Theresa Selvaggio, Director of Development, spoke to the club on August 13th about the history and the future of the Grosse Pointe Theatre. She had help from Linda Zublick and Nick Marinello and as a special surprise, performers from the company's next production of Crazy for You.
Theresa described the formation of the company in 1947 by the late Russel Werneken, a 22-year-old drama teacher who had a vision to create a community theater that would offer quality theatrical productions to the community. He went door to door in hopes of securing funds to achieve his goal and secure a permanent home for the theater group’s productions that would foster excitement and a love for the performing arts. She described many of the performance spaces used by the company over the years, but primarily Fries Theater at The War Memorial. She recounted the long gestation of their next home, the A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Center for the Performing Arts and the Richard and Jane Manoogian Art Gallery in Grosse Pointe Park, where productions will begin in 2025.
For pictures from the meeting (don't miss these!) click below.
August 13, 2024 Membership Meeting