This is the third in a series of Q&A Interviews with representatives of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile the Elgin Theatre Guild in St. Thomas.
Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why?
The Elgin Theatre Guild was formed in 1967, thanks to community volunteers with a $500 loan arranged by founding member Noni McLean from her boss, the St. Thomas Times-Journal (Here’s a Link to a story about the Guild’s founding https://share.google/xl4fejULmWu1QDPqX )
Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre?
Not-for-profit community theatre.
Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions?
Princess Avenue Playhouse, 40 Princess Avenue, St. Thomas.
Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?
To produce quality live productions through community theatre and rentals of the theatre venue for concerts and other arts-related presentations.
Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid staff?
Elgin Theatre Guild is comprised of all volunteers, with an elected Board of Directors.
Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme?
The underlying theme is the Power of Friendship and Belief in one another.
Q. What show(s) will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Tell me a little bit about each.
Two classic stories about love, friendships, and miracles.
Steel Magnolias – Sept 18-28, 2025
By Robert Harling
The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, (“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years”); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny, and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.
Miracle on 34th Street, The Play – Dec 4-14, 2025
Adapted by Mountain Community Theater from the novel by Valentine Davies.
Based upon the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture Miracle on 34th Street.“This is a tale that we want to believe in, that creates a world we seem to desperately desire, free of the blatant commercialism that surrounds us, where love and decency and generosity of spirit are their own rewards. What we want Christmas to be all about, really.” So writes the Santa Cruz Sentinel of this most heartwarming holiday story. By chance, Kris Kringle, an old man in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s. Kris unleashes waves of goodwill with Macy’s customers and the commercial world of New York City by referring parents to other stores to find exactly the toy their child has asked for. Seen as deluded and dangerous by Macy’s vocational counselor, who plots to have Kris shanghaied to Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, Kris ends up in a court competency hearing. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa. In a dramatic decision, the court confirms Kris as the true Santa, allowing Susan and countless other children to experience the joy of childhood fantasy.
Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your place in it?
We are proud to be part of the rich community theatre network in our area and look forward to building relationships and continued support of our fellow organizations
For more information about the Elgin Theatre Guild and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.elgintheatreguild.ca/
The Beat Magazine 2025 