By Tyler Hargett for the FCT

tyler.hargett@fct.wpengine.com

When the citizens of Red Bay want to see a play, host a party or plan a reunion, they know where to go: Community Spirit Bank’s Weatherford Centre.

Built in the 1980s, the building was originally home to a movie theatre, sports shop, mini golf and bowling alley. Community Spirit Bank acquired it in 1992 where, for a while, it was only used for storage. However, the bank’s then-President Billy M. Bolton and then-Executive Vice President Patricia Nelson soon decided to turn the building into a place that could be used by the community – and, thus, the Weatherford Centre was born.

Plans began in 1994 to renovate the building, with the bowling alley becoming a banquet room and the movie theater becoming a performing arts theatre. Renovation was finally completed by Dec. 5, 1994, just in time for the Centre to host its very first Christmas party. Since then, the Centre has been the site of many parties, reunions, receptions, meetings and even a Smithsonian exhibit for six weeks in 2014 (which was visited by more than 6,500 people from around the world, breaking the attendance record that the Alabama Humanities Foundation had for a town hosting a Smithsonian exhibit).

One of the things the Centre is most well-known for are the plays held in its 172-seat theatre. After the theatre was constructed, the Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts was formed in the spring of 1996 to begin putting community productions on stage. In their 20 years of performance, they have staged 60 plays (three per year), culminating in hundreds of volunteers entertaining thousands of people. The auditions held before productions are open to everyone.

BTCPA Chairman Scotty Kennedy, who acted in a few plays before being asked to join the board, said the Centre is often complimented by visitors.

“People from other cities come here and say ‘we wish we had something like this in our town,'” said Kennedy. “The interior decorator went wild (with it).”

The next BTCPA performance will be “Curious Savage” by John Patrick, directed by Mark Richardson. The performances will be Feb. 16-18 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Weatherford Centre. Tickets are on sale now: $8 each or $25 for dinner and the show. Dinner tickets must be reserved in advance. Groups interested in coming may also call Beth Hammock at 256-356-9286.

Cast members include Joy Corsbie, Joey Allen, Georgia Jeffreys, Ethan Ray, Carol Murphree, Jacob Litteral, Chase Allen, Isabella Russell, Mary Elizabeth Moore, Brittany Russell and Scotty Kennedy.

Mrs. Savage has been left $10M by her husband and wants to make the best use of it, in spite of her grown-up stepchildren’s efforts to get their hands on it. Knowing that the widow’s wealth is now in negotiable securities, and seeing they cannot get hold of the fortune, the stepchildren commit her to a sanatorium hoping to “bring her to her senses.” In the sanatorium, Mrs. Savage meets various social misfits, men and women who just cannot adjust themselves to life – people who need the help Mrs. Savage can provide. In getting to know them, she realizes that she will find happiness with them and plans to spend the rest of her life as one of them. But when the doctor tells her there is no reason why she should remain, she hesitates to go out into a hard world where people seem ready to do anything for money. The self-seeking stepchildren are driven to distraction by their vain efforts to browbeat Mrs. Savage, but she preserves her equanimity and leads them on a merry chase. The dominant mood is high comedy, and the audience is left with a feeling that the neglected virtues of kindness and affection have not been entirely lost in a world that seems at times motivated only by greed and dishonesty.