Morgan Hill Today 2014 03 Spring | Page 52

Community Theatre Takes a Bow

South Valley Civic Theatre Delights Local Audiences
By Robin Shepherd
Fiddler On The Roof , 2013

Morgan Hill is a small city with a big heart for the performing arts . With a resident theatre company and our own playhouse – who needs New York ? Each year , the South Valley Civic Theatre brings five months of Broadway magic to the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse . It ’ s a program with something for everyone , featuring stage productions like Fiddler on the Roof , The King and I , Deathtrap , Anything Goes , Miracle on 34th Street and Oliver !

South Valley Civic Theatre ( SVCT ) is a non-profit community theatre organization directed and staffed entirely by volunteers . SVCT attracts talented musicians and non-professional actors in the region to take part in some of its productions , while others are performed by local youth and teens who are selected for roles through open auditions .
Finding a Home
SVCT got its start more than 40 years ago in Gilroy , according to SVCT President Peter Mandel . “ It was a bit of a gypsy operation in those days . Without a home of its own ,
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M O R G A N H I L L T O D A Y S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 performances were staged in a variety of venues , depending on what was available .”
When the City of Morgan Hill undertook plans to open the Community and Cultural Center , its plans included renovating a 1920s era church on the property , and transforming it into the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse . SVCT worked closely with the city staff and project architects on the design of the playhouse and then became its resident theatre company .
“ The city was great to work with , and it helped us to have a venue that we could call home ,” Mandel said .
“ We have two missions . The first is to bring quality theatre to the local community , and the second is to showcase the youth in our community .”
Theatre : A Great Place for Youth
“ Theatre is a great way for youth to gain developmental assets as defined in Project Cornerstone ,” Mandel said . “ We can help them develop a sense of responsibility , understand how large projects come together successfully based on the