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.
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.
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.