|
In 1977, Joyce Randall McNally, formerly the associate director of Houston's Alley Theater, began offering acting classes for children and adults at St. John's Presbyterian Church in the Westbury area of southwest Houston. Later, a small discotheque in Westbury Square was rented on Saturdays, and in spring 1978, COS presented its first season of two children's shows, The Wizard of Oz and Aladdin and His Magic Lamp. COS was composed of Joyce McNally as its Artistic Director, Hank McNally as Technical Director and students from the first acting classes, along with recruited volunteers in the community. Scenery was fabricated in garages at the actors' homes and the rented disco was transformed each Saturday into a children's theater. The following three seasons of children's productions were held in a meeting room at St. Johns Church, where COS presented 14 shows for children.
In 1982, COS moved to its present location in Westbury Square and transformed space that had been used as a lamp store into a community theater. The children's productions were expanded to five per season, and COS began offering productions for adults. At that time, the theater was operated as a sole proprietorship by its founders, Joyce McNally and her husband, Hank McNally. In 1986, COS was organized as a Texas non-profit corporation and a Board of Directors was formed.
COS's 1995/96 season included the world premiere performance of the children's musical The Sorcerer's Other Apprentice, written by former Houstonian and COS member/volunteer, Mr. Fred Keyser. COS's 1997/98 season included another world premiere production, Rudolph Rides Again, written by founding COS member and volunteer Laura Williams. The 97/98 season also presented a local premiere, Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosensweig. The 2001/2002 season included another Houston premiere - COS was the first to present the production of As It Is In Heaven, by Arlene Hutton, shortly after it was presented at the 2001 Edinburgh Scotland Theatre Festival. Original children's scripts, Frosty the Snowman and Santa's Toy Shop, by resident playwright Rob Howard, have become a holiday tradition for children and their families.
Mrs. McNally served as the theater's Artistic Director until her death in January of 2002 and has been succeeded by Ms. Patti Lindloff, one of the theater's founding members. COS operates through the efforts of volunteers under the guidance of its Board of Directors. Each season, the theater presents five productions for children and five evening productions. Auditions are held three times per year and are open to all members of the public. The Company OnStage is currently celebrating its thirtieth season of quality productions in southwest Houston.
|
