Ice House Theatre, Visalia Players set for new beginning, fundraiser show

Working as carpenters, plumbers, and electricians to create theater space is nothing new for the Visalia Players. They’ve renovated several rooms and buildings into stages over their 70-year history of community theater.

Now, they’re at it again.

All money from this weekend’s “Ready to Roll” rock cabaret will go toward upgrading ADA and other historic Ice House Theatre projects. Patrons are invited to pay what they like—starting at $5.

“There’s no set price," Board President Jennifer Masters said. “We want everyone to be able to attend, and we know some, especially students, can’t afford a lot.”

Masters said the community has been incredibly generous over the years. They made it possible for the Players to buy the building last year when the city wanted to divest itself of some of its properties.

“The citizens of Visalia really rallied around us because they saw what happened when the Enchanted Playhouse lost its theater, and they didn’t want that to happen to us," she said. "The city gave us a good deal to ensure we could buy it.”

Four decades of rock

The cabaret celebrates rock music through the ages, from the 60s to the 90s and beyond.

Director Richard Brock didn’t want to give away the song titles, but he did give a long list of the artists behind them—everyone from the Beatles and Jefferson Airplane to Leonard Skinner, Joan Jett, Journey, Kiss, and Evanescence.

“We mix it up, the 60s one minute, followed by some things from the 90s,” said Brock. “I started with 100 songs and had difficulty dwindling it down.”

Everything from solos to group medleys, chorus styles, and even a few dances is there.

Brock is happy to be back in Visalia doing theater after 30 years away. During his early years, he directed and acted in Ice House shows and with other local venues. But he hadn’t done theater in 30 years.

“Boy, things have changed,” he said. “Tech, for one thing. I’m used to writing notes on Post-its, but now everyone is telling me, can you just email it to me?”

He credits music director Phae Elfont (who was Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd”) and choreographer Brittney Aden for making the show sizzle.

History of the Visalia Players

The Visalia Players was founded in June 1957. “Suds in Your Eyes” was the first play put on in the backyard of Bridget Berryman’s home. They did shows at the Civic Auditorium, Visalia Trailer Sales, and Recreation Park for the next few years.

In 1962 the City of Visalia gave them a permanent home in the Legion Room of the Civic Auditorium, located at the northeast corner of Acequia and Garden streets. The Players immediately began to fix it up, painting the wall black, trimmed in white with candelabra around the room.

When the building was condemned and torn down a few years later, the Players began looking for another home.

In 1965, they rented the old AFL Labor Temple on South Court Street, above what is now “Times Place,” and again made extensive improvements to what became known as “The Loft.” A new stairway had to be constructed, risers built, and lots of painting done.

When the lease was up, they spent three years using the L. J. Williams Auditorium, Sons of Italy Hall, YMCA, Visalia Women’s Club, Gottschalk’s Community Room, a ranch near Tulare and, for the last year, the Title Insurance Building on Main Street.

Ice House becomes home for the Visalia Players

Finally, in 1976, Visalia offered them either the old Linwood School or the old ice manufacturing plant. They chose the ice house and converted a vast, empty building constructed in the 1920s into a comfortable theater.

The Players became hard hat workers. Many would head straight from work to the theater, staying until midnight or later, dragging themselves off to work the next day—only to return to the theater that night.

Over the years, the Players have continued upgrading, making the theater ADA-compliant. With the money raised, they want to make two other restrooms ADA-compliant, build a ramp to backstage, and upgrade storage, lighting, and sound systems.

For actors, it’s all worth it.

“We’re having a great time with this show,” said Brock. “It’s for a great cause and something we can bring to the community.”

How to attend

What: “Ready to Roll” Rock Cabaret

When: Aug. 4-6

Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race, Visalia.

Information: 734-3900 or www.visaliaplayers.org. Patrons can choose their ticket price as a donation to the theater.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Ice House Theatre, Visalia Players set for new start, fundraiser show