A Belleville Tradition since 1929
The Rector of the Cathedral, Monsignor Joseph Schlarmann, formed the Cathedral Players' Guild in 1929. The first production was Little Red Riding Hood. The first starlet was none other than Dorothy Lindow (Schlarmann) who Msgr. Joe cast in the role of Little Red Riding Hood.The first director of the Guild, Cornelia Palmer, held the position until 1973. During her tenure, the Guild was famous for its biblical productions, which were produced and presented annually.
In 1974, Bob Lippert assumed the directorship of the Guild. Bob first joined the Guild in 1954. Under his direction the Cathedral Players' Guild ventured in a bold new direction--the establishment of an annual summer musical production. To mark this transition, the Guild permanently moved its productions out of the church basement and into the newly constructed McCormick Center with the 1985 production of Godspell. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's Bob and his son Rob spent countless hours every summer to ensure that every detail of a production was perfect.
With his appointment as Pastoral Associate of St. Anthony Church in Beckemeyer, Illinois in 2000, Bob, now a Deacon in the Catholic Church, retired as director of the Cathedral Players' Guild. Deacon Bob still contributes to the construction of sets and other technical matters of the summer productions from time to time.
Since the summer of 2000 with the production of Anything Goes, the Cathedral Players' Guild has operated under the auspices of the Youth Ministry program for the Cathedral Parish. Kyle Holtgrave serves as the parish's Coordinator of Youth Ministry and helps the Guild in a variety of behind-the-scenes functions. Relying on directors and producers from a variety of backgrounds including Steve and Jane Schneider, Rob Lippert, Steve Zakrzewski, and Glen Saltamachia, Kyle continues to build on the summer musical tradition started by Deacon Bob.
The summer of 2006 features a return to a musical that Cathedral Players' Guild has already seen: GODSPELL. Under the theatrical direction of Drew Cowell, the Cathedral Players' Guild embarks on its latest adventure by producing the National Cast Tour version of this popular musical. According to Alex Lacamoire, the author of this particular arrangement, the National Cast Tour version has not been done on stage in this area.
There are many chapters yet to be written in the history of the Cathedral Players' Guild. With all of the talented actors, musicians, artists, and technicians, the Cathedral Players' Guild continues its tradition of bringing you quality community theatre productions. Won't you join us for a fun and rewarding adventure this summer and for many summers to come?