First United Methodist Church of Poplar Bluff has opened its doors to The Stage Company and created a new venue, the Method Playhouse.
“This new facility for us has just been a godsend. Everybody is just so thrilled with it,” said Stage Company director David Carroll.
The Stage Company separated from its longtime home, the Rodgers Theatre, after the theater board raised the group’s rent to fund renovations and reflect more closely what they charged other acts. The Stage Company simply did not bring in enough money to sustain that, Carroll said, and it left.
“When we voted to move out of the Rogers, it was a leap of faith,” he explained. “We had nothing to go to, we had nothing set up, we just knew we couldn’t afford the new rent.”
They performed their first show of the season at Poplar Bluff Municipal Library. Unfortunately, that building closed temporarily due to COVID-19 exposure, leaving the troupe without a venue for its musical fundraiser show “All Together Now.” That was when FUMC and The Stage Company were connected by mutual members and Carroll inquired about fellowship hall space.
It was perfect. The hall had a stage, plenty of room, handicap accessibility and lots of parking outside, and before long, a contract was drawn up and signed by both parties.
“It was a huge relief,” said The Stage Company board member Hilary Lawson.
FUMC holds several partnerships with community groups, according to preacher David Stewart.
“We are very open as a congregation to helping community groups, and we have lots of organizations that meet in our building, use our space. So it seemed like a very natural fit to help with a group that was in need like that, to be able to do that,” he said.
The Method Playhouse’s name emerged as a nod to a famous acting technique and the church’s denomination.
“We took kind of (a) play on words, on method acting, and of course the Methodist Church ... And the church seem very pleased with it,” noted Carroll.
Renting the space is mutually beneficial. The Stage Company is making renovations to the space, which FUMC can still use, and Stewart said the rent will go back into the space. The youth group plans to sell concessions to fund trips as well.
After performing “All Together Now” in the space, The Stage Company is currently expanding its stage space. The existing stage will hold background acting and scenery in future productions while the new extension brings action out to the audience. The group also is adding curtains and refurbishing antique pews for central seating, and plans to install its own production equipment.
Both sides are looking forward to their continued partnership. Stewart is happy to have someone using and maintaining the space, and The Stage Company is eager for stability and the chance to grow.
“I think if we can make another long-term partnership out of this with FUMC, having that stability will grow our membership, it’ll grow our audiences, it’ll grow our patrons and season ticket holders,” explained Lawson.
“We just want to make sure everyone knows that we have a new home and we will provide the same quality shows we’ve always done in the past. They’ll see a lot of new faces and old faces throughout the season,” said Carroll.
She also detailed ways the community can keep supporting The Stage Company during this transition.
“The biggest thing would be to keep attending our shows ...,” Lawson said. “If there are any business owners in town, buying an ad or sponsor a show is a help because that helps to give us the money we need to actually produce the shows.”
The rest of this season’s plays are:
The Good Doctor — 7:30 p.m. Jan 14-15, 21-22 and 3 p.m. Jan 23.
Jesus Christ Superstar — 7:30 p.m. Apr. 1-2, 8-9 and 3 p.m. Apr. 10.
A Few Good Men — 7:30 p.m. June 17-18, 24-25 and 3 p.m. June 26.
More information about The Stage Company and the Method Playhouse showtimes and donation opportunities is available at pbstageco.com and on The Stage Company Facebook page.
FUMC and the Method Playhouse are located at 500 N. Main Street. Its website is fumcpb.org.