She was spirited, unconventional, energetic, and prodigiously creative, so it’s no surprise that Louisa May Alcott (along with her sister, Anna) founded a theater company to entertain family, friends, and neighbors in the Town of Concord. Their Concord Dramatic Union of 1856 featured Alcott’s original plays and vignettes.
In 1872, the Union became The Concord Dramatic Club and, in 1919, The Concord Players, when a dedicated group of amateur actors and theater lovers came together to “stimulate interest in dramatic work in the town and to elevate the standard of performance.” The group first performed in Monument Hall but, over time, established a permanent space in the Veteran’s building, a former drill shed located at 51 Walden Street. They built a stage with the aid of theater architect Charles Blackhall; a small replica of his design for Boston’s Colonial Theater.
As The Concord Players accumulated the physical needs of a theater – a stage, scene dock, and capital – they also developed guiding principles that described the “ideal” for amateur theater. The Players were to emphasize community, artistry, and conviviality while providing a stimulating atmosphere for expression—and, most importantly, to have fun.
By 1931, The Concord Players were performing a mix of plays—comedies, dramas, farces, and mysteries. In 1932, they performed their first production of Little Women, thus beginning the tradition of bringing this iconic story to their stage every decade.
The late 1940s ushered in a more ambitious modern era, where productions were grand, and the execution was intent on combining artistry and efficiency in every aspect of a show. As a cohesive group, a member might star in one show and produce the next, appear in a chorus and then design a set, or sew costumes, gather props, and then run the lights.
1972 Cast of Little Women
That ambition, talent, and commitment to “honest” theater endure as the Players continually improve their home at 51 Walden, upgrading equipment and expanding their repertoire and membership with talents from areas throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Grand musicals with stupendous production values dazzle audiences, while the dramatic stories invite theatergoers into intimate explorations of the human condition. Every genre of theater, from Shakespeare to modern farce, is mounted on the Players’ stage each year with the same passion and zeal that propelled Louisa May Alcott almost two centuries ago. The work has been aptly rewarded over the years with hundreds of regional and national awards for artistic achievement.
The Players produce three mainstage productions annually, as well as summer performances of Shakespeare in the Park. Special events, fundraising events for 51 Walden, parades, and participation in townwide activities are all executed exclusively with volunteer talent, energy, and time.
Spirited, unconventional, energetic, and prodigiously creative, that’s who The Concord Players are and always will be, imbued as they are with the spirit of their intrepid founder. ConcordPlayers.org.
All photos courtesy of The Concord Players
This article made possible with the support of The Concord Players
