Community Theater Finds a New Home

“We have some very talented people in town and this gives them another outlet to show their creative side.”

›› Introducing the newest version of community theater: The Players at Perry-Mansfield. Formerly known as the Chief Players (and then the Yampa Valley Players), the newest iteration is here to stay, and the players have found a home at Perry-Mansfield.

“It’s very exciting for us because we now have the support of professional staff at PerryMansfield that can help us with scripts and productions and everything like that,” says Brad Kindred, who is one of the eight core members of the performing arts group.

It’s a group that dates back several decades, providing entertainment and laughs to the community. When the Chief Theater, the group’s former venue, fell under new ownership and closed for potential renovation, they searched for a new spot to perform. Post-Covid, Brad thought the group was dead. “It was my goal to reinstate community theater,” he says.

Now that goal is coming to life as the players move into the Julie Harris Theatre. This summer they are scheduled to present “Death by Chocolate,” by Paul Freed, a satirical comedy and murder mystery, Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 24-26.

And the players are upping their game. With Perry-Mansfield’s facilities at their disposal, the audience will get to see version 2.0 of community theater. “It’s great for performing arts but also for the community as whole,” Brad says. “We have some very talented people in town and this gives them another outlet to show their creative side.”

Their future goal is to perform four times a year, in the Hayden Town Center as well as the Julie Harris Theatre.

For tickets to “Death by Chocolate,” visit www.perry-mansfield.org. ■