Civic Pride
Ginger Rogers came to Civic to star in a January 1983 musical.
The “New Civic,” then located at 1847 North Alabama Street, where Footlite Musicals now resides, was written up in an undated Indianapolis Star story.
Indiana-born composer Cole Porter sent his “heartiest greetings” in this undated telegram from New York.
In a telegram sent from Beverly Hills, silent-film star Mary Pickford remarked that “it is to be hoped every city in our great country will follow your example” in developing a strong community theater.
In true the-show-must-go-on fashion, a production of Sweet Charity (featuring Holly Stults Haas, pictured here) opened just three days after 9/11. At curtain call, the audience joined the cast in singing a rendition of “God Bless America.”
A subscription card for Civic’s very first season, in 1915.
H.M.S. Pinafore was part of Civic’s 1944–1945 season.
Broadway star extraordinaire Carol Channing said she “wouldn’t think of not doing” the song “Hello, Dolly” at a Civic benefit, according to this undated news clipping.
Kathy Jordan and Bill Myers starred in 1986’s Guys ‘n’ Dolls, one of several “ventures in black theater the Civic has undertaken,” said the Indianapolis Star.
This article appeared in The Ticket, a 2015 special publication.
