History: The Red Barn Theatre at the junction of State Highway 48 and County Trunk M is visible evidence of the things that country folks treasure -enterprise, cooperation, hard work, and native talent. It's natural that grass roots theatre should flourish here, nurtured in a community where the arts are loved.
From the beginning the barn was a hit, as much as were the plays. Descendants of the builder have told of the homesteading of the property in about 1864. The first barn was made of logs, which was replaced by the present structure in 1904. To celebrate the barn raising on 4 July 1904, there was a dance on the new floor...the little barn's first public entertainment.
When the Players moved into the barn it had been idle for about twenty years. The first necessity was a new floor and stage in the loft, built in 1967. In 1968 the concrete stable floor was removed and a new slab poured, followed by remodeling to divide the space into storage, dressing rooms, restrooms and lounge areas. The silo was converted into a stairway leading from the theatre to the lounge.
Other improvements included a tiered floor for the audience, a succession of used theatre seats, a ticket office, and a light and sound booth. In 1973 a large pole-type building was built against the north wall to provide space for work on sets, storage, wardrobe and additional dressing areas.
Red Barn Theatre is not affiliated with AmericanTowns Media
