The Theatre Guild of Ancon, in its current incarnation, was founded by Alberto Motta and spouse, Ralph Lindo and spouse, Stanley Findanque and spouse, Roy Glickenhouse and spouse and other members of the culturally-conscious amongst Panamanian society in the year 1950, making it the longest-running theater operation as well as the only English-speaking theater company in the country. However, there is more of a back story to the guild’s history; it’s genesis came about in 1939, when the aforementioned founding members first took the initiative of starting an English-speaking theater while in Cristobal, part of the Colon province. The Cristobal Little Theater opened its doors to the American troops stationed in the country during WW II, staging various productions of different genres for the fun and amusement of all who came, as well as collecting money in order to help foundations and other selfless causes of the time. After the war was over it was time for the founding families to move into the capital and once they got settled they decided to revive the theater company… and that was how the Theatre Guild was born in September, 1950.

Using the “Theatre” moniker due to the fact that the guild’s first president, a man that went by the name Jim Roberts, was from England and of course, “Guild” referred to a group of artisans that shared the same interests and sensibilities, expressing then through art of the scenic kind (the group was composed of actors, directors, wardrobe, stage hands, set design and more), the 429 building located in the Ancon district opened its doors as the first (and only) theater in the country where plays would be staged in the English language. The building was originally a clinic for the U.S army to treat venereal diseases and was handed to the Theatre Guild by the Panama Canal Company and its insides were redone from scratch by members and volunteers putting seats, the stage, lights and makeup rooms. Everything was ready for the December 1951 debut of the guild’s first production, a trilogy of one-act plays: “Ways and Means,” “The Valiant” and “George.”

Throughout its history, the guild has been known by various names: The Isthmian Theater Guild, The Theatre Guild of the Canal Zone and finally, The theatre Guild of Ancon as it’s currently known as. Throughout the various generations though, the essence of the place has always been kept intact, its integrity withheld by the volunteers that keep the place running and have done so for 57 years. The guild’s credo is as follows:

Our Mission: To stimulate an interest in dramatics and associated arts by the study, practice and production of plays in the English language, for and by our members and the public at large.

Our Vision: To redefine the spirit of community theatre in Panama, while maintaining the actor as artisan tradition; promote the performing arts, provide a stage for performers to present their works in any language, and to instill the principles of excellence in all actors directors and technical personnel in Panama.

I’ve never been much of a theater buff and as such I haven’t been to many plays in the past. I tried my hand at playwriting once or twice and managed to get some scripts out of my system. Hell, in 11^th grade my friend Chirag and I rewrote Hamlet for a school play. Travesty, yes, but it had to be done because we had to mount a production or else we wouldn’t graduate and my class was too lazy to pull off the “art thou”s and “to be or not to be”s of the play; as a result of that endeavor, I hold “Hamlet” close to my heart since I had to know the play rather extensively in order to adapt it for my scallywag school class. That’s pretty much it with me and the theater, mostly because my reasoning concluded that the only way I would be interested in helping out a theater ensemble be it with acting, writing or being a stage hand, it would have to be with a production I can care about… and the only theaters I knew of were the Spanish-speaking ones, full of utterly ridiculous garbage for the most part. It wasn’t until around 2005 that I was reminded of this small theater in Ancon that boasted with being the only English-speaking one in the country.

An article landed in my inbox way back when talking about this thing called “Save The Lights” fund. As it turns out, ever since the Panama Canal was turned over to us in the year 2000 and the armed forces left the T.G.A has been struggling to fill shows. Even though the EX-PAT community is large enough to support the theater, since it’s run by a group of volunteers, all income from ticket sales is used to upkeep the building… ticket sales and little else. Since there aren’t as many Americans as there used to be, sales have naturally declined, but it is still running strong as the guild put out at least 3 productions a year. Thing is that the building is over 50 years old, and the lighting equipment has been deteriorating to the point that it’s threatening to shut down the whole thing for good. That is why they have created this special fund composed entirely of donations from people who support the guild and want to help any way they can. Their goal is to reach $15,000, which is enough to repair, replace and upgrade the equipment they currently have installed. Slowly but steadily they have managed to collect 2/3 of the goal, all because they put out solid productions with a great company of actors and a backstage team that’s just as amazing.

Doing a background check on the guild’s history I found via Teatro de Panama info on the people who have had a hand in productions over the years. Some of the names dropped are pretty impressive: Rodrigo Portuondo, Adolfo Arias, Eduardo Frangias, Isabel de Nachio, Maritza Diez de Morales, Rubén Blades , Bruce Quinn, Carlos Williams and Edwin Cedeño for Panama; for the U.S, they’ve had Pat Quinn, Sarah Knapp, George Scribner, Martin Halpern, Catherine Hopkins, Robert Loggia y John Aniston, who’s Jennifer Aniston’s father. Woo, who knew!

Digging even deeper, I managed to find instructions on how to get to the place because quite frankly, my 100% self-imposed A.D.D wouldn’t allow me to write directions that are anywhere near coherent. Check it out:

From Transistmica Drive to Frangipani Avenue from Transistmica. Turn Right on Roosevelt Avenue (Arcenio Arosemena). Next immediate LEFT (“U” turn) to Bus Stop & POLICE Station of Ancon (PTJ) on right. Right (“U” turn) to Theatre Guild Marquee and parking.

From Corredor Norte. Drive toward town of Balboa until you see Administration Building and McDonald’s sign. Veer left & drive straight several blocks to Bus Stop and POLICE Station of Ancon (PTJ) on right. Right (“U” turn) to Theatre Guild Marquee and parking.

From Avenida Balboa; Drive toward Fish Market and Old Marketplace and stay on right. Turn right at Shell Gas Station. Stay on left and continue straight & up overpass to Roosevelt Ave (4th July). Drive straight to lst light. Right one & one-half (1 ½) blocks to church on left. Right down hill to POLICE Station of Ancon (PTJ). Left to Theatre Guild of Ancon Marquee and parking.

Hopefully a decent, updated website will surface. In fact, I think mighty Porto Diao would be up to the task if they’d allow it. Food for thought… anyway, the Theatre Guild of Ancon currently has a production running of Paul Rudnick’s “I Hate Hamlet.” Here’s the press release:

The Theatre Guild of Ancon presents:

I HATE HAMLET!
Comedy by Paul Rudnick

Andrew Rally seems to have it all: celebrity and acclaim from his starring role in a hit television series; a rich beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. There are, however, a couple of glitches in paradise.

Andrew’s series has been canceled; his girlfriend is clinging to her virginity with unyielding conviction; and he has no desire to play Hamlet. When Andrew’s agent visits him, she reminisces about her brief romance with John Barrymore many years ago, in Andrew’s apartment. This prompts a séance to summon his ghost. From the moment Barrymore returns, dressed in high Shakespearean garb, Andrew’s life is no longer his own.

Barrymore, fortified by champagne and ego, presses Andrew to accept the part and fulfill his actor’s destiny. The action becomes more hilarious with the entrance of Andrew’s deal-making friend from LA, spouting the laid-back hype of the Coast and offering Andrew a fabulous new TV deal worth millions of dollars.

The laughs are nonstop as Andrew wrestles with his conscience, Barrymore, and his sword.

Directed by Jeanne Marie Leggiere

Starring: Alec Sherman, Amit Nathani, Maria Theoktisto, Lily Daksovek, Nancy Niemi and Special Appareance by Ron Leggiere.

April 19, 20, 21 & 26,27,28.
8:00 pm.
Donation $10.00

Reservations 212-0060 or tga07[at]yahoo[dot]com

Support the national theater scene and swing by the Theatre Guild of Ancon to check out the play. I’ve gone a couple of times already since I discovered it (immediately feeling late to the party) and I’ve always had a good time. The people are nice, it helps to see friends of yours performing and having an open-air bar is a touch of brilliance. The cause for going is noble, and it hurts less when you feel like you’re getting something in return for donating, doesn’t it? It sure does.

Below, the poster for “I Hate Hamlet,” and production shots.

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