The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-22

Drama institute conducted there by Percy J. Burrell. They made such a hit with their productions that they were asked by the Near East relief committee to repeat them for it's benefit.
 Denver Col, Is one of the foremost In amateur dramatic activities. Some Of the towns most interested in or ganizing for drama are Shreveport. New Iberia and Alexandria in Lou lsiana, Houston and Corsicana in TeXas, Portsmouth in Ohio ana Bir- mingham In Alabama.
 A trained director Is the greatest essential to success. ITO build up permanent dramatic organization and give worth while productions without director and without definite courses of study and experiment work Is scarcely possible for any group" says one who has put mucn thought and work on amateur pro auctions.
 sire for the permanency of commit nlty drama, thorough organization Is necessary.
 LocnI Work.
 Birmingham Little Theatre has been organized for several weeks now, and over half the 400, to which
 
 ready been secured.
 The organization has the follow ing officers and board members: Mrs. Vassar Allen, president: Mrs. H. U. Sims, fiTst vice president; Mrs ". D. Smith, second vice president; Prof. Allen G. Loehr, third vice president; Miss Letitia McNeel, secretary; Mrs. A. c. Sexton treasurer: Mrs. W. M. Allen, Mrs Frank Clark. Mrs. W. S. Lowell. Mrs. Alex London, Mrs. John London. Miss Lila May Chapman. Mrs. ". J. Yielding. Mrs. Murray Brown Mrs. R. c. Woodson. Mrs. Dora Fell, Mrs. Louis Saks, Mrs. Rob ert Thach, Mrs Leonard T. Beecher, Mrs. George Clark. Mrs. Earl Dren- nen. Mrs. Samuel Earle.
 Committees to look after the stage management. the publicity the cos tuning, the selection of plays and the casting are already at work
 MT. Louis Schillinger. assisted by capable committee, Is at work on the scenery. Mrs. W. s. Lowell works, eats and sleeps with "costuming" on her mind. MT. Allen G. Loehr and his committee are devouring plays every spare minute. and Mrs. Robert Thach, with her assisting committee, has an eye on everybody she passes, trying to spot likely prospects for certain parts.
  the head of Blrmingham's Little Theatre movement. who knows but that, in time, 1t will become nation ally known, as the Outdoor Players organization has7
 Conference A Yearly Event.
 From the original idea of the Out door Players, to combine the educa- tional value of the dramatic arts with the recreation and enjoyment of the great outdoors. has resulted the the Drama Conference and Festival held every summer under It's aus pices at Peterborough, N. H. There, this student group, limited 10 60 members, has established camp in the midst of the 40 acres of hlIiS' vales and woodland 1t has acquired
 Each summer camp brings 10 Peterborough 30 or 40 young people who receive expert training In the arts of drama, pantomime, the dahce and design as aplied to the drama RaSesrsa1s and public performances are given in an open air thea.Ie, picturesquely situated in the pine woods beside a beautiful brook. Fro grams of plays and dances each summer for several years past nave been presented In the Peterboroush town hall with great effectiVeness' During the drama conference work shop group" from one of the universities gives a special perform ance at the camp.
 o O O
 Natlonal Celebrities There.
 Men and women whose creative CT forts in the field of community drama have attained national celebrity, take mart in this summer conference TO nuote one of the enthusiastic youns students of the group: T wish you could see some of our plays. Last week we put on The Slave Wlth TWO Fores' and The Gods of the Noun, ,ain.' They were beautifully done,
 The colony of the Outdoor PIayers adiolns the famous McDoWell camp on one side and the Mary Arden on tre other. A number of pig peoPIc attend their performances and every effort is made to put on professional finishinC touches. The camp IS un- der thn direction of Oliver HinsdeiI' former director of Le Petit Theatre Tn New Orleans, but who will go soon fo Dallas. Tex, to direct the Little Theatre of that city.
 There Is popular superstition tL tnaI the spirit of Mcdowell Wanuers oNe,t the mountains around Peterooroush At dusk, breathing out inspiration to all the struggling artists.
 Through the word of those Tn att tendance, and through published re- ports. the conference expects 10 III fluence the thinking and planning or earnest workers in dramatic art Ill
 .s... vort of North America,