About Us
The Jefferson Community Players group was formed in 1989 by the Jefferson Arts Committee as an avenue for those interested in community theater. Their first production under the guidance of director James Wynne was the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Pirates of Penzance followed in 1990 by Oliver. Both were hits and sparked the interest of those involved that there definitely was interest in the community for theater.
Based on its success, the JCP formed an Executive Board with Maureen Peck as President in 1991 and continued to present full-scale summer musicals for the next 15 years drawing Jefferson Township residents and others from surrounding areas. Children were an integral part of every production both onstage and backstage, and they literally grew up before the JCP’s eyes as family members worked side-by-side every summer.
In 1996, Jill Moore assumed the position of President, and was later succeeded by Bob Brown, who held the position until 2006. Throughout the years, the group was also active in presenting children’s theater and cabarets though their major goal was to produce a musical production each summer. Among their major shows were Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Bye, Bye Birdie, Me and My Girl, Annie Get Your Gun, Annie, Anything Goes, Oliver, Cinderella, Babes in Arms, and The Wizard of Oz..
JCP staged its second to last full musical production Godspell in the summer of 2003 at the Jefferson Township High School auditorium. With major construction taking place at the high school during the following three summers, JAC no longer had an auditorium venue to perform in that was large enough to comfortably stage a major summer musical but did venture into one of the all purpose rooms/gymnasiums of a local elementary school with its final production, Guys and Dolls in 2004. However, many long-time members, directors, and performers drifted away moving on to other interests or pursuing acting opportunities with other theater groups. The JCP pretty much took a hiatus during 2005.
Reorganized in January of 2006 by then JAC President Jack Kelly and with renewed enthusiasm by former members and performers, the group has taken a new direction under the leadership of Jefferson Township resident Jean Simonson. Starting anew and with a strong background in theater, she proposed several new projects for the Players that included acting workshops for adult beginners. With the cooperation of the Jefferson Township Recreation Department, the group has been allowed to use the facilities of the Jefferson Township Senior Center for rehearsals and performances; and participants in the acting workshop continue their interest in theater by performing in one-act plays and dramatized play readings. The group was very successful in staging the holiday scene from Little Women with a Victorian Tea during the Jefferson Arts Committee’s 2006 Christmas in the Village event in December.
In the past year, the Players have demonstrated that they have the ability to offer roles in non-musical productions to actors of every level of experience and are quickly demonstrating a presence in the community once again. Also using the facilities of the Community Lodge at Camp Jefferson beginning in January of 2007, the Players have successfully hosted several coffeehouse evenings, a dinner theater, a Sweetheart Tea with a performance of Junior Miss, and a Teddy Bear Tea for the children. They continue to present dramatized play readings and one-act plays throughout the year.
After 13 years, Simonson decided to step down and the group is now led by long-time member Susie Wright who also has a strong background in community theater. Sue has some wonderful ideas to move the group forward and continues to plan some exciting activities. She is always looking for individuals interested in becoming a member and participating in theatrical readings, etc.