Our History

From Pearl to Gem

The story began in 1938, when the Annie Pearl and John A. Howell family built a movie house in Draper-“The Pearl” was born. Vaudeville acts started off the evening and a movie or two would follow. Even a few big names, like Tex Ritter, graced the stage of “The Pearl”. During the depression, a bag of groceries was given away every Friday night.

Locals felt fortunate to have a first run theatre right in their small town. For many generations this building, now on the Draper Historic Register, served as a gathering place for the south end of the valley. Tales are told (by now upstanding citizens) of a cherry bomb or two set off during shows and of sneaking buddies in through the back door.

Fast forward fifty years, when the theater was purchased by educators Charles and Vanessa Nelson. This dedicated couple added theatrical lighting and sound and expanded the stage, enabling the presentation of live shows, making DHT the only privately owned live theater in the south Salt Lake Valley.

From small beginnings-“Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Cry Wolf”-to full productions of favorite plays and musicals, the theater grew to what could be called “the best kept secret in the valley.”

In 1998, Draper Historic Theatre became a non-profit organization. Three years later, Vanessa retired as manager-leaving the non-profit board, headed by Artistic Director Kevin McClellan and Board Chair Rhonda Neiswender, to manage the theater and produce the events. DHT’s reputation continues to grow as a great place for quality family entertainment – and a great place for youth and adults to spread their wings in the arts. Propelled forward by a mostly volunteer staff and guild, the stage is now set for an even loftier future for DHT.

Written by Jill Mueller and Katie Shell

Board of Directors

Craig Haycock: Chair / General ManagerChair / General Manager

Eldon Randall: Executive Producer

Casey Dean

Treasurer

Brett Haymond: Accounting & Donations

Accounting & Donations

Other Directors:

Marc Navez

Vice Chair

Danielle Ellis

Executive Marketing

Pauline Mendes

Grant Manager

Jeanie Southwick

Fundraising & Sponsorships

AJ Clayson

Public Relations Officer

Dave Ellis

Compliance Officer

Our Value

The Draper Historic Theatre (DHT) creates opportunities for community members to develop and share their theatrical talents with friends and family. Participants of all ages have the opportunity to act, sing, dance or learn the technical aspects of theatre including lighting, sound design, costuming, and set construction. Four of the six shows are musicals, which allow whole families to participate in the performance. Each year, a special DHT Kidz performance is slated creating the opportunity for as many as 120 children under the age of 18 to perform on stage.

The value of DHT comes in its affordability and accessibility. With DHT being strictly not for profit, none of the actors are paid, nor are they charged to perform. This creates the opportunity for aspiring actors or even local housewives to perform and gain experience on a smaller stage. It also allows for cost effective ticket prices.

The Draper Historic Theatre has strong cultural and historical significances to the community. In 1938, Annie Pearl and John A. Howell family built a movie house named “The Pearl.” Vaudeville performances would start off the evening followed by a movie or two. Many locals felt fortunate to have a first run theatre right in their small town. For many generations this building, now on the Draper Historic Register, served as a gathering place for the south end of the valley. In 1988, the theater was purchased by Charles and Vanessa Nelson, who added theatrical lighting, sound and expanded the stage, enabling the presentation of live shows. With humble beginnings, DHT grew into what could be called “the best kept secret in the valley.” Ten years later, DHT became a non-profit organization and in 2004 the Board of Directors purchased the building from the Nelsons through a major fund raising effort. Having the organization purchase the building allows for the theater to truly belong to the Draper community.

Our Mission Statement

Draper Historic Theatre, a non-profit organization, enriches families, individuals and the community by providing positive artistic experiences in theatre – including affordable, wholesome entertainment and pleasant, edifying performance and educational opportunities.

Guiding Values

  • A nonprofit organization’s ‘product’ is neither a pair of shoes nor an effective regulation. Its product is a changed human being. Non-profit institutions are human- change agents. Their ‘product’ is a cured patient, a child that learns, a young man or woman grown into a self-respecting adult; a changed human life altogether.” Peter F. Drucker
  • Theatre is for people, people don’t exist for theatre.
  • DHT is a safe place, fostering equity, respect, individual growth, teamwork and humility. Gossip, unnecessary criticism and “prima donna” behavior (both male and female) is not allowed.
  • The strengths and talents of each participant will be recognized and appreciated. Beginning and experienced performers learn much from one another and enhance performances in their own way.
  • Theater participants will work in a spirit of unity uphold DHT’s standards, values and goals to ensure a pleasant experience for all who enter the theatre.
  • Many images are portrayed on stage in order to tell a story but, sincerity, moral behavior and kind, loving and/or familial relationships are the most valuable.
  • Volunteers are compensated not financially but with a sense of personal worth, respect, ownership in something important, friendship, and gratitude.

Goals

  • Purchase and improve our historic building to better facilitate DHT’s performance and educational goals and to provide fiscal and housing security for the future.
  • Continually improve the quality and depth of our performances.
  • Build an education program which helps potential performers and crew to:
    1. increase self confidence
    2. enrich their understanding and appreciation of the arts
    3. prepare for future opportunities at DHT and elsewhere

Vision

DHT will become a significant arts facility in the Wasatch Front area known best for quality family programming and a caring approach to theatrical education and production.

Vision Satement

Draper Historic Theatre envisions itself as the premiere arts and cultural center of the south valley. It would be a place where artisans of all disciplines would perform, community members gather for social events, and youth would learn the tools of the theatre trade. Draper has experienced such rapid and continual growth in the recent years that there is a need for the community to have their own cultural events and not rely on other townships. DHT not only wants to provide cultural entertainment for the community but also be the physical location of numerous cultural events.

DHT short-term goals involve the expansion of the educations programs offered at the theater and increasing the multi-purpose use of the building.

1. Currently, DHT offers a youth technical program Youth ages 12-18 will have the opportunity to learn the behind the scenes technology and management for theatrical production. This includes lighting set-up and design, sound mixing, special effects directing, stage management and so forth. This program gives youth a head start with hands-on experience to their professional careers in theater, broadcasting, animation or even computer science.

2. DHT is offering a youth summer camp program called Young Actors’ School It gives the opportunity for youth to discover and develop their performing talents. This program will teach students stage presence, improve, dramatic acting, singing and auditioning techniques. A scholarship program will be available for select under privileged youth who want to attend, but can’t afford it.

3. DHT is actively seeking opportunities for other performing artists to use their stage. This includes youth dance companies, bluegrass bands, vocal or piano recitals, and so forth. DHT actively uses the stage six months out of the year for performances. By allowing other performing artists to use the stage during the off months, DHT positions itself to be the physical location for cultural events.

The Draper Historic Theatre is an actual historic building in strong need of renovations and capital improvements. In order to be the premiere physical location of many cultural events for the south valley, improvements must be made. The building itself is limited in its capacities to meet the current theatrical needs for each production. As DHT expands and repairs the building, it will be able to better serve the growing cultural needs of the community. Currently, there is no sufficient off-stage area for performers. Actors find themselves waiting off-stage outside in make shift wings built out of tarps and PVC piping. The same goes for dressing areas. DHT would like to add to the building and create a sufficient off-stage waiting area that includes climate control. Other capital improvements include creating adequate off-stage rehearsal space, male and female dressing rooms, replacing the worn out and warped stage, and replacing auditorium seats. The building is also in need of some major repairs, which include updating the electrical system, kitchen/concession area and expansion of bathroom facilities.

We currently are seeking financial grants from various companies to enable us to make these repairs. Donors will receive recognition and complimentary advertising for their support in our programs as well as free tickets to the performances. We are also in need of individual donations of both time and money.