Thomas Thorspecken, Cabaret at the State Theatre, 2017. analogartistinadigitalworld.com.
Our Mission
Bay Street Players shall provide entertainment and education for the residents of Central Florida through production of the theatrical arts, which allow students and artists to learn and practice their craft.
The theatre carries out its mission in three primary ways:
Entertainment
The theatre offers a wide variety of entertainment to its community by presenting no less than five main stage productions each year, supplemented by a regular schedule of limited engagements, benefits, and other special events.
Education
The theatre brings cultural experiences to young people who have limited access to the arts by offering students the opportunity to learn in a live production environment. The Bay Street Players Young People’s Theatre program has been in continuous operation for over 48 years. It is the oldest program of its kind in the state and among the longest-running youth theatre education initiatives in the nation.
Engagement
The theatre provides a creative outlet for volunteers of varied skillsets. Community engagement extends far beyond the theater’s walls with consistent participation in many local events: First Fridays, The African American Heritage Festival, GeorgeFest, and The Amazing Race for Charity, among many others. In recent years, the theatre has hosted multiple TEDx Eustis conferences and the Lake County Folk Festival.
At The State Theatre, we believe community theatre can be a means of fostering social understanding. We welcome everyone regardless of race, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurological or physical ability, and education level. We believe in equality and inclusion for all.
STAFF
NINA VATTER
Production Manager
DAVID DIMASSINO
Technical Director
MADISON COLPITTS
Operations Manager
Young People’s Theatre Director
PHILADELPHIA ZIMMERMANN
House & Volunteer Manager
JOSEPH VATTER
Marketing Manager
LILY MORSE
Box Office Associate
CHLOE RICHTER
Box Office Associate
JAMES IRVING
Box Office Associate
LILA SHOOP
Hospitality Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HECTOR DE LEON
President
DENNIS CUTTER
Vice President
TONYA PIPPIN
Secretary
BERNIE VATTER
Treasurer
MARIE ALIBERTI
RICK BREESE
JAMES IRVING
KAHLEE SMITH
GINA STOGRAN
FOUNDERS
DALE CARPENTER
DEBORAH J. CARPENTER
ED MITENIUS
MARY JANE MITENIUS
CHARLENE SMITH
LOU TALLY
Thomas Thorspecken, Little Shop of Horrors at the State Theatre, 2018. analogartistinadigitalworld.com.
HISTORY OF THE STATE THEATRE
AND BAY STREET PLAYERS
Construction on The State Theatre was completed in 1922. The building was designed by Alan J. McDonough, the architect of Eustis City Hall, the Alice McClelland Memorial Bandshell, the Daytona Beach Bandshell, and the Lake County Courthouse, among many others.
At the time, the population of Eustis was less than 1,200, and the theatre sat 518 patrons in its auditorium, including balcony, which is now used for lighting and sound equipment. The building originally served as both a vaudeville theatre and a venue for the latest craze in entertainment: moving pictures. It had one of the largest photo play pipe organs in the southeast. As vaudeville faded into the past, the theatre was used solely for movies; sound was installed in late 1929. The State Theatre was a popular place to see movies through the 1960s, however the auditorium was eventually abandoned and fell into disrepair.
In 1974, a small group of theatre lovers rediscovered the vacant State Theatre building. With visions of bringing live performances back to Eustis, they moved in and began the arduous task of restoring the building to its former glory. The founding members of the Bay Street Players cleared the theatre of debris and, in July 1975, opened their inaugural production, Hello Dolly!, to great fanfare. The following season, they mounted eight productions and have been continuously serving the community ever since. In 1976, Bay Street Players produced the first of its annual Dolly Awards ceremony, so-named to honor the cast and crew of their debut production.
In January 1976, founding member Deborah J. Carpenter (d. 2017) started one of the first youth theatre education programs in the state, the Young People’s Theatre, with eighteen students performing The Wizard of Oz. Over the following years, enrollment continued to grow, and the Young People’s Theatre program is now among the longest continually running youth theatre education initiatives in the nation.
Now in its 49th season, Bay Street Players continues to entertain audiences from across Florida to the State Theatre, with a reputation for quality live performances. Whether you are a longtime patron or a new member of our community, Bay Street Players looks forward to welcoming to the State Theatre for many years to come!