Worcester's Oldest Active
Theater Company
Since 1937
History
In June of 1937, a group of six enthusiastic people met to discuss the possibility of forming a club to perform the operettas of Gilbert & Sullivan. By September, these six had doubled, and by the end of October 1937, had grown to 100 interested thespians. These 100 passionate devotees to the stage organized themselves that autumn and founded the Worcester County Light Opera Club. Mr. Leslie Moore, who was then the chief editorial writer for the Evening Gazette, was the first elected president. In 1937, WCLOC initially got its feet wet with a modest production of The Pirates of Penzance. However, it was on February 3rd, 1938, at Tuckerman Hall that the first major production of WCLOC premiered. The production was the joint presentation of Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore, and it played to packed houses over two nights. In 1939, after its second triumphant year of Gilbert and Sullivan productions, WCLOC received state approval for incorporation.
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After many years of utilizing various performance venues throughout the city, it was in 1948 that WCLOC acquired its permanent home at 21 Grandview Avenue, Worcester. This acquisition has been a major contributor to WCLOC’s longevity. The “Clubhouse” not only continues to serve as an intimate and flexible “black box” theatre to hold its 3 in-house productions, but it also boasts residence to WCLOC’s auditions, rehearsals, workshops, and meetings, not to mention scene shop & storage facility where WCLOC’s stunning scenery, props, and costumes are created and housed.
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Due to the diminishing appeal for light opera in the mid 1950’s, and the growing popularity of the musical theater genre, WCLOC adapted to the ever-changing times by producing its first “Broadway-Style” musical in 1956. The production was No No Nanette, and due to its overwhelming success, WCLOC decided to shift its focus from light opera to its rapidly transforming next of kin, musical theater. As a medium to discover and nurture promising local talent, theatrical workshops for the adult population were held at the “Clubhouse” in the late 1950’s and continued through the 1960’s. Well received, these workshops were expanded to include children in the early 1970’s, and have been proven to be one of WCLOC’s most successful endeavors. Scholarships to gifted students (as stipulated in the original by-laws) continue to be awarded annually.
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In addition to the summer musical theater workshops for children, WCLOC also has four in-house productions at the “Clubhouse”, WCLOC rounds out the annual theatrical season by producing a “Broadway-Style” musical.
From comedy to tragedy, classical to contemporary, musical to non-musical, WCLOC produces a wide array of theatrical works today. WCLOC has also been privileged to produce new plays written by local playwrights, giving talented Worcester County residents the opportunity of having their local works produced, showcased, and critiqued. Although the Worcester County Light Opera Club has exceeded the boundaries of its light opera roots, it continues to produce dramatic and musical works of only the highest caliber, while maintaining the impressive legacy of discovering and developing the brightest talent in the collaborative art of theater.
Presidents
Current
Lenny McGuire (2019–present)
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2000 to 2019
2017–2019 Mr. Eric Butler
2014–2017 Mrs. Jo Ann Savage
2013–2014 Mr. Mark Goodney
2011–2013 Ms. Lisa Mielnicki
2009–2011 Mr. Ed Savage
2007–2009 Mr. Michael Celularo
2005–2007 Mrs. Linda Johnson
2003–2005 Mr. Michael Celularo
2001–2003 Dr. Michael S. Casey
2000–2001 Mrs. Pat Lapomardo
1990 to 1999
1997–1999 Mrs. Harriett Katz
1995–1997 Mr. Vic Kruczynski
1993–1995 Mrs. Pat Lapomardo
1991–1993 Mrs. Barbara Weihrauch
1980 to 1989
1989–1991 Mr. Michael Lapomardo, Jr.
1987–1989 Mr. Ed Savage
1985–1987 Mr. Michael Lapomardo, Jr.
1983–1985 Mrs. Barbara Weihrauch
1981–1983 Ms. Jane Grady
1970 to 1979
1979–1981 Mr. Ed Savage
1976–1979 Mr. John Riley
1974–1976 Mr. Dennis Metro
1972–1974 Ms. Beverly A. Brooks
1970–1972 Mr. Jack Feldheimer
1960 to 1969
1968–1970 Mr. Harold E. Simmons
1966–1968 Mr. Ramond Hagglund
1965–1966 Mr. William Sigalis
1963–1965 Mr. Russell Dupre
1963–1963 Mr. Robert Briggs
1962–1963 Mr. George Shamgochlan
1961–1962 Mr. William Butler
1950 to 1959
1959–1961 Mr. Demetre Steffon
1958–1959 Mr. Vincent Defeudis
1957–1958 Mr. Charles Phelps
1956–1957 Mr. Harold Simmons
1955–1956 Mr. Richard Schramm
1954–1955 Mr. Arthur Chase
1953–1954 Mr. Oris Phelps
1952–1953 Mr. C. Russell Johnson
1951–1952 Mr. Carl Steelman
1950–1951 Mr. George Shamgochian
1940 to 1949
1949–1950 Mr. Simon Sherr
1948–1949 Mrs. Erna O. Birchall
1948–1948 Mr. Donald L. MacRoberts
1947–1948 Mr. Alfred A. Companion
1947–1947 Mrs. Lena Wolcott
1947–1947 Mr. Myles R. McAleer
1946–1947 Mr. W. Earle Lingner
1945–1946 Mr. Robert Keith
1944–1945 Mrs. Erna O. Birchall
1943–1944 Mrs. Elizabeth Cody
1942–1943 Mr. Edmunc Q. Abbot
1941–1942 Mr. John F. Kyes
1940–1941 Mr. Franklin Feeney
1937 to 1939
1937–1940 Mr. Leslie Moore