Artist ProfileGibson County Youth Theatre

Staff report, Photos: Jancey Smith

Gibson County Youth Theatre lights its marquee just once a year, during the summer. For Stacy Hurt, whose official title is Producer, it is always churning. This year she produced The Music Man, which ran June 22-25th at the theatre of Princeton Community High School.

The Music Man featured a little over 50 faces, a mix of high school students and drama camp-goers. You may have noticed that Music Man followed Finding Nemo; Music Man is a GCYT production; while Finding Nemo is a Drama Camp production, both are at the behest of Hurt. It can be a bit confusing, because as mentioned, both are of Hurt’s heart and hard work. And too, Drama Campers are technically GCYT’ers. Yet GCYT’ers are not Drama Campers, though they often volunteer as counselors for the rigorous camp.

The first ever show was High School Musical, in 2007. EVSC had already been producing shows, so too had Warrick. Hurt couldn’t just let Gibson County lay on the Patoka River, like an abandoned boot. But it would take much work to pull off a county theatre production, much money. Most counties have a designated nonprofit for support, however Hurt hadn’t a way to dredge up something of the sort. So she put her head down, applied for grants, while PCHS supported her.

GCYT is years behind companies like EVSC and Warrick, so she doesn’t have bodies like these companies. Therefore when Hurt selects a show, it is very intentional, and she is often limited. She may ask herself: Do I have enough boys to produce a show like Grease? How about Legally Blonde — enough girls who are strong vocalists?

She considers what resources she may already have, like costumes and sets. The Music Man is a recycled show. Hurt first produced it in 2008, when GCYT was only two-years old. She already had some costumes and apparently the cast to fill them. She does admit that, “When Dusty is done, I am done.” She is referring to Dusty Brittingham, her setdesigner, who hammers out quality sets efficiently. He has been with her from the start. And although Hurt works with many volunteers, she still wears a ton of hats — director, producer, costume-designer are an obvious few — wielding a drill would simply be the feather that crumbles everything. There would simply be no time. For now, she is often able to pull something impressive together. And she loves theatre, and Gibson County; it is at the center of why she began.

Haubstadt High School Class of 1963 met for a 60th Reunion Celebration on June 16, 2023. The reunion began at 6:00 pm at The Knights of St. John Hall in Haubstadt.

Special thanks to those who helped with planning the reunion.

A post-reunion dinner is planned for Wednesday, July 12, 6:00 pm, at Zack’s in Fort Branch. Please phone Ann Minnis at 812-664-7695 to make RSVP.