Small Wonder The inspiration may have been, in its own small way, divine.

In 1935 the Newtown Congregational Church needed money to send local children to a youth conference. Credit is given to the energetic young minister, Reverend Paul A. Cullens, for the idea to raise funds by putting on a play. Three plays, to be exact. The bill of one-acts at the Edmond Town Hall included "Ten Nights in a Barroom" and "East Lynne", but the set-piece was "Uncle Tom's Cabin", known for the climactic scene where the heroine flees across ice flows pursued by a pack of 20 bloodhounds. The minister cast his reluctant German shepherd, Bozo, in the role of the bloodhounds. A vagabond at heart, Bozo passively resisted and had to be pulled with a rope across the stage after the fleeing Liza. So it was hardly surprising when, on the night of one performance, the "pack" was nowhere to be found. A substitute was about to be pressed into service when Bozo appeared, bloodied, with bits of window frame and glass clinging to him. The wayward actor had followed the trail of a scent into a building and was accidentally locked in. As showtime approached, he finally broke through a window and hightailed it to the town hall in time for his entrance. One moment of glory can make an actor immortal. An Associated Press reporter who happened to be in town wrote the story and the minister's thespian dog became nationally famous. How far this notoriety inspired the two-legged members of the cast is difficult to judge. The following year, the actors formally established themselves as the Town Players. In 1937 Reverend Cullens made his own stage debut in a production of Susan Glaspell's "Trifles," and stole the show as Farmer Hale. According to The Newtown Bee (March 26, 1937) "Mr. Cullens lent a bucolic atmosphere to his part of the testimony that fairly reeked of the barnyard."

Up until 1955 the Town Players held their productions over at Edmond Town Hall, two miles away. The little barn on Orchard Hill Road was a storage area, workshop and rehearsal space where the set for the plays were built, then broken down, trucked over, and reconstructed at the Town Hall. The stage was a remarkable thing in itself, built by Newtown luminary Christian Sidenius, to the same dimensions as the playing area at town hall so that the moveable set pieces would fit precisely. Then came the logical leap; instead of moving the actors and scenery to the hall, why not hold the plays at the barn? Build seats for an audience, and they will come. Mr. Sidenius did, and audiences have, ever since. The space is the envy of many theatres for its intimacy. Closeness gives playgoers the chance to feel the electricity of a live performance. And it's a space that actors love to perform in. Scant paces from the footlights to the back wall, this is a stage where no gesture is lost. Set designers may well discover, like Alice in her Wonderland house, that the stage dimensions are receptive to ingenuity; in 1966 engineer Edward Reinhardt solved the set-change problem by designing a revolving stage. For The Wake of Jamie Foster Kit Briner built a cross-section of an entire house, interior and exterior, without cramping the performances. Space enough for show and audience was, for a time, all the Little Theatre could offer. There was no backstage at all. The dressing room was the great outdoors - under the stars, or the rain, as it happened -and actors' entrances and exits were made through a window. Converting the barn to a theatre also meant there was no place anymore to store the props and costumes, which was why the Players had built the barn in the first place. With money raised through ticket sales, programs and patronage, the theatre opened a new dimension in 1965, adding a backstage area, storage space and dressing rooms upstairs. In 1977 a foyer was added and restrooms retired the outhouse. Later, a new air conditioning and heating system enabled audience and players to enjoy summer productions in comfort and extended the season into the fall. Multum in parva (much in little) may stand as the Little Theatre's unofficial motto. A modest ticket price gives admission to a small, intimate facility where almost anything can happen. Town Players' eclectic style continues to evolve, in a space just large enough to accommodate an expanding imagination.

Town Players Timeline

1935-Rev. Paul Cullens initiates community theatre to raise funds to send local children to a church conference. Three one-act plays, including "Uncle Tom's Cabin," are performed in the new gymnasium at Edmond Town Hall. 1951-With $3000 raised mostly through ticket receipts, Town Players buy land on Orchard Hill Road. Volunteers build a concrete block house, lay gravel and steps. The house is used to store costumes and props for plays performed at the town hall. 1955-Christian Sidenius builds a stage at the storage facility. Soon after, the Players initiate the barn as a "little theatre" with a production of "Mister Roberts." 1965--Two-level addition built to provide backstage, storage and dressing rooms 1977--Foyer and restrooms added 1985--50th Anniversary recognized by CT General Assembly for contributions to community theatre 1992--New heating and cooling system is installed, enabling the Players to extend their season and offerings. 1994--First full-length Shakespeare 1995--TP 60th Anniversary-redecoration of lobby 1996--Computerization of light board, outside landscaping begins 1997--Season extended with addition of fifth show 1998--Air conditioning upgraded-curtain time changes to 8pm 1999--New storage barn built, addition of Christmas Show 2000--Installation of new seating