The history of theatre in Cheyenne, Wyoming, 1867 to 1990

The city of Cheyenne, Wyoming sprang to life in the spring of 1867. It soon became a major terminus town for the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad opened the city to a long history of theatre, both professional and amateur. This dissertation presents, for the first time, a comprehensive history of theatre in Cheyenne. It is divided into five chapters and supporting appendices.;Chapter One presents an overview of the city's early history. Frontier theatre reached its peak with the construction of a premier theatre in the Cheyenne Opera House, supported by the wealth of Wyoming's "cattle barons." Following the destruction of the Opera House in 1902, Cheyenne entered into a period of prolific theatre construction and touring productions, ending with the crash of 1929.;Chapter Two presents the history of the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players (CLTP). CLTP was organized in 1930 as an amateur theatre and survives to the present day. Its growth included the ownership of two theaters and an extensive history of productions.;Chapter Three presents the history of the Old Fashioned Melodrama. Organized in 1958, the Melodrama was adopted by CLTP in 1960. This annual production became a popular summer activity and the primary source of funding for the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players.;Chapter Four presents the histories of two recent theatre organizations, both of which received partial subsidies. The first was the theatre program of the local community college during the tenure of its director, Nick Panopoulos. The second organization is the Cheyenne Civic Center, a professional road house. The Center has hosted the return of professional touring productions to Cheyenne.;Chapter Five is concluding comments. The appendices present production listings for the period 1902-30, the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, The Old Fashioned Melodrama, the Laramie County Community College and the Cheyenne Civic Center.;Cheyenne has enjoyed a long and prolific history of theatre. This history was influenced by the city's western heritage, as well as a demand for entertainment and culture. The dissertation presents insights into the colorful history for one of the legendary cities of the west.