HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 51
(By Delegates Campbell and Canterbury)
Declaring Greenbrier Valley Theatre as the official State
year-round professional theater of West Virginia.
Whereas,
West Virginia does not have an official State
professional theater; and
Whereas,
Greenbrier Valley Theatre was incorporated as
"Greenbrier Repertory Theatre" in 1967
; and
Whereas,
For the initial three years of operation, Greenbrier
Repertory Theatre productions were performed in a tent alongside
the Greenbrier River
; and
Whereas,
The theater name was changed from Greenbrier Repertory
Theatre, Inc. to "Greenbrier Valley Theatre" in 1974;
and
Whereas, In 2000 the theater was relocated to the renovated
downtown Lewisburg Leggett's Department Store, which was converted
into a state-of-the-art Black Box Theatre which included
multi-purpose space for the local community;
and
Whereas, The theater has operated since incorporation as a
summer theater, and began operating as a year-round theater upon
relocation in 2000; and
Whereas, Greenbrier Valley Theatre presents a mixture of contemporary, classical, musical and original plays and
performances; and
Whereas, The theater is involved in all aspects of the arts and
humanities; and
Whereas, Greenbrier Valley Theatre offers summer programs for
children and an after school program for children during the school
year; and
Whereas, The theater has established a production partnership
with Greenbrier East High School; and
Whereas, Greenbrier Valley Theatre is an official partner of
the Greenbrier County Board of Education; and
Whereas, The theater offers preprofessional intern and
apprentice programs for high school and college students; and
Whereas, Greenbrier Valley Theatre maintains a partnership with
the West Virginia University Department of Theatre to provide
programs in the public schools; and
Whereas, The theater is a member of the Theater Communications
Group, which is the National Theater Network; and
Whereas, Greenbrier Valley Theatre is the state's only
year-round Equity
Theater, which is the national theater union; and
Whereas,
Greenbrier Valley Theatre offers a variety of classes,
literary readings, special events performances, art appreciation
activities, lectures, discussions and workshops; and
Whereas,
Since the Greenbrier Valley Theatre began operating year-round, it has received two National Endowment for the Arts
grants; and
Whereas, The National Endowment for the Arts grants were Direct
Creativity
Grants, which were awarded on the basis of newly
commissioned and produced plays, both of which were historically
significant to West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Greenbrier Valley Theatre is a treasured cultural
institution for the citizens of Greenbrier county, which has a
historic presence in Lewisburg and provides many valuable
programs
to the community; and
Whereas, For nearly forty years Greenbrier Valley Theatre has
enjoyed the support of a loyal community whose nurturing has
developed a vigorous, professional organization with a vision to
become as a significant regional performing theater; and
Whereas,
The State of West Virginia has yet to designate a
State professional theater; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That
Greenbrier Valley Theatre is hereby designated and
declared the official State year-round professional theater of West
Virginia
; and, be it
Further Resolved,
That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor.