Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, recently celebrated 50 years of professional theatre in the Greenbrier Valley. Each year, from its first summer on the banks of the Greenbrier River to the current mainstage season in a year-round downtown Lewisburg facility, was celebrated by actors and community members touched by the magic of live theatre.
Opening the festivities was guest speaker Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif, best known for his Golden Globe-winning role as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The actor shared memories of his early days with GVT and reflections from other GVT actors and playwrights. Dourif shared the stage with the West Virginia Jazz Orchestra and guest vocalists, including Alan Ball and Barbara Wygal Lutz.
Up-and-coming musician and West Virginia native Christian Lopez closed the evening with original music from his second album Red Arrow.
The celebration continued with an evening of Broadway-worthy entertainment at the WVSOM Conference Center. While enjoying an array of foods catered by Adam Sydenstricker of the O’Café, guests enjoyed a performance by Broadway actress and West Virginia native Kirsten Wyatt, accompanied by GVT’s Resident Music Director Kermit Medsker.
NEA Jazz Master and long-time GVT supporter Ellis Marsalis and his quintet ended the evening with a standing ovation from the crowd.
This weekend-long celebration of GVT’s contributions to Lewisburg and the surrounding areas remembered and celebrated all of the people who have made GVT possible these first fifty years. GVT would like to thank the WVJO, Christian Lopez, Kirsten Wyatt, Ellis Marsalis and his quintet, the Board of Trustees, the WVSOM and the patrons and guests who made the weekend successful.
