It is June of 2016.
“Live from The Legacy Theater, let’s welcome the Hughes Brothers.”
The first performers on stage of the newly-organized Legacy Theater were the Hughes Brothers from Branson, Missouri.
Since that show, The Legacy Theater has become a destination in the Tri-State area, known for outstanding, live entertainment from around the world.
But the story began much earlier, before the first show hit the stage.
The auditorium, which became The Legacy Theater, was built in 1953. It was the chapel for Carthage College and the Bryan Auditorium for Robert Morris College. After several different owners, the whole college campus was purchased by Prairieland Investment Group, and the auditorium given to Carl Sandburg College. Their renovations gave the theater new life in 2011.
“In 2016, Carl Sandburg no longer had use for their Charger Auditorium, but they needed to grant it to a not-for-profit group,” tells Ada Bair, C.E.O. of Memorial Hospital.
“They approached the hospital about taking ownership of the theater.”
While that was not the right fit for the hospital, Bair and a group of community leaders approached former Carthage Mayor Jim Nightingale. If the city would take ownership of the auditorium, they would form a foundation to run the theater.
The first board included Bair, Rob Carson, Amy Graham, Dr. Doug Groth, Dr. Bill Hollis, and Sharon Nichol. A 501c3 was formed, and the auditorium began to operate as The Legacy Theater in early 2016.
“Not only did the Hughes Brothers provide a series of great shows to draw people into the theater, they made many suggestions on improvements we could make, based on their own theater in Branson,” said Doug Groth, chairman of The Legacy Theater Foundation board.
Volunteers went to work. The floor was replaced with a better surface for dancers. Sound curtains were added to improve the acoustics. In the balcony, new seats were installed along with an area for refreshments and socializing.
After a matching campaign in 2019, the lighting and sound equipment were updated. More recently new signs inside and out help the community know what is happening at The Legacy Theater.
Businesses and individuals from around the region showed their support of the project with donations.
“In that first summer, many businesses generously bought large blocks of tickets and gave them to their customers, just to get people inside the theater to enjoy the experience,” recalled Groth.
The Legacy Theater joined the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce and others in the Tri-State Area.
Three committees went to work. Performance recruitment searched for talent and negotiated contracts to bring entertainment to town. Marketing promoted the shows and awareness of the theater. Fundraising informed area residents and theater patrons of our needs, and honored donor support with a growing number of stars on the Legacy Theater Donor Wall.
The results have been amazing.
Since 2016, 85 professional groups have been on stage with patrons from 34 states and Canada. Six international ensembles have performed including students from Germany, Belguim and Denmark. Eighteen schools and home school groups have attended free educational performances for over 3,100 students.
The theater is available for anyone in the community to use. More than 140 rental groups have held meetings, recitals or programs at the theater. Dozens of free community performances have shown that The Legacy Theater is dedicated to enriching the community by bringing cultural and live entertainment to the Tri-State area.
The current board guiding the work of The Legacy Theater includes Doug Groth, president; Ada Bair, vice president; Barb Baily, secretary; Andrew Bastert, treasurer; Connie Dyer, Amy Graham, Terry Marler, Shane Murphy, Ryan Sharpe, and Joy Swearingen.
There are two paid employees, Larissa McShane, the full-time theater executive director, and Audrey Inman, part-time box office manager.
“With the support of people in this region, The Legacy Theater has become a destination,” said Bair. “It is a place that enhances the quality of life for people who live nearby, and it is an asset that draws people from far beyond the Tri-state area, because they know they can find outstanding, live entertainment.”
“It has been an amazing 10 seasons,” Bair said. “I look back at what we have done together, and by ‘we’ I mean our board and this community. Imagine what the next 10 years will bring!”
