In 1926 the ?Little Theatre? comes to Greenville in the form of the Greenville Artists’ Guild. Seventy-five devoted men and women work together in an effort to “develop the art, culture and drama which for so long has lain dormant among Greenville folks.” Two short years later, this dedicated band has increased to one hundred in number and is renamed the “Community Little Theatre” and later, the “Greenville Little Theatre.” It presents one to four plays in any available auditorium boasting a stage. Directors are amateur volunteers.

In 1936, Furman University drama professors Harold Baker Shaw and Arthur Coe Gray assume the roles of Artistic Directors. Plays are now presented in the Fine Arts Auditorium of the Women’s College, then located on GLT’s present site on Heritage Green.

The show goes on until 1941 when the United States’ entry into world conflict ends all activities and brings down the curtain.
Allen McCalla is appointed Artistic Director in 1993. Allen brings considerable professional experience to the position, having performed and/or directed in eight different states and worked with some of America?s top theatre professionals in some of the most prestigious regional theatres in the country. His equally talented wife, Suzanne, also joins the team as Producing Director, overseeing all production elements and designing most of the scenery and the costumes. The McCallas immediately bring professional quality back to the theatre; at the same time they reaffirm the mission of the theatre by showcasing the talented performers of the Upstate, and producing popular plays and musicals. In May of 1994, the theatre holds a gala and changes the name back to ?Greenville Little Theatre.? With fifteen years of hit productions such as Fiddler on the Roof, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ain?t Misbehavin?, Hello Dolly, Lend Me a Tenor, Joseph?, Guys and Dolls, A Christmas Carol, and Steel Magnolias the theatre is definitely back on track. Classes are offered for theatre students of all ages, GLT On Tour has performed for more than 50,000 schoolchildren in elementary schools across the Upstate, and the STUDIO 444 series offers offbeat material while grooming the actors and directors of tomorrow.

Subscriptions and audience attendance are up, and so is, once again, the spirit of the Greenville Little Theatre.Greenville Little Theatre Web site click here