Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre was founded in 1961, and for its first season, performed three nineteenth-century plays on a budget of $3,500.^[5] The venue was originally a "1872 Gothic Revival Style" Baptist Church,^[4] whose congregation had consolidated with others in town and no longer used the building. Two families, the Lawrences and the Argubrights, co-owned the building and offered to let it be used as a theater. Henry Swanson, a professor at Columbia College was the first artistic director.^[6] In 1967, the theater attempted to raise $29,000 to purchase a new property.^[7] By its 30th anniversity in 1991, it had hosted 25,000 shows and had around 300,000 attendees.^[8] In 1993, the theatre underwent a renovation project to expand the capacity of the venue.^[6] In 2004, the theater's dormitory was damaged by a fire. The community provided housing for the cast for the following three seasons.^[6] From around 2005 to 2024, its artistic director was Quin Gresham, before his resignation.^[9] As of 2017, around 12,000 actors audition for roles at the theater per year.^[10] In 2019, the theatre was the first in the state to receive the "Missouri Historical Theatre" designation.^[11] In 2022, the Count Basie Orchestra performed at the theater.^[12] In 2024, it was renovated to have new seating placed.^[13]

• Official website