By E. C. Tarjian

Do you fancy yourself in the role of a Lillian Lawrence or Edward Arnold? Have you never felt the desire to strut across the stage, to look out over a sea of faces, to hear roar after roar of applause when you finish your lines? Have you never wanted to bow and leave a stage, only to be led out again to the mad insistence of a wildly appreciative audience? Have you never posed before a mirror and tested your ability to register surprise, passion, and a score of other emotions? What normal youth or lass, man or woman hasn't felt that urge? Then listen well, for your opportunity has arrived!

The Richmond Theatre Guild, which succeeded the Little Theatre League, is continually on the lookout for talent. It gives you, the amateur, a chance.

It has been organized to bring plays of popular appeal, well-acted and produced under the supervision of a professional director, to every citizen.

The Theatre Guild is a civic venture for city-wide participation, catering to the cultural and recreational interests of Richmond.

Project Gives Youth Spare Time Interest

Speaking from a recreational viewpoint, what better outside interest could a young man or woman have than participating in a play? The plays are put into rehearsal a month or two ahead and then two or three times a week the cast meets and whips the vehicle into shape.

The first six or seven rehearsals are given to the mere reading of lines. After the players have learned their parts the actual play rehearsing begins . . .

And that is not the only thing that the Theatre Guild does; at its headquarters, 209 West Broad Street, the members build their own sets, paint their own scenery, do their own experimenting with lighting effects.

At present the guild boasts a membership of more than a thousand. A good part of that membership is composed of former Little Theatre League members. Officials of the guild state the response has been unexpectedly enthusiastic, proving there is a definite place in Richmond for this movement. The Theatre Guild movement is national. Theatre groups are springing into being all over the country; Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland and other cities in every locality. Little groups of competent, determined men and women to make the "man on the street" conscious of the legitimate stage.

Richmond Guild Unit in Nation-wide Movement

For a time it appeared the stage was doomed. People went to the moving pictures, where they could see two and three attractions for less than the price they would have had to pay to see a play. Plays lost money everywhere. Even the musical comedy which was always a strong money-making [illegible] was losing out. Then in some mysterious manner the public began to welcome the stage back to its rightful throne. More and more people began going to those productions which were produced in Little Theatres of the various cities. And what is perhaps better, those who went and saw, came back singing hosannas. And so, now, with a new year looming before us, we can safely look forward to a season which will be replete with art, and who knows--perhaps genius!

The Richmond Theatre Guild is making preparations along with its fellow units. Even now that organization, under the direction of Bertram Yarborough, is in rehearsal for "Fly Away Home," a play to be presented at the Lyric Theatre next Wednesday and Thursday.

The play is a recent Broadway success, written by Dorothy Bennett and Irving White. Four other plays will be presented at the Lyric, in addition to studio productions which afford training in all the various fields of the stage.

Officers and Board of Local Guild

Acting is not the only activity of the Theatre Guild--costuming, makeup and stagecraft are also featured.

The nominal membership dues include tickets to each of the five plays to be given at the Lyric Theatre and to all the studio productions, as well as all active work at the guild.

The officers of the Richmond Theatre Guild are: president, John M. Taylor, Jr.; first vice-president, Stewart Bryan; second vice-president, Mrs. Dave E. Satterfield Jr.; secretary, Mrs. Herbert E. Bickel, and treasurer, Robert I. Boswell.

Members of the board include Mrs. Robert T. Barton Jr., Elmer H. Brient, Dr. E. N. Calisch, Walter F. Beverley, Mrs. G. Helms Crutchfield, John C. Goode, Mrs. A. R. Kershaw, Mrs. Harold E. Peterson, Arthur Phillips and Mrs. Francis B. Williams.