The History of Evansville Civic Theatre:

Evansville Civic Theatre was born in the 1920's when the community theater movement swept across the country. But Civic Theatre's roots extend far back into the 19th Century to the days when independent theater companies performed throughout the Midwest, bringing artistry and entertainment to people who would otherwise never know the excitement of live theater. The founder of Evansville Civic Theatre, Miss Frances Golden, brought to the new community theater (called Peoples Players in 1925-then changed to Community Players) all of her previous experience as the daughter of a famous theatrical family. In addition, as artistic director for 17 years, Miss Golden gave to Evansville Civic Theatre a stability and sense of purpose that has shaped the character of community theater in Evansville for the past 73 years.

From its humble beginnings at the Old Central High School auditorium, Evansville Civic Theatre has had many homes -- Memorial Coliseum, Bosse High School, the Rose Room of the McCurdy Hotel, the Elks Ballroom, and the Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences when the name was changed to Evansville Civic Theatre in 1956. In 1974, Evansville Civic Theatre acquired it's own home, the former Columbia Movie Theater at 717 N. Fulton Avenue, built in 1910. Here, more than half a century of Evansville's cultural history and innumerable hours of production and performance time are re-lived every time the curtain is raised on a new Civic Theatre production. Civic Theatre celebrated its 20th anniversary in the former Columbia Theater in Sept., 1994, with an exterior restoration as the building appeared in 1939. In August 1996 New theater seating and a complete refurbishing of the theatre interior was completed.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

The Evansville Civic Theatre is a non-profit theatre created to serve as a resource for cultural enrichment in Southwestern Indiana. ECT shall attempt to provide an imaginative environment for artistic expression, offer educational programming for youth and adults, as well as endeavoring to present high-quality theatrical productions in an attempt to enhance the quality of life for individuals in Evansville, Indiana and the surrounding communities.

The Evansville Civic Theatre shall make every effort to provide an environment in which there will be no discrimination with regard to age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

ECT has, and will always, encourage and facilitate the involvement of as many members, from all demographics of the communities served as is possible.