The seed for the Chelsea Area Players was planted at a cast party attended by several alumni of Chelsea High School musicals, many of whom are participating in productions to this day. As they reminisced into the night about past productions, their drive to get together again and put on another show grew.
The first production, The Sound of Music, was produced on a shoestring budget under the auspices of the Recreation Council and would not have been possible without the support of Charlie Cameron. They opened on July 28, 1972 (you don't know hot until you've played a nun in a high school auditorium where the temperature and humidity are about 95 degrees). Despite the heat and budget constraints, they kept together, and the next summer, the Chelsea Players opened as a community theatre company with a production of Fiddler on the Roof.
The Chelsea community theatre group called the Chelsea Players was officially formed in 1972 by DiAnn L'Roy. It performed musicals in the summers and other theatrical events. Contributors were called the Friends of the Chelsea Players. This fledgling organization developed into a "family" of individuals and created a comfortable atmosphere for local people to demonstrate their talents and support. In 1978, the Chelsea Players incorporated and changed the name to Chelsea Area Players, or CAP, because the group had grown to involve an expanded family of participants from the surrounding towns. The shows that are listed on this site demonstrate the depth and spectrum of the involvement and activities of CAP.
The purpose of the Chelsea Area Players is to enrich the educational and cultural life of the community, promote understanding and appreciation of an important art, provide worthwhile entertainment, encourage interest and active participation by the community in all phases of the theatre through dramatic productions and other related activities, and to foster and support the involvement of adolescents and young adults of the community in the dramatic arts.
Chelsea Area Players is also involved in many community projects and events.
- We sponsor a Fair Queen for the summer Chelsea Fair.
- We award Chelsea High School seniors scholarship funds.
- We produce and/or assist with various local fundraising projects.
- We run theatre-related workshops for children and adults.
Community theatre has provided a stage for many talented actresses, actors, musicians, and singers over the years. The whole experience of producing and presenting a show has involved hundreds of area residents in all the multitudes of extremely important support functions. We hope that you have been a part of this experience and have fond memories and lasting friendships from it.
CAP Board:
Todd Ducsay, President
Clara Smith, Maryann Guenther, Co-Vice Presidents
Heather Scott, Vicky James, Co-Secretaries
Don Paulsell, Treasurer
Michael Cicirelli, Brian Hackett, Leah Hall, Jeff Hatch, Christine Landis, Alexandra Moore, Brian Myers, Linda Smith, Fr William Turner, Shelley Wheaton