Written by Susan Stout (she/her)
As part of the on-going celebration of the 140-year anniversary of the Struthers Library Theatre, three leaders of the 1983 restoration of the Theatre met recently for a technical tour of the Theatre. David and Pat Marquis and Chase and Mary Putnam were central to that Centennial Restoration, and this was a reunion of sorts for Dave, Chase, and Mary. By 1990, the Theatre had deteriorated in every way after decades of limited and decreasing use solely as a movie theater. The Marquis and Putnam families dreamed that with a combination of hours and hours of volunteer labor and the generosity of the Warren community, they could bring live theater and music back to Warren. The community responded brilliantly. More than 300 volunteers donated evenings and weekends — at least 10,000 hours — and lots of sweat equity to the cause. This fund-raising effort yielded more than 350,000 dollars (equivalent to $1,066,035.00 in today’s dollars). Still today, those who helped with the Centennial restoration remember the work with a smile–even through memories of cramped and aching muscles. “There was such great camaraderie, a real sense of doing something great for the community together,” one veteran of the project recalled.
The recent tour highlighted the ways that ensuing generations have honored the vision of the Centennial planners. Former Executive Director and Peacock Awardee, Marcy O’Brien, highlighted the addition of the elevator, with its view of Warren and the nearby hills. Barb Crowley, another Peacock Awardee and the Theatre’s lighting director, showed the continuity with the projection booth added by the 1980s volunteers and the ongoing modernization of equipment. Current Executive Director Karen Austin led the tour group through the recently completed renovations of the Sisson Rehearsal Hall where theatre Historian and Peacock Awardee, Ellen Paquette, yet another Peacock Awardee, had literally dug through the layers of paint there to ensure that the paint colors chosen for the rehabilitation were historically accurate. And with over 4000 pounds of new sound-dampening panels installed, the rehearsal hall has completely transformed cast experiences in tryouts and practices for theatre programs. With the presence of so many of Struthers Library Theatre trailblazers in attendance, what better way to complete this celebration of history and continuity than to make one more Peacock Award. At the end of the tour, Struthers Library Theatre Board of Trustees President Susan Stout surprised Marquis with his own Peacock Award — only the 12th in the Theatre’s history. “With the enthusiastic and unanimous support of the Board of Trustees, we offer this Peacock Award to honor David A. Marquis for the leadership, vision, and hard work he has dedicated to our beloved Theatre.”