| HISTORY |
Jefferson City, Missouri
Since 1991, the Capital City Players have been bringing Mid-Missouri audiences
quality dinner theatre entertainment. Founded by Rob Crouse, the Players’ artistic
director, this organization began when a group of local actors, musicians, and stage
technicians came together to present “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the
Jefferson City Ramada Inn (now the Truman Hotel and Convention Center). The
original intention of the Players was to do several performances, but the production
was so popular that performances quickly sold out, additional performances were
added, and the Players ended up doing a total of nine performances. Realizing how
much Mid-Missouri people enjoyed being able to go out to dinner or brunch and then
see a theatrical performance, the Players started doing regular productions at the
Ramada Inn, and a new performance group was born.
During its history, the Capital City Players have presented a wide range of Broadway
entertainment. The range of shows has included:
• Traditional Broadway musicals such as “Mame,” “A Funny Thing Happened On
The Way To The Forum,” “Damn Yankees,” “Big River,” and “Showboat;”
• Contemporary fare like “Chicago,” “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat,” “Baby,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” and “Forever Plaid;”
• Some of the most challenging Broadway dance musicals ever written—“A
Chorus Line,” “West Side Story,” “George M,” and “42nd Street;”
• The Mid-Missouri premieres of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Mister Roberts,” “The
Civil War,” “Ragtime,” “Footloose,” and “Aida;”
• The group’s tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein, “Some Enchanted Evening,”
brought together the most outstanding cast of local performers ever assembled; and
• A showcase for the extraordinary talent of Broadway star Steve Fowler in
several of productions.
In 2001, the Capital City Players carried on the tradition of Shakespeare In The
Park, which will now be in its 16th year of production in Memorial Park in conjunction
with the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department. Some of the previous
productions by the Players include “I Hate Hamlet,” “Hamlet,” “Julius Caesar,”
“Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “The Taming of the Shrew.”
In addition to this production in the park, the Capital City Players present a dinner
theatre production for two weekends in the late summer or fall and another
production for a two weekend run in January.
Many of these productions involve local children because the Capital City Players
recognize that providing a training ground for young actors and singers helps
nurture the next generation of Jefferson City performers.
During the summer of 2005, the Capital City Players formed a summer company that
presented dinner theatre productions every weekend in June and August in the
unique dining setting of Tonanzio’s Restaurant in Guthrie. This summer season
included the hilarious musical comedy “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in
June and the classic Broadway comedy thriller “Deathtrap” in August.
Now the Capital City Players have launched a new era in this history of this not-for-
profit organization with a theatre home at the Shikles Center in Jefferson City where
this special dining and entertainment experience can be enjoyed year round and
local artists, young and old, can learn and refine their theatre training. After opening
in their new home with the highly successful musical “The Full Monty,” which played
to sold out houses, the group is now in their second season with an eight show
performance schedule. Their production of the new Broadway musical “All Shook
Up” was the Missouri premiere of the show and made Jefferson City theatre history.
“All Shook Up” was the first production in Jefferson City Theatre history to completely
sell out before the production opened with all eight performances playing to full
houses.
quality dinner theatre entertainment. Founded by Rob Crouse, the Players’ artistic
director, this organization began when a group of local actors, musicians, and stage
technicians came together to present “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the
Jefferson City Ramada Inn (now the Truman Hotel and Convention Center). The
original intention of the Players was to do several performances, but the production
was so popular that performances quickly sold out, additional performances were
added, and the Players ended up doing a total of nine performances. Realizing how
much Mid-Missouri people enjoyed being able to go out to dinner or brunch and then
see a theatrical performance, the Players started doing regular productions at the
Ramada Inn, and a new performance group was born.
During its history, the Capital City Players have presented a wide range of Broadway
entertainment. The range of shows has included:
• Traditional Broadway musicals such as “Mame,” “A Funny Thing Happened On
The Way To The Forum,” “Damn Yankees,” “Big River,” and “Showboat;”
• Contemporary fare like “Chicago,” “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat,” “Baby,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” and “Forever Plaid;”
• Some of the most challenging Broadway dance musicals ever written—“A
Chorus Line,” “West Side Story,” “George M,” and “42nd Street;”
• The Mid-Missouri premieres of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Mister Roberts,” “The
Civil War,” “Ragtime,” “Footloose,” and “Aida;”
• The group’s tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein, “Some Enchanted Evening,”
brought together the most outstanding cast of local performers ever assembled; and
• A showcase for the extraordinary talent of Broadway star Steve Fowler in
several of productions.
In 2001, the Capital City Players carried on the tradition of Shakespeare In The
Park, which will now be in its 16th year of production in Memorial Park in conjunction
with the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department. Some of the previous
productions by the Players include “I Hate Hamlet,” “Hamlet,” “Julius Caesar,”
“Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “The Taming of the Shrew.”
In addition to this production in the park, the Capital City Players present a dinner
theatre production for two weekends in the late summer or fall and another
production for a two weekend run in January.
Many of these productions involve local children because the Capital City Players
recognize that providing a training ground for young actors and singers helps
nurture the next generation of Jefferson City performers.
During the summer of 2005, the Capital City Players formed a summer company that
presented dinner theatre productions every weekend in June and August in the
unique dining setting of Tonanzio’s Restaurant in Guthrie. This summer season
included the hilarious musical comedy “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in
June and the classic Broadway comedy thriller “Deathtrap” in August.
Now the Capital City Players have launched a new era in this history of this not-for-
profit organization with a theatre home at the Shikles Center in Jefferson City where
this special dining and entertainment experience can be enjoyed year round and
local artists, young and old, can learn and refine their theatre training. After opening
in their new home with the highly successful musical “The Full Monty,” which played
to sold out houses, the group is now in their second season with an eight show
performance schedule. Their production of the new Broadway musical “All Shook
Up” was the Missouri premiere of the show and made Jefferson City theatre history.
“All Shook Up” was the first production in Jefferson City Theatre history to completely
sell out before the production opened with all eight performances playing to full
houses.
THE CAPITAL
CITY PLAYERS -
OUR HISTORY
CITY PLAYERS -
OUR HISTORY
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