In the Fall of 1975 Henry Hall, Minister at Grace United Methodist Church, asked the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council to support a proposal to the Missouri State Council on the Arts for a Youth Dramatics Program in our neighborhood.
The proposal outlined the special values of programming arts activities to teenagers and pre-teenagers living in areas experiencing redevelopment or urban renewal. Initially, the proposal outlined a small scale program in performing arts. Theatre, dance, and music, would be offered to one teenage group and one group of pre-teens who would perform for community residents bi-monthly.
In July 1976 the Missouri Arts Council awarded a $2,910 matching grant to the Skinker-De Baliviere Community Council to supervise a Youth Dramatics Program from Nov. 1976-May 1977.
Two Drama instructors, Linda Piper and Donna Belcher, (one for teenagers; one for pre-teens) receive monthly stipends for organizing along with their groups an introductory program of Theatre Arts which meets once or twice weekly. The budget also includes some funds for field trips to the Theatre and production equipment for performances and training.
Activities for the Drama Workshop (pre-teens) use facilities of the Grace Club program at Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman, at Skinker, and the Drama Group for teenagers meets at the Archway Communities Inc. Center, 5650 Pershing, at DeBaliviere. For more information or participation please contact Henry E. Hall 863-1992, Grace United Methodist Church.
Original photograph caption
Drama workshop members of the Youth Dramatics Program perform their original one-act play “Let My People Go.” The Paper, February 1977, page 4. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1977_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4, 5; PDF page(s) 4, 5.
