Oconee Community Theatre

Oconee Community Theatre is located in the heart of Oconee County, SC. We offer 6-7 shows per season.

Mission Statement

To encourage and promote an interest in the performing arts in Upstate South Carolina, and Oconee County, by the production and presentation of plays, dramatic works, and performing arts of all kinds.

The Oconee Community Theatre holds true to its mission and provides an opportunity for everyone to experience live theatre-through performing, volunteering, as a patron/sponsor or as part of the audience.

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, OCT continues to provide a wide variety of theatre experiences for our community. Please support our sponsors and when the opportunity presents itself, thank them for their continued support of OCT.

History

In 1970, a group of local residents, with a strong interest in the performing arts, met in Walhalla to discuss the formation of a community theatre. A steering committee was established chaired by Mrs. Gloria B. Adams. The Rev. George Shealy served as the theatre's first president.

On September 15, 1971, the Oconee Community Theatre was founded and Oconee County was introduced to live, local theatre with the first production -- Oliver directed by Michael Andron, presented at Seneca Junior High School.

The first year, the Oconee Community Theatre presented primarily children's theatre productions. It wasn't until a year later that the OCT presented its first "adult" production, The Red Stocking Review. In April 1973 the first issue of The Spotlight, the theatre's newsletter was published.

In June 1973, the theatre moved into its first "home". After two years of presenting performances throughout Oconee County, the theatre moved into the old Home Furniture Bargain Barn on North First Street and named their new theatre space The Mask.

The Mask was an intimate, flexible theatre space that allowed for a variety of theatre styles, including theatre-in-the-round. In January 1980, the theatre purchased their first permanent home, an abandoned movie house on North First St. in Seneca. For nine years the Theatre worked to renovate the movie house and then on a fateful evening in 1989, the theatre was struck by lightning and destroyed by the fire that followed. The new Seneca City Hall was built, in part, on the site of that old theatre.

For the past twelve years Oconee Community Theatre has conducted summer youth drama workshops. These workshops are designed to give children ages 4 - 18 a taste of live theatre for two weeks during their summer break. Each of the past three years OCT has realized a 30 to 50% increase in participation in its summer workshops.

Oconee Community Theatre enjoys the loyal support of its many patrons whose continued participation in our programs bodes well for the future of OCT.

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