Our History
A Stage Without Curtains
What began in an old church sanctuary grew into more than four decades of productions, performers, volunteers, audiences, and unforgettable moments. This is the story of Stained Glass Playhouse.
“Creativity is a very important thread in the history of the Stained Glass Playhouse.”
Replace with a strong early SGP or sanctuary photograph.
From Sanctuary to Stage
The Stained Glass Playhouse occupies the old sanctuary of Marvin United Methodist Church, a space that had ceased serving as the church’s primary worship space in 1960. In the early 1980s, a core group of six began renovating it into a home for performance.
Old sanctuary, Marvin United Methodist Church, or early renovation.
The theatrical roots reached back to youth-group Easter and Christmas productions. Sets had to be constructed and removed on the same day so the sanctuary could continue serving other purposes. Those limitations inspired the group to make the old sanctuary a more permanent space for seasonal productions and concerts by Resurrection Joy.
The founders did nearly everything themselves: building sets, running lights, writing, directing, singing, acting, and handling the unseen backstage work. That mix of creativity and resourcefulness became part of the Playhouse’s identity.
A Stage Without Curtains
The stage was never limited by where curtains might hang. Its shape could change with every story—and creativity could run rampant.
1981–1990 — The Beginning
The developing performance space was dedicated in 1981. Three concerts, a Christmas production, and the Easter drama OUTLAW followed.
Dedication
The Stained Glass Playhouse was dedicated, establishing the former sanctuary as a developing performance space.
Sand to Stone
The first major production celebrated the church’s 100th anniversary. Written by Douglas Poorman, with a set by Paula Webster, it followed Simon Peter’s faith journey from sand to stone.
A Stage That Could Become Anything
For SAND TO STONE, the adaptable stage became a seaside, a garden, and an Upper Room. One memorable effect even allowed Peter to appear to walk on water—for a few seconds. It was an early, vivid expression of the “Stage Without Curtains” idea.
The decade closed with two more Christmas productions and another Easter drama, marking the tenth production.
SAND TO STONE set, cast, or early seasonal production.
Arch the Angel
ARCH THE ANGEL became the first SGP production to receive notice in the Winston-Salem Journal. It also marked Alvin Tyndall’s directing debut. In a church with fewer than fifty active members, the creative team already included a director, scene designer, writer, and costume mistress. The stage was set.
1991–1996 — A Playhouse Takes Shape
The next phase broadened the Playhouse’s range: youth musicals, reader’s theatre, dinner theatre, original work, fantasy, drama, and ambitious staging experiments.
A Burst of Variety
FRIENDS FOREVER and THE BIG PICTURE brought youth musicals to the stage. THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM became the first dinner-theatre presentation, alongside ROADS, CAMP W, and Douglas Poorman’s original JUST DESSERTS.
Summer Becomes Possible
Air conditioning was installed just two days before an opening. That practical milestone made summer productions possible—and summer audiences soon became some of SGP’s strongest.
More Stories, More Partners
Productions included TWO FACES IN THE SHADOWS, DAVE, FROM THE MOUNT, ETERNITY’S ALMOST FINAL EXAM, THE RIDE, LAUGHALOT, and DRAGON TALES. Bishop McGuinness High School and Theatre Alliance also began using the space.
After the Laughter
The usual stage disappeared. AFTER THE LAUGHTER unfolded beneath a circus tent, with the audience seated on raised platforms in front of the center ring.
1995 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF newspaper image or roof photograph.
Fiddler on the Roof
The town of Anatevka rose inside the Playhouse. After newspaper coverage—including a photograph of SGP’s fiddler on the roof—the final weekends sold out.
Godspell
Two local television stations brought cameras into the Playhouse. Staged in the round, the production cast Jesus as teacher to a class of preschool disciples and achieved sold-out performances.
1997 — Stained Glass Playhouse Incorporates
After the spring production of RUN TO CATCH A PINE CONE—which brought the show’s South Dakota author into the orchestra on flute and marked SGP’s first use of a woodwind orchestra—Stained Glass Playhouse incorporated as a nonprofit entity on June 1, 1997.
1997–2003 — The Four-Show Era
The 1997–1998 season established a regular four-production rhythm. Musicals, intimate two-person plays, historical drama, mystery, dinner theatre, and revivals made each year distinct.
1997–1998
MAN OF LaMANCHA · DRACULA, BABY · TUG OF THE HEARTSTRINGS · DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE
Eliza Webster directed her first SGP production with TUG OF THE HEARTSTRINGS.
1998–1999
THE SOUND OF MUSIC · LOOK AWAY · DEATH, MOST PECULIAR? · PAP’S PLACE
Regular dinner-theatre presentations began during this season.
1999–2000
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT · DRIVING MISS DAISY · I HATE HAMLET · CAMP W
DRIVING MISS DAISY received standing ovations after every performance.
2000–2001
CAMELOT · MOUSETRAP · FOXFIRE · JUST DESSERTS
FOXFIRE became one of the best-attended shows in SGP history; JUST DESSERTS returned with three original cast members.
2001–2002
HELLO DOLLY · A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS · A RAISIN IN THE SUN · GOD’S FAVORITE
GOD’S FAVORITE was the first SGP show to use a scrim.
2002–2003
SOUTH PACIFIC · DEATH OF A SALESMAN · BLESSED ASSURANCE · HARVEY
Four-show-era programs, production collage, or FOXFIRE photograph.
2003–2010 — New Stories, New Challenges
The Playhouse took on increasingly ambitious musicals, classics, mysteries, comedies, and works rooted in Black history. Sets folded, rolled, transformed, and sometimes rescued a performance in real time.
2003–2004
CINDERELLA · ARSENIC AND OLD LACE · HOME · THE MIRACLE WORKER
CINDERELLA became SGP’s highest-grossing show to that point.
2004–2005
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR · THE SUNSHINE BOYS · STEAL AWAY · BUS STOP
When a lead was hospitalized mid-run during THE SUNSHINE BOYS, the stage manager stepped in with a script to save the show.
2005–2006
THE WIZARD OF OZ · THE BOYS NEXT DOOR · MISS EVERS’ BOYS · THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
2006–2007
1776 · ON GOLDEN POND · CROWNS · ANASTASIA
The source describes 1776 as SGP’s most difficult undertaking to that point and CROWNS as its most successful theatrical presentation at the time.
2007–2008
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM · ROMANOFF AND JULIET · LIVIN’ FAT · THE CEMETERY CLUB
2008–2009
BRIGADOON · DEATHTRAP · MAHALIA · LILIES OF THE FIELD
Bagpipes and a folding set helped bring BRIGADOON’s Scotland to life.
2009–2010
THE FANTASTICKS · THE LION IN WINTER · TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK · MASS APPEAL
2003 CINDERELLA or later large-scale musical.
CROWNS, MAHALIA, or another Black History Month production.
2010–2019 — A New Generation of Productions
A new decade carried familiar titles, new voices, comedies, mysteries, American classics, and major musicals into SGP’s fourth decade.
30 Years
The 30th-anniversary season featured THE SOUND OF MUSIC, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, and THE MIRACLE WORKER.
2010–2011
EVITA · AND THEN THERE WERE NONE · A WOMAN CALLED TRUTH · THE FOREIGNER
2012–2013
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN · STEEL MAGNOLIAS · FENCES · PRIVATE LIVES
2013–2014
THE MUSIC MAN · THE UNEXPECTED GUEST · NORTH STAR · THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB
2014–2015
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF · THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 16TH · CLYBOURNE PARK · SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
2015–2016
WEST SIDE STORY · BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE · THE PIANO LESSON · DEARLY BELOVED
2016–2017
OKLAHOMA! · CHRISTMAS BELLES · TALKING BONES · SPIDER’S WEB
2017–2018
ANNIE · DOUBLEWIDE, TEXAS · THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL · MURDER ON THE NILE
2018–2019
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM · A CHRISTMAS CACTUS · BAREFOOT IN THE PARK · THE RAINMAKER
30th-anniversary or 2010s season collage.
2019–2026 — The Show Goes On
The Playhouse entered a season of disruption, adaptation, and return. Productions moved online, schedules changed, performances were cancelled—and the community kept finding its way back to the stage.
2019–2020
SISTER ACT · WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION · CRIMES OF THE HEART
The spring production was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–2021
ROADS
ROADS was presented online in December; the rest of the season was cancelled because of COVID-19.
2021–2022
10-MINUTE WINDOWS · SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN · LEND ME A TENOR
10-MINUTE WINDOWS was presented online in June. The summer production was cancelled because of COVID-19, and the winter production because of the Weaver Fertilizer Plant fire.
2022–2023 — 40 YEARS
GODSPELL · DIAL M FOR MURDER · PLAZA SUITE · REHEARSALS
The delayed 40th-anniversary season. GODSPELL’s third weekend was cancelled because of COVID-19.
2023–2024
BIG RIVER · THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR · GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER? · OUR TOWN
2024–2025
CINDERELLA · THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 · DOUBT, A PARABLE · PICNIC
2025–2026
OLD FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY · ROADS · LOVE AT THE KERNERSVILLE HONEYBEE FESTIVAL · DRIVING MISS DAISY
Online production, empty theatre, or safe-return image.
Delayed 40th-anniversary celebration or GODSPELL.
The Next Act
Stained Glass Playhouse continues producing live theatre today. New performers, volunteers, directors, designers, and audiences keep adding to the history that began in 1981—one production and one shared experience at a time.
Present-day SGP company, audience, or production photograph.
A Stage Without Curtains
“We laugh, we cry, we live, and we learn about love, joy and peace, with no curtains to hide behind.”