The 1960’s

Dr. and Mrs. John Lawrence, along with Mr. and Mrs. “Red” Argubright, co-owned the old Arrow Rock Baptist church, left vacant when congregations consolidated, due to a declining population in the village. The Lawrences and the Argubrights offered to make the empty building available to house a theatre.

Mr. Henry Swanson, a professor at Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, now Columbia College, was engaged as Artistic Director, who proposed the Lyceum’s first budget: $3,500. The first season consisted of three nineteenth century plays, opening with The Importance of Being Earnest.

Mr. Swanson wrote: “If you visit Arrow Rock today you will find a quaint, serene village with virtually every building restored; rest rooms, running water, and an expanded Lyceum with functional air-conditioning and rest rooms. Not so in 1961. Living conditions were terrible, half the town was in shanty-town shape, our water came from the Santa-Fe spring (now condemned) in gallon jugs with bugs swimming in the water. Kansas City Power and Light had to re-wire the town from the highway just to get 100 ampere service to the theatre. It was hard, desperate work but still we opened on schedule with twenty-six dollars and change remaining from the initial capitalization.”

In 1967 a building fund committee was formed to raise money for a much needed expansion that would consolidate the scene shop and costume shop (then located two blocks from the theatre), increase the size and comfort of the theatre for the audience, and expand and better equip the stage (then only 9 feet by 20 feet). The cost would be $45,000. Ground was broken in spring of 1969. The new expansion opened on July 3rd of that year.

The 1970’s

By 1970 the Lyceum’s season included six productions all performed in repertory. Though the Lyceum toured on their off nights during the 60’s, the 1970’s saw the creation of a separate company who toured through neighboring communities while the Lyceum’s summer season was in operation.

1972 the Henry Swanson Hall (later known as the Lyceum Dorm) was built to house the 20-25 seasonal company members. The rustic style dormitory included twelve air-conditioned double rooms and a basement that provided both storage and a rehearsal hall. The dormitory cost $40,000 to construct.

During this time, the Missouri State Council on the Arts began funding the Lyceum and in 1977 the Lyceum was chosen as a project theatre by the Foundation for the Expansion and Development of American Professional Theater, to provide consulting services throughout the year.

The end of the 1970’s where also the end of an era at the Lyceum. In 1979, Henry Swanson retired from the Theatre and the board of directors began searching for a new Artistic Director to lead the theatre into the next decade.

The 1980’s

A young man named Michael Bollinger was hired by the Lyceum where he served as Artistic Director for 25 years. During Mr. Bollinger’s tenure, he expanded the Lyceum’s reach by introducing 20th century musicals to the repertoire. In 1984 he produced a new musical about President Harry Truman called The Buck Stops Here, which was later performed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.. Mr. Bollinger also produced a winter radio show on Columbia radio station KBIA, he formed the Mid-America Acting Company to develop local actors, and instituted a national playwriting competition to encourage the development of new American plays.

In 1983, the Lyceum became the first theatre in Missouri to receive an award from the Missouri Arts Council.

1989 a young man named Philip Coffield was hired and began a twenty year career as the Lyceum’s Associate Artistic Director.

The 1990’s

The efforts of Mr. Bollinger were rewarded with rapidly increasing attendance. The interest in the Lyceum was so great that it was becoming evident that the walls must expand to accommodate the growing audience–200 seats just weren’t enough. After many revisions and concessions made to ensure that the new building preserved the quaintness of the converted 19th century Baptist church, construction began on the new Lyceum, a nearly million dollar project. With the help of state income tax credits granted under the Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program and generous supporters, the new improved Lyceum re-opened in 1993 with Lerner and Lowe’s musical, Brigadoon. The old Baptist church structure became a spacious lobby and a surprisingly inconspicuous addition contained a much larger stage, seating for 408, expanded dressing rooms and a much larger costume shop. A new scenic studio was also constructed to allow ample room to build the elaborate sets that the new facility would require. The scenic studio was expanded again in 1995 to provide even more space for both construction and storage.

In 1994, Mr. Bollinger himself was given an award by the MAC, as theatre attendance continued to climb. By the late 90’s, Lyceum seasons often included as many as nine productions a year.

The 2000’s

The new millennium saw many changes at the Lyceum.

In 2004 the Lyceum dormitory was burned beyond repair. Thanks to the generosity of the Arrow Rock Community, The Company was housed in local bed and breakfasts, rental houses, and private homes for the next three seasons while plans were finalized for a more permanent solution.

Mr. Bollinger, after 25 years in Arrow Rock, resigned his position in 2004. Mr. Philip Coffield, a Lyceum veteran actor, director, and Associate Artistic Director was named Artistic Director. But before the 2005 season began, Mr. Coffield had to resign for health reasons. Fortunately, Quin Gresham, his assistant, and another Lyceum veteran, became Artistic Director and went on to produce a stellar season in 2005. Sadly, Mr. Coffield passed away in early 2006, a loss felt deeply not just at the Lyceum, but all over the country.

After the 2005 season, the decision was made to no longer run a portion of the summer season in repertory. As predicted the physical productions as well as the casting of the individual productions were greatly improved.

Mr. Gresham, with the board of directors’ blessing reconfigured the organizational structure of the Lyceum to include both an Artistic Director and a Managing Director. In 2006, the Lyceum hired St. Louisian, Steve Bertani as the theatre’s first Managing Director, ushering in a new era of increased fiscal responsibility and operational care.

In 2007, Mr. Bertani negotiated to bring the first-ever national touring company to the Lyceum and in March audiences delighted in seeing Menopause the Musical in Arrow Rock.

Also in 2007, Gresham, Bertani and the Board, were pleased to announce the opening of the new Lyceum housing facility, a 24-room complex that would allow for both more employees and more comfort for those employees. A generous allotment of Neighborhood Assistance Program credits and lot of hard work made the nearly $800,000 project possible.

The 2010’s

2010 marked the celebration of The Lyceum’s 50th season. The Lyceum’s 50th Season was packed with large-scale productions as well as a celebratory parade and an unprecedented reunion of many beloved Lyceum company members and employees. Beginning in 2013, The Lyceum began hiring a live orchestra, greatly strengthening the musicals. In 2014, thanks to the support of LammTech, The Lyceum embarked on a new venture: an annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Attendance continued its climb to a record year of over 33,000 in 2017. From 2006 to 2020 Bertani and Gresham strengthened the theatre’s financial position and national reputation. Bertani and Gresham expanded the theatre’s staff by adding a full-time Director of Development and a Director of Production. Always with a mind toward fiscal responsibility, it is important to note that all those capital projects were started only after the funds were secured. The Lyceum is considered one of Missouri’s oldest professional regional theatres, and in 2019, was the first theatre in the state to receive the “Missouri Historical Theatre” designation from the Missouri Legislature. 

The 2020’s

The proud tradition of providing professional theatre in the heart of Missouri continues today, entertaining 33,000 visitors hailing from all over the state. Each year the Lyceum assembles an astonishing array of talent from all over the country to produce exciting productions specifically chosen with our audience in mind. We hope that you think of the Lyceum as “your” theatre and we are always eager to hear from our audience members as we continue to grow toward our 60th Anniversary.