As an all volunteer community theater group, Theatre 7 welcomes anyone interested in becoming involved.  There are lots of opportunities in Theatre 7, both performing onstage and working backstage.

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Theatre 7 started as a spin off from another Decatur theatrical group called “Town and Gown.”  It was directed by Dr. Jere Mickel, a Millikin University professor, who preferred doing the classics.  A number of members wanted to do more commercial material, and after a rehearsal one night, discussed starting a new theater group.  In December 1963, approximately thirty people organized what would later become Theatre 7.

 

Theatre 7′s name has no meaning of any significance and was simply created at the suggestion of member Ralph Donovan.  It was selected to reflect the trend of the day – the whole “name with a number thing.’

Theatre 7’s Headquarters was located throughout downtown Decatur before the purchase of the present building at 131 N. Water St. in 1991. They included the following locations; St. John’s Episcopal Church, Swain & Myers Building (300 W. Cerro Gordo St.), above Greenburg’s Shoe Outlet (600 N. Water St.), Old St. Nick Hotel (101 South Main St.), and 111 North Main St.
  

Original T7 Officers
President
- Gerald Waldera
Vice President
- Ralph Donovan
Secretary
- Coleen Harman
Treasurer
- Robert C. Ruski
Executive Board Members
- Michael Duggan
- Jeanne Robertson
- Marjorie Sangster

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Some of Theatre 7’s founding members:
- Bob and Dorothy Cargill
- Sue Donovan
- Orv and Donna Graham
- Nancy Kaltenbach
- Charlene and Jack Robb
- Ken and Jean Robertson
- Eileen Ruski
- Jack Sangster
- Anne and Paul Swearingen
- Jean Waldera
- Jack and Rowena Woodard

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The Origin of the Jay-Jay Award
In Theatre 7’s first production, "Light Up the Sky," a parrot name Jay Jay prophetically squawked, "SRO, Darling, SRO," which meant "Standing Room Only." Curiously enough, one year from the opening night of Theatre 7’s first show, the production of "Guys and Dolls" had a standing-room-only crowd. As a result of this, the acting awards given each year are small gold parrots called Jay-Jays.