Wetumpka Depot Players

Wetumpka Depot Players History

While the Wetumpka Depot Players have been thrilling audiences with comedies, dramas and musicals for three decades, that was not the only intent of the founders. The group actually formed, in part, to save a building.

The old Wetumpka train depot was deteriorating and needed a new purpose to survive. In the spring of 1980, a small group of local residents with varied skills and diverse occupations decided to form a community theatre to fulfill that need.

The early years were challenging to the members of the Depot troupe and their audiences. In the winter, the building was cold, so preparing to go to see a play included dressing in layers and packing blankets to stay warm. In the summer, patrons wore shorts and brought fans. But the shows were entertaining and the audiences came back again and again.

In the beginning, volunteers made homemade cakes and candies to sell at intermission. Eventually, they banked enough money to purchase a popcorn machine and the now-famous Depot Corn was born.

The audiences enjoyed “tried and true” plays such as Count Dracula, Frankenstein and The Mousetrap, and the group added conveniences and plugged holes in the drafty building as funds became available.

A local drug abuse prevention agency approached the Players with the idea of doing children’s shows during the summer months, and the Junior Depot Players were born. That tradition continues today, with summer acting camps and acting and technical opportunities for young people.

In the mid-1990s, the audiences continued to grow and, having succeeded in their in their original mission of saving the Depot building, the Players began to look for a bigger space. Eventually, the Depot building became part of the ministry of the First Methodist Church in Wetumpka.

The Players used a variety of wonderful spaces while they searched for a new permanent home. The historic Elmore County Court House was the venue for Inherit the Wind and Witness for the Prosecution. The Wetumpka Performing Arts Center was used to stage Nunsense, Oklahoma and The Music Man.

In December of 1999, the Depot incorporated as a non-profit organization and purchased and renovated a building that once housed a grocery store. The Depot’s “black-box” theatre accommodates 160 and continues to host sold-out audiences who are filled with laughter and moved to tears.

Some visitors to the Depot are surprised at the quality of the performances, sets and technical aspects of the shows. But the Wetumpka Depot Players are committed to providing the best performances possible – that’s the driving force behind the Players success. While some Depot volunteers have degrees in theatre and a few have professional experience, most are getting their first taste of the thrill of trodding the boards on the stage of the converted grocery store. But no matter their backgrounds, all are bitten with the “theatre bug” and treat their work with the Depot with the same commitment and professional attitudes they bring to their “real” jobs.

As the Depot enters its 30th season, the group continues to evolve. The cast of the 2009 original script The Wedding From Hell was asked to perform at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival for two sold-out performances. For the second year, the Depot has participated in the Alabama Community Theatre Festival, returning with awards and critical accolades, including winning best performance in 2009. The cast of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten will represent the state of Alabama in the Southeastern Theatre Conference competition in the spring of 2010.

Though its history is rich, the Depot’s best days are in the future. Original plays, moving dramas and Broadway favorites will continue to be staged in the intimate setting of the Depot. There are those who have visions of expanding the current space, improving the technical capabilities, and adding rehearsal facilities. But one thing is certain: The Depot will always offer those who are passionate about theatre the chance to perform and leave audiences hungry for more.