T HEATRE OF THE B IG B END
TH
C ELEBRATES 50 B IRTHDAY
By Steve Lang
All images in this story are courtesy of the Theater of the Big Bend.
F
rom ancient Greece to modern
West Texas, outdoor theatre has
transfixed audiences for thousands
of years, including the past half-century
in Alpine.
Since its formation in 1966, the
Theatre of the Big Bend has filled a sum-
mer entertainment niche for the vast tri-
county region of Brewster, Jeff Davis and
Presidio counties and beyond. The the-
atre provides a summer repertory experi-
ence for community actors and musi-
cians, artists and students to work with
professionals from Sul Ross State
4
Cenizo
University and elsewhere.
The gala 50th year celebration in
2015 is well underway, featuring a full
season of three shows.
“Fifty years of providing summer the-
atrical entertainment is a significant
achievement,” said Dona Roman, Sul
Ross professor of Theatre, who has acted
in, directed and produced ToBB produc-
tions for the past 16 years.
“The longevity of the Theatre of the
Big Bend is a credit to the countless per-
formers, volunteers and an appreciative
audience,” said Roman. “We are blessed
Second Quarter 2015
with very hardy West Texas ranching
patrons and a frontier spirit that also
describes the tenacity of the Sul Ross the-
atre and music faculty. It continues to be
a really incredible experience.”
Despite a sparse population density of
1.6 people per square mile in a territory
(over 12,300 square miles) larger than
nine U.S. states, the Theatre of the Big
Bend has entertained close to half a mil-
lion people while performing more than
130 productions.
With amphitheater seating construct-
ed on a rocky hillside dotted with native
vegetation, the theatre’s physical aspects
conform to the West Texas environment,
and occasionally, involve wildlife in the
performances.
The deer and the antelope do not play
roles, but three of the former once stood
a few feet from director Gregory Schwab,
just outside the seating area, intently
watching a performance of “Cinderella.”
A scorpion and a tarantula comprised
“The (arachnid) Odd Couple,” but
appeared – only briefly before being
stomped –
continued on page 26
on stage in