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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/bloomington-il/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-mfg-peoria-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-121024-in-person-g6n24cwbyx6.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FREE-SCREENING-OF-BEETLEJUICE-BEETLEJUICE">Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Peoria Riverfront Museum</p> <p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-social-security-understanding-your-benefits-121224-in-person-mynpvbxcxnk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-UNDERSTANDING-YOUR-BENEFITS">Social Security "Understanding Your Benefits"</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Pekin Public Library</p> <p class="loc">Pekin, IL</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Illinois Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Illinois Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Illinois</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:ILAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ILAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/illinois/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Illinois</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarp-illinois-contact-us/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-BLOOMINGTON-IL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpillinois" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpillinoisjoy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Community Players Theatre - Bloomington, IL</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Community Players Theatre - Bloomington, IL"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/bloomington-il/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-mfg-peoria-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-121024-in-person-g6n24cwbyx6.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FREE-SCREENING-OF-BEETLEJUICE-BEETLEJUICE">Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Peoria Riverfront Museum</p> <p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-social-security-understanding-your-benefits-121224-in-person-mynpvbxcxnk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-UNDERSTANDING-YOUR-BENEFITS">Social Security "Understanding Your Benefits"</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Pekin Public Library</p> <p class="loc">Pekin, IL</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/bloomington-il/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-mfg-peoria-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-121024-in-person-g6n24cwbyx6.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FREE-SCREENING-OF-BEETLEJUICE-BEETLEJUICE">Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Peoria Riverfront Museum</p> <p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-social-security-understanding-your-benefits-121224-in-person-mynpvbxcxnk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-UNDERSTANDING-YOUR-BENEFITS">Social Security "Understanding Your Benefits"</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Pekin Public Library</p> <p class="loc">Pekin, IL</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/bloomington-il/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-mfg-peoria-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-121024-in-person-g6n24cwbyx6.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FREE-SCREENING-OF-BEETLEJUICE-BEETLEJUICE">Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Peoria Riverfront Museum</p> <p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-social-security-understanding-your-benefits-121224-in-person-mynpvbxcxnk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-UNDERSTANDING-YOUR-BENEFITS">Social Security "Understanding Your Benefits"</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Pekin Public Library</p> <p class="loc">Pekin, IL</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Illinois Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Illinois Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Illinois</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:ILAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ILAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/illinois/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Illinois</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/aarp-illinois-contact-us/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-BLOOMINGTON-IL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPIllinois" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpillinois" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpillinoisjoy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Community Players Theatre - Bloomington, IL</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Community Players Theatre - Bloomington, IL"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/bloomington-il/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Bloomington</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-mfg-peoria-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-121024-in-person-g6n24cwbyx6.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FREE-SCREENING-OF-BEETLEJUICE-BEETLEJUICE">Free Screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Peoria Riverfront Museum</p> <p class="loc">Peoria, IL</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-a-virtual-evening-with-the-joffrey-ballet-of-chicago-presenting-the-nutcracker-121024-virtual-slnn3mnpbzc.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-A-VIRTUAL-EVENING-THE-JOFFREY-BALLET-OF-CHICAGO-PRESENTS-THE-NUTCRACKER">A Virtual Evening: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago presents The Nutcracker</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-social-security-understanding-your-benefits-121224-in-person-mynpvbxcxnk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-UNDERSTANDING-YOUR-BENEFITS">Social Security "Understanding Your Benefits"</a></h2> <p class="time">Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Pekin Public Library</p> <p class="loc">Pekin, IL</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/bloomington-il/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-BLOOMINGTON-IL">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT
Peoria Riverfront Museum
Peoria, IL
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. CT
AARP IL Facebook & YouTube, Links TBA
Online Event
Thursday, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT
Pekin Public Library
Pekin, IL
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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That is precisely" name="description"/> <meta content="Community, Players, Theatre, Bloomington, IL" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Community Players Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="40.490898"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-88.966202"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Community Players Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>201 Robinhood Lane</div> <div> <span>Bloomington</span>, <span>IL</span> <span>61701</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.communityplayers.org/" target="_blank">Community Players Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 309-663-2121</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Community+Players+Theatre%2C+201+Robinhood+Lane%2C+Bloomington%2C+IL+61701" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>History: Did you know that a handful of people could change the world by creating a place of hard work, dedication, and artistic beauty? That is precisely what happened in 1923. A women's club met and discussed creating a group to perform some amateur theatricals. They wanted the opportunity to display their talents and the skills they had learned elsewhere. Now eighty-one years later, Community Players continues in that tradition by developing six theatrical productions this year. Community Players has several distinctions. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. Many students from Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University supplemented their education by working on shows at Community Players. The theatre has provided opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals, and children's productions. Moreover, from time to time, the amateur experience has encouraged someone to attempt a theatrical career by either returning to school or auditioning for theatres in Chicago, St. Louis or other cities. Often a group starting out has no home and Community Players started just that way. Its first production of Overtones in March of 1923 was presented in the Turner Hall. They went on to use the facilities at the Illini Theatre (now the MARC Center next to Lucca Grill), Bloomington High School (the former BJHS building on Washington Street as well as the current building on East Locust), the old Normal High School, Illinois State Normal University (Old Main), The Majestic Theater and the Scottish Rite Temple (currently the Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts). This pack of traveling gypsies continued performances in different locations the next 41 years. In 1957 some of the leaders of the group put their heads and funds together to purchase the Esquire movie theatre on Madison Street just south of the Pantagraph building. It had 300 seats and air conditioning. The deal was negotiated but never completed. The city decided to condemn the building to create new city parking lots so Community Players had to find a new home. Ultimately they settled at their current location at 201 Robinhood Lane (off Towanda Avenue next to the new postal service center). The new building took shape and opened with Death of a Salesman in 1962. An addition was built in the early 1970's and, by 1981, the group had paid off the mortgage for the entire structure. Air conditioning to enhance audience comfort was installed for the 70th Season. Now Community Players has the distinction as one of the few amateur theatre companies that owns the building it occupies without depending on municipal or state funding for its structure. Famous authors and composers have had their material realized on the stage at Community Players. Community Players produces two or three musicals each season by such noted writers/composers as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Stephen Sondheim, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser, and Cole Porter. Plays by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Ken Ludwig, Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Aaron Sorkin and many other contemporary authors are included each season. As an amateur theatre group, Community Players encourages everyone in the area to volunteer for staff positions, audition for upcoming productions (for either on stage, backstage, or the orchestras) and, of course, join us in the audience for all shows. It has been an eventful and exciting continuous journey from Overtones in 1923 at the Old Turner Hall to our current season of live theatre.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/bloomington-il/report/place/community-players-theatre-bloomington-il.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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