About

Chillicothe Players Theatre began with summer productions at IVC High School inspired by director Bob Howell, whose passion for performance shaped both the youth theatre and community theatre.

CPT offers four shows each year. Our youth summer musical still remains at IVC High School, and the three other shows are currently held at the historic Shore Acres Clubhouse.

Auditions are typically held about 10 weeks before opening night, followed by 8 weeks of rehearsals where cast and crew bring the story to life. Costumes are sewn by hand or borrowed from closets around town. Sets are built by retired carpenters, enthusiastic teenagers, and anyone handy with a paintbrush.

Opening night is a mix of butterflies and bravado. The audience fills with proud families wielding flowers, phones ready for photos, and siblings holding “Break a Leg!” posters. When the lights come up, the performers shine with a kind of fearless enthusiasm that only community theatre can produce.

Each performance becomes more than a show—it’s a memory factory. Friendships form, confidence grows, and long after the final curtain call, the cast keeps humming the songs and telling stories about “that one time during rehearsal…” It’s the kind of experience that shapes a lifetime love of theatre.

After the final curtain call, our theatre “family” works together to strike the set, share a few goodbyes, and take a well-earned rest—before starting the magic all over again.