Evening star., 1936-07-12
Syluan Theater Is Integral
Feature of School System
Work Has CrO,Un Under
5.Year Directorship of
Mrs. Peoples.
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

DER starry summer SKIES WIN
- the nearby Monument picked
out against the horizon line In
luminous glory by indiscernible search
lights, Is q d.votee of the Corimunity
Center's National Sylvan Theater
Summer festivals, I wonder If you
realize that you are participating In
an activity which is one Of the in
school system?
1t is also possible that II you are
q newcomer In our Capital City that
you are asking yourself, where is
the National Sylvan Theater and
what do you mean by Community
Center Summer festivals?"
The National Sylvan Theater, 10
Gated on the Monument Grounds, Is
the dream come true, Just 20 years
ago this Summer, of group Of civic
minded Washingtonians, inspired by
Mrs. Alice Barney. who enlisted the
cooperation of Col. William w. Harris.
then serving as director of the ONCE
of Public Buildings and Grounds.
Trained Army engineer that he is, to
envision was to make the vision an
actuality.
Scene Of Many Events.
How broad was this vision and how
great the achievement can only be
realized by remembering that the
National Sylvan Theater has since
been the scene not only of Summer
festivals. but Of May day pageants,
Flag day ceremonies. Memorial exer-
cises, out of door religious ceremonies
and Fourth of July celebrations.
Widely used by national organizations
as we'll as by local groups for wide
range of events of general public in
terest and betterment, the physical
setting OF its beauty in 1886 il prob
ably unparalleled by any other out-of-
door theater in the world. Today it is
under the jurisdiction of the National
Capital Parks once.
A modern. up-to-date lighting sys-
tenn not only enhances the beauty of
its setting, but its usefulness for all
types of presentations.
A thick planting Of forsythia and
other types of Towering shrubbery
transplanted from the Tidal Basin
screens either side Of the theater's
wings" and is just one more ex-
emplification in Washington of the
fact that a useful thing can also be
Joy forever.
Example OF Cooperation.
There is perhaps nowhere finer
example of harmonious cooperation
for the publics benefit than is evi-
denceo in the Summer festivals which
are given by the Community Center
Department Of the Washington public
schools in the National Sylvan Theater.
In addition to the National Capital
Parks office, the Park Police and the
Boy Scout organizations are also
splendid cooperating agencies in ham
ding the crowds who. from June Is
through September /. testify by their
| attendance, literally hundreds of thou
sands strong, that the shows are
good ones.
That they meet an ever-increasine
public need which has become ar
artistic delight as we'll is evidenced
BY the 100 per cent increase in at
tendance from 10000 persons five
years ago to 1900 900 last season.
In the truest sense are the Com
munity Center Departments Summer
| festivals q community undertaking
The Army and Navy Service Bands
the Wentworth Opera Group, the
Bekefi- -Delaporte dancers, the Tempo
Choral Society, the Washington Play
ers, the Blackfriars Guild, the Arts
| Club and the Theater Group from the
United States Bureau of Investigation
with their pooling of efforts and ideas,
are among the participating organiza-
tions representing many minds mott
waiting in teamwork of the finest and
most helpful kind for the general good
as well as for that satisfaction which
comes from doing the thing that one
likes to do for the fun of doing II
and for the pleasure OF others.
Develop Amateur Talent.
In addition, these Summer festi-
vals are Of service In developing hne
amateur talent to the point where II
many times graduates into the pro-
tessional class, although they by nc
means depend upon amateur talent
alone. but are very Skillful In utilizing
the best professional talent available
| Set up upon an absolutely non
profit making basis. the general ad-
mission price of IS cents for each
festival is placed at a figure that
will enable the Community Center
| department Ito break even" after
such expenses as printing. amplifi-
cation and the rental Of costumes
and chairs are met.
All performances are scheduled for
sp.m. For the benefit chiefly Of the
aged and infirm and such other per-
sons as are unable because Of long
working hours to arrive sufficiently
early to secure a seat, few. very
few, reserved seats are available at
so cents each.
sometimes" the director of the
Community Center department will
tell you, 1.-The balances after Sum-
mer's season are as close to the
margin as $40, but we always some
how miraculously balance the budget
I by carefully looking to all expendi-
lures to see that they are necessary
ones for the good Of the whole rather
than tendencies to indulge our en-
thusiasm and incentives"
! Add to Enjoyment Of Many.
In addition to those who pay the
small fee which IS required for the
privilege Of chair. these Summer
festivals add to the enjoyment Of the
many thousands who enjoy the pro-
ductions from without the roped-in
inclosure. Whole families are rep.
resented IN this group from aged
grandsares and grandmothers to small
toddlers who finally 60 to sleep in
their elders arms during the course
Of the programs.
Delightful and worthwhile, too. as
are these Summer festivals, they are
but one feature of the work Of the
Community Center Department. Fos-
tered by the late DIR. Stephen Elliot
1 s-~A