Evening star., 1936-06-21
Sylvan Theater Beauty
Source of Great Pride
est Outdoor Stage Center With Increased
Local and National Interest.

Grounds as an outdoor theater for
the Nation at large.
Mrs. Christian Hemick was not on
leader in the movement, but wro'o
and presented the dedicatory pageant,
The Story Of Drama"
To Community Center workers.
whose Summer prayer is Give us thl
day dry weather for the Sylvan per
formance," it is Of ominous interest to
note that the dedication, having been
set for Friday night, June !, had, nev-
ertheless. to be postponed to the eve
ming Of Saturday, June 2, because O:
sudden rain, which routed both play
ers and audience"
THE Sylvan Theater was built with
funds appropriated by Congress
for the maintenance and improve
ment OF the Monument Grounds, and
it may interest those who 60 often to
the presentations to know that the
enormous amount of filling material
necessary to construct the stage, which
is feet above grad2, 80 feet wide and
80 feet deep. with two wings each 80
feet wide. was hauled free of cost TO
the United States Government. Three
flights of steps in the rear, largely for
the use Of the actors. and one flight
on each side of the fore-stage make
the stage accessible to participants and
public alike At the time 1t was built.
special electric cable was laid. to pro-
vide for a series of protector lamps
which, when placed on platforms, fur
nished light for the performances. The
wings" we're screened with a heavy
planting Of forsythia and other
shrubbery, transplanted from the
shores of the Tidal Basin.
In 1918 the theater was wired for
electric lights. and was further i'm
proved in 1880 with a new lighting
| system. with flood. foot. spot. hand
and audience lights greatly enhancing
its beauty and its practical use for
public presentations.
Many national organizations, as well
as many local agencies and groups,
/ have from time to time made excellent
use of the Sylvan Theater and its
natural facilities for ceremonies, cele
brations and public meetings. For
several years it was used for the an
nual Fourth of July ceremonies, con-
Quoted by the citizens of the District
of Columbia, in cooperation with the
Community Center Department; at
other times 1t has been the scene Of
May day pageants, Flag day cere-
monies memorial exercises and wide
variety Of events of general public
interest and Importance.
In 1929. 1880 and 1881. respectively,
the Community Center Department. in
cooperation with the ONCE Of Public
Buildings and Public Parks, presented
the Community Drama Guild in "Sher-
wood" The Tempest" and The Pied
Piper" to large audiences on the Monu
ment hillSideS in the early Summer.
During the five Summers following
these pioneer offerings the program has
expanded and met with increasing
acclaim.
The initial Summer festival of the
present year, held last Tuesday night,
with the Estelle Wentworth Opera
Group in Gilbert and Sullivan's "The
Gondoliers," set new high" both in
the standard Of production and the en-
thusiastic reception and interest Of the
public. Tuesday night Of the present
week the Blackfriars' Guild will offer
"Smilin' Thru"
The Community Center Department
could not keep in condition the sod.
shrubbery and trees which are the Syl-
van Theater. The park office would
find it difficult to book the attractions
which are the Summer festivals. Nei-
ther office could produce the varied
talent which entertains $4,000 or more
each Summer, but the city is filled
with amateur artists who welcome the
opportunity to appear on such stage
before such an audience. Here, then,
La coordination. And by means Of 1t
is achieved the greatest good to the
| greatest number.