mrs. George Shearer, and Mrs. H.A. Peairs met at the Women's club with the purpose to found a community theatre. Using telephones and the newspaper they announced their public meeting to be held on May 16, 1927 at the clubhouse. More than 50 people attended and the founding group expanded to include Mrs. Ross C. Miller, Evelyn Derby, Dwight Clark, Thomas McManus and Laurence Taylor. Ten days later the founders had finished writing the constitution and bylaws, and had taken on 98 paid season members. By May 31, 1927 board members, offices, and paid membership had grown to 125 members. The first President elected was L.E. Chenoweth. Bakersfield Community Theatre (BCT) was founded in May 1927. The founding of the theatre had only taken a little over two weeks.
The first BCT production took place on October 31, 1927 at the old Bakersfield High School auditorium for a subscription audience of more than 400 patrons. The show was "The First Year" by Frank Craven, directed by Alma Campbell. The Bakersfield Californian's November 1, 1927 edition contained the first review for a BCT production, written by Mae Saunders. It read, "the translated dream of the several hundred persons present... a high standard of artistry… evenings performance presages a great future... much credit due Mrs. Campbell...”
A Home of Our Own
From 1927 to 1961 BCT did not have a playhouse to call home so productions were held at various auditoriums located in Washington Junior High School, Standard Junior High School, Golden State Junior High School, and the old Bakersfield High School. Then, in April of 1961, Bakersfield Community Theatre opened a new playhouse located at 2400 South Chester. The first production at the new Playhouse was "For the Love of Maggie," written by Bakersfield natives, Barbara Gardener and Ann Agabashian, and directed by Howard Miller. The production was presented between the fourth and fifth productions of the 1960-1961 season, "Anastasia" and "The Women." The playhouse has been home for all productions presented since April 1961.
Since it’s 1961 debut the playhouse has gone under multiple remodelings. Summer 1976 saw one such remodeling of the auditorium supervised by Roger Benischek and drafted by Joseph Licastro, as well last he ticket office getting revamped to include an office, ticket counter, and a lounge. In 1980 the front of the theatre was a given a brick patio with plants and metal structures, a lawn, stucco wall, a ramp, and a deck overlooking the patio with bright gleaming white electric sign that read “Bakersfield Community Theatre” in blue lettering. These features were completed just hours away from a production of “Side by Side by Sondheim” in September that year. In 1983 the auditorium seats were replaced and the interior remodeled to match the seats.
From 1927 to 1961 BCT did not have a playhouse to call home so productions were held at various auditoriums located in Washington Junior High School, Standard Junior High School, Golden State Junior High School, and the old Bakersfield High School. Then, in April of 1961, Bakersfield Community Theatre opened a new playhouse located at 2400 South Chester. The first production at the new Playhouse was "For the Love of Maggie," written by Bakersfield natives, Barbara Gardener and Ann Agabashian, and directed by Howard Miller. The production was presented between the fourth and fifth productions of the 1960-1961 season, "Anastasia" and "The Women." The playhouse has been home for all productions presented since April 1961.
Since it’s 1961 debut the playhouse has gone under multiple remodelings. Summer 1976 saw one such remodeling of the auditorium supervised by Roger Benischek and drafted by Joseph Licastro, as well last he ticket office getting revamped to include an office, ticket counter, and a lounge. In 1980 the front of the theatre was a given a brick patio with plants and metal structures, a lawn, stucco wall, a ramp, and a deck overlooking the patio with bright gleaming white electric sign that read “Bakersfield Community Theatre” in blue lettering. These features were completed just hours away from a production of “Side by Side by Sondheim” in September that year. In 1983 the auditorium seats were replaced and the interior remodeled to match the seats.
Join Us
So whether you're wishing to brave the stage as an actor or singer, wanting to put your creative abilities to the test by designing and building a set, play with the effects of lighting against a stage, take a stab at recreating clothing from a variety of time periods, or whether you're interested in seeing the truly unique experience of live performances, we would love to have you join us and be a part of our community here at BCT.
So whether you're wishing to brave the stage as an actor or singer, wanting to put your creative abilities to the test by designing and building a set, play with the effects of lighting against a stage, take a stab at recreating clothing from a variety of time periods, or whether you're interested in seeing the truly unique experience of live performances, we would love to have you join us and be a part of our community here at BCT.