“I was first introduced to Bay City Players when I was brought on as the Stage Manager for the 2023 summer production of Newsies. I graduated from Oakland University in 2022 with a degree in Theatre, but due to the pandemic, it had been years since I was involved in anything theatre related. I was over the moon and, honestly, quite nervous to come back to the theatre world. It ended up being one of the best decisions I've made in my life! Having the opportunity to be part of a production prior to working at Players really provided me with a unique and valuable insight into this organization.
It truly is an amazing honor to have such a long history in this community. The fact that our theatre has been here, in Bay City, for over a century is such a beautiful thing to think about. It also means that we must honor that legacy by ensuring we are setting ourselves up for continued success. Having been part of the community for so long, we want to ensure we are not only providing high quality arts programming but working to make a positive impact in our city as well.
Players was founded by Emily Grinnell in 1917 when she joined the Musical-Art Club here in Bay City, eventually leading her to suggest that the club stage the plays rather than just read them. We didn’t have a ‘home theatre’ until we purchased the former Pines Theatre in 1954. Prior to this, the group performed in living rooms and eventually larger venues like the Historic Masonic Temple and Westover Opera Houses. This group even continued to produce plays during both World War I and World War II.
Since purchasing the Pines Theatre, we have invested over $1.5 million into improvements, showcasing our commitment to quality arts infrastructure. We just wrapped up our back parking lot project and will soon begin the upgrade of our stage lighting to an LED system. This will greatly improve the patron and production experience, and we are thrilled for our audiences to see the results!”
“We have a Playreading Committee that gets together once a month to brainstorm ideas for the next season. We just launched the start of Season 108 so, right now, the committee is working on creating Season 109 and the beginning of Season 110. It’s a very crucial committee for our theatre! They are the ones that need to analyze our patron demographic, current events, director and actor talent, and potential production budgets, all to determine if we move forward with a show. We create the season by selecting shows that really resonate with the time we are living in, providing a deeper message that can make an impact, balanced with the escapist beauty that also exists in theatre.
It’s all about balance. We want to honor our current patrons while also expanding to new audiences. One season might feature a show that resonates with an older demographic, while another attracts younger audiences and talent. It’s about serving those who’ve carried us this far while growing the next generation of Players supporters.
Behind the scenes, our production teams and volunteers bring each show to life. From sets and props to costumes, lighting, and sound, it’s truly a team effort. A typical production has about 17 leaders in different areas, often supported by their own volunteers, all working together to fulfill the director’s vision.
You do not need any experience to come and audition for a show at Players! We love seeing new faces at our theatre. Auditions can be very intimidating, even to seasoned actors. Just know that, once you step into our space, the environment is very welcoming. We want you here! Put yourself out there and take a chance!”
“We have a great arts and culture scene in this city, but no one does live theatre quite like Bay City Players. Our theatre is made up mainly of volunteers, meaning we really are a community-driven organization. This kind of dynamic results in the most passionate individuals and cultivates the most incredible shared sense of pride in local arts. Being a mainly volunteer-run organization, this theatre transforms into ‘ours’, continuously fostering that sense of community. The connections you make across generations are truly something that makes theatre, and Bay City Players, so special.
Part of this is accomplished through our Together in CommUNITY campaign, where we support organizations that help the citizens of Bay County. We have supported the Bay Area Women's Center, Hidden Harvest, McLaren Prevention Services, and more, since we first launched this campaign.
Our Youtheatre program is another special thing we offer at our theatre. We hold workshops, an annual summer program, and an annual Youtheatre production. This year’s production is Peter and the Starcatcher, and auditions will take place in mid-December. It’s incredibly important to our organization that we foster youth talent. There have been many actors who started out in our youth programming who then went on to perform professionally on Broadway!
In five or ten years, I hope we’ve built Bay City Players to be the theatre known for passionate and high-quality community theatre centered around safety, professionalism, empathy, and motivating each other to be better. My goal is for us to be known as the theatre that supports the city, one that holds fun events, prioritizes outreach, and one that patrons love supporting not just for performances, but because they appreciate the work we have done in the community.
You truly feel like you are making an impact in this organization. This position has evolved greatly since I was first hired, and it’s been an incredible experience to have conversations with the Board about how best I can serve this theatre. The goal is to have this theatre exist beyond me, creating a space that values art and community; to have a model that uplifts the citizens of Bay City and becomes known as such. My love for this theatre and this city is incredibly strong, and it’s humbling to be in this position and have the opportunity to chart this path for Players."
-Kady Booth, Managing Director, Bay City Players
