Old Courthouse Theatre celebrates 50 years on stage in Concord

Golden anniversary gala honors the people, performances and volunteers who shaped OCT's first half-century while looking toward the future.

OCT Alumni (From L to R): Maggie Cooke, Ginny Holderness, Dennis Delamar, Tim Hodgin, Claudia Galup, Scott Orr, Jonathan Ewart, Rob Taylor, Jenny Taylor, Liza Cook Elsner, and Johnny Lazenby. Photo courtesy of Old Courthouse Theatre.

The story has been adapted from an Old Courthouse Theatre news release.

The Old Courthouse Theatre marked a major milestone June 13, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala at The Kettle Room at Gibson Mill that honored the theater’s rich history while looking ahead to its next chapter.

The evening began with a proclamation from Concord Mayor Steve Morris, who declared June 13, 2026, as Old Courthouse Theatre Day in recognition of the community theater’s contributions to Concord and the surrounding area over the past five decades.

The celebration, more than a year in the making, brought together longtime volunteers, performers and supporters alongside newer members of the theater community. Before the festivities began, the organization conducted a brief business meeting and welcomed Jonathan Ewart, Chris Harris-Firth and Jean Kadela to its board of directors.

The remainder of the evening focused on the theatre’s history, featuring musical performances, awards and tributes to the people who helped shape the organization over the years.

Interspersed among the theater’s 50th-season awards, OCT veteran Chris Stonnell coordinated a showcase of performers celebrating some of the many musicals produced by the theater throughout its history. Highlights included Michael Jonathan performing “Being Alive” from Company and a large group of OCT alumni joining together for a medley of songs from past productions.

A special appearance came from Dan Truhitte, best known for playing Rolf in The Sound of Music, who performed a medley featuring “Edelweiss” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

The evening also featured a long-distance duet from Guys and Dolls performed by Chris Stonnell and Jim Longwell, as well as a live performance from Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Kim Baysinger and local television and radio personality Beth Troutman, who reunited for a duet from Pump Boys and Dinettes.

One of the evening’s most emotional moments came during an “In Memoriam” presentation researched and assembled by Jonathan Ewart. The tribute honored members of the OCT family who have died and was accompanied by the song “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods.

Following the presentation of Best Show for Season 50, awarded to The Foreigner, the theater presented several special honors recognizing volunteerism and service.

The Wilson Family Volunteerism Award was presented to the Weathers family — Holly, Rick, Aiden and Chloe Weathers — for their contributions to the theater. The Mary Thompson Award, named after one of OCT’s founding members known for her extensive backstage work, was awarded to Jennifer Riordan and Kim Baysinger.

OCT President John Harris also presented special service recognitions to Chris Barcroft, Jon Kadela and Brian Rassler.

The celebration concluded with performers from different eras of the theater’s history singing “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks while images from past productions were displayed. The final image shown was that of founder Mary Snead Boger, whose vision led to the creation of the theater five decades ago.

Old Courthouse Theatre, housed in a restored century-old church in downtown Concord, produces a variety of plays, musicals, youth productions and special events each season. The volunteer-driven organization also supports emerging artists and experimental works through its Black Box Theatre and resident company, Post Mortem Players.

With its golden anniversary now complete, theater leaders said their attention is turning toward the future. The organization is continuing work on a 10-year strategic plan while preparing for Season 51 and beginning discussions about Season 52 programming.

For more information, visit Old Courthouse Theatre or the theater’s social media pages.