Chapin Community Theatre Brings 'Beauty and the Beast' to Life in Harbison

By Natalie Szrajer
Posted 7/27/22

Chapin Community Theatre has teamed up once again with the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College for its annual summer production. This year, the company is doing “Beauty and the Beast” for two weeks.

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Chapin Community Theatre Brings 'Beauty and the Beast' to Life in Harbison

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The partnership continues.

Chapin Community Theatre has teamed up once again with the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College for its annual summer production. This year, the company is doing “Beauty and the Beast” for two weeks.

The local theater company has led a nomadic lifestyle for some time, which is one reason it started performances at Harbison Theatre, Artistic Director Tiffany Dinsmore said.

She explained the two organizations acted together years ago when the company was looking for somewhere to host their shows.

The company has been in several buildings in and around the Chapin area showcasing performances, so the Harbison Theatre in nearby Irmo was a good match. It also allowed people to not have to travel to Chapin, which can be a bit of a drive for some people, Dinsmore said.

Currently, the company only performs its summer show at the Harbison Theatre, doing its other shows at the Firehouse Theater in Chapin, owned by American Legion Post 193.

“Harbison Theatre has been wonderful to work with,” Dinsmore said. “We work well together.”

The partnership has allowed them to branch out some, although Dinsmore explained there are still many people who don’t even know about the Harbison Theatre, let alone the Chapin Community Theatre company.

She said her organization has purchased a permanent building in Chapin, which will become its theater home and house its equipment. The company is in the process of raising money for renovations so it can end its nomadic existence.

The company plans to turn the building “into a black box theater,” Dinsmore said.

“It will also have a green room and classroom,” she added. “There’s a building for storage and a large detached garage to build sets.”

Although the Chapin Community Theatre has wandered from home to home, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t had too much of an impact. Dinsmore said the main change is if someone isn’t feeling well, the company has to find a replacement or backup. The group also learned to rehearse differently — people wear masks and they are diligent about spacing themselves out.

The company is in its 44th year and puts on three seasonal shows plus the bigger summer show at Harbison. This year’s summer production, “Beauty and the Beast,” is the full Broadway musical. Dinsmore said all the music, script and characters will be very familiar for spectators.

The cast consists of experienced talent and fresh faces, the artistic director reported, and there are a couple of families in this production. The cast consists of 38 adults and a rotation of 13 kids.

Many of the company’s shows have been established titles like “Beauty and the Beast.” It has also put on productions of Agatha Christie mysteries and “Clue.”

“We also like off-the-beaten-path shows and encourage people to send in their writing,” Dinsmore said.

One way for people to show off their playwright skills comes in November, when the theater hosts its Playwright Festival. People anonymously submit writings and then have a chance to have their play rated and brought to life on stage.

“We like to push the box a little but not too much,” Dinsmore said. “We try to have different shows including comedy, murder mystery and just a variety.”

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