Canebrake Players celebrate 40 years of entertainment on Demopolis stage

For 40 years audiences in Demopolis have been entertained with drama, laughter, suspense and song, thanks to the Canebrake Players.

The little theater troupe was formed in 1981 “by a small group of people who just wanted to have fun; 40 years later, the fun continues,” said Donna Bishop, current secretary and soon to be treasurer of the group.

“The Canebrake Players has grown into an organization that reaches participants from Demopolis and surrounding areas, from Livingston to Greensboro, Thomasville to Tuscaloosa,” she said.

While the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to productions during the last theater season, the group is ready to “come back full force,” said Laurie Willingham, who takes over as president on Oct. 1.

In its first year the Players performed two productions on the small stage at the Demopolis Civic Center, with no curtain or dressing rooms. Spring 1982 saw a move to the auditorium at the old school on Main Avenue. The organization has worked with the city to preserve and restore the old building, which now also houses the Two Rivers Arts Council and the Girl Scouts.

In 2018, the Canebrake Players became a nonprofit organization. Since that time, a grant from the Alabama Historical Commission made possible the installation of a stair lift. The group provided the funds to bring the building into ADA compliance by refurbishing the restrooms.

Soon the Players will offer patrons the opportunity to purchase tickets online. The access should be available for the Nov. 19-22 production of “Annie”, said Willingham.

The chair lift was installed just before everything was shut down. “Annie” will be the first time it will be used. “Everyone will have access to the theater,” said Willingham.

Next on the list of upgrades will be a new fly system for the stage, she continued.

A children’s play each year provides training for the next generation to carry on the tradition of community theatre, Bishop said. Students learn production techniques as well as acting skills and make valuable contributions to adult as well as student plays. She said it’s always a thrill to see students who grew up in the theatre return as adults.

The Players usually produce three or four plays annually. They pride themselves on the near-professional quality of their productions. Willingham said the troupe already is making plans for the 2023 season.

The Canebrake Players is entirely a volunteer organization. Members spend “countless hours of work going into every production,” said Bishop. “Canebrake would not be what it is without devoted fans and generous supporters.”Sc