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Davenport Junior Theatre Celebrates 70th Anniversary

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Davenport Junior Theatre Logo

The Davenport Junior Theatre will host a picnic, a Mainstage show, called "Imagine That", and open its new museum to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Since 1951, its been a space for children to participate in the dramatic arts.
Development Director and former junior theatre student, Daniel Sheridan, says its motto is "For Kids, By Kids."
"But more importantly is what the kids take away. They learn about how to communicate with clarity, confidence and creativity. No matter where their life takes them, that could be in front of a board room, in front of a PTA meeting, coaching a soccer team. These skills get taken away and applied towards life."

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Davenport Junior Theatre Museum being set up

Much of the celebration was organized by children and they'll also run this weekend's anniversary activities.
"You know, all the different ways the kids can be involved, so not only are they performing on stage, but they are running the light and sound equipment up in the booth, they are the backstage crew, the majority of our Front of House team, welcoming guests, is all students."

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Founder, Mary Fluhrer Nighswander opening the theatre in 1981

The picnic celebration starts at 11 AM on Saturday and is open and free to the public. The Davenport Junior Theatre Museum's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will follow at 11:30. Food, games, live music, and much more will be available until 3 PM.
Although not required, you can RSVP for the event at:
https://www.davenportjuniortheatre.org/rsvp

Susanna Kemerling is WVIK Quad Cities NPR's 2022 Fellowship Host/Reporter. She graduated from Northern Illinois University for Media Studies in Communication and spent the last year working as a Teaching Assistant through the graduate program at NIU.