Village Square Theatre History
Village Square Theatre and the Lexington County Arts Association began as The Lexington Recreation Committee. A group of parents organized it desiring to create productive activities for children. In 1960 Mrs. Henry Taylor, Mrs. R. H. Caughman, Mrs. T. R. Sessions, and W. B. Redd, Jr. officially chartered this organization. They put on dances at St. Stephens Lutheran Church Youth Hut and later in the community gym on North Lake Drive. They formed youth sports teams and held Fall Festivals featuring local artists. In 1972 Workshop Theatre brought productions of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and Babes in Toyland to the stage in the auditorium of the old Lexington Elementary School where they performed to sold out audiences.
In 1973 Pat Friedman and Bobbe Rowell wrote and produced The Gay Nineties Revue. They solicited help from Edna Bedenbaugh, Sylvia Looney, Charles Gatch, Judy Hiller, Myrna Rodriguez, and other Lexingtonians. The town came together with entire families performing on stage.
In 1974 Pam Inabinet (a former Miss South Carolina) directed The Roaring Twenties Revue, and George Boozer, directed a segment about the Ziegfeld Follies.
1975 saw the name changed to The Lexington County Arts Association. The focus had become more arts oriented, and the sports part of the Recreation Committee was turned over to the Lexington County Recreation Commission.
A group of parents decided shows were needed solely for kids. Charles Alexander and Phil Smith compiled Uncle Remus stories into An Evening with Uncle Remus, the very first Junior Arts production in 1980. It was so successful it was produced again the next year on the Lexington Middle School gym’s stage.
In 1982 David Swicegood directed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, with producer Dolores Gatch, and the team brought Peter Pan to the Lexington stage in 1983.
In 1984 George Boozer’s Broadway Beat of the Fifties. In addition to performing at the regular venues of the old Lexington Elementary School and the old Batesburg-Leesville Middle School. George and cast took the show on the road to Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston and to the Old Post Office in Washington, DC.
In 1985 David Bishop joined the rank of directors with the first straight play, Tobacco Road.
In 1987 the Lexington County Arts Association purchased the Village Square movie theatre which became the home of Village Square Theatre (Lexington’s only community theatre). Village Square Theatre continues to produce full seasons of shows ranging from straight plays to musicals and Junior Arts productions.