© 2008 Junction City Little Theater
Made by Serif
Check out this season’s Corporate Sponsors:
Music Man
Executive Producers
Exceptional Service, Exceptional Results
Montgomery Communications
Producers:
Hoover, Schermerhorn, Edwards, Pinaire & Rombold
Underwriters:
Sunflower Bank
Opera House Christmas
Executive Producers
First National Bank & Trust
Almost, Maine
Executive Producers
Flint Hills Job Corps
The Junction City Little Theater began in 1948, the under the vision and guidance of Bettina Coover. Junction City Little Theater is currently located at 338 W 18th Street. This building was formerly the Black USO building. In 2008 we will be moving to another historic building, the Junction City Opera House.
The Junction City Little Theater Guild was organized for the purpose of assisting the Board of Directors of the Junction City Little Theater, Inc., in the management of the theater.
The membership to the Guild is open to anyone who is a member of the Junction City Little Theater.
The yearly dues are $10.00. Each member is required to serve on at least one committee. The Guild handles all reservations, concessions, and calling of members for each show.
For more information call 762-
The Board of Directors voted on April 14th, 1964 to establish and present an annual scholarship in memory of Bettina Coover. The award is given to students active in drama who indicate the intention of taking further study in the field. The must have advanced in school beyond the 8th grade, and the funds should be used for continuing advancement in the dramatic arts in a summer school, summer workshop, or summer stock. The Board requisite is that the scholarship not be used toward college tuition.
Betinna Coover
Bettina Coover was a vibrant intelligent, and imaginative woman who became an integral part of a community wherever she lived. She came to Junction City in 1948 from Wichita where she contributed her talents in community theater there. Here, she joined the Ladies Reading club, was an active member of the Universalist Church, and worked with the Girl Scouts. She was instrumental in helping to found the Mental Health Association in Geary County. She founded and incorporated Junction City Little Theater. Bettina’s leadership and friendship were and inspiration to all who knew her.
JCLT History
In 1950, several talented women, all members of the Ladies Reading Club of Junction City, decided to form a drama study group. Urged on by the energetic and talented Bettina Coover, they further agreed to perform Thornton Wilder’s “The Happy Journey,” the forerunner of his popular classic, “Our Town.” This great success was followed by another play, “The Lady is Not For Burning.” These productions become the humble beginnings of the Junction City Little Theater. In 1955, Bettina Coover, Betty Cleary, Mona Kessinger, and Alma Hornbaker signed the documents of incorporation creating the Junction
City Little Theater as a non-
The early productions were staged in schools, auditoriums and churches, which created significant lighting and scenery challenges. In 1960, the Little Theater moved to the 18th street location, renting the building form the city. Before the city acquired the building, it had been the USO for Colored Troops. In 2008, the Little Theater will be moving again to the newly renovated Junction City Opera House. The City will convert the present site to a museum commemorating the Buffalo Soldiers.