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In the 1954 Montreat Club musical “Down the Mississippi,” Bob Rodgers of Atlanta opened a mysterious crate.

Martha Jackson of Nashville and Leighton McCutchen (above) singing “Make Believe” in “Down the Mississippi.”

  

MONTREAT MUSICALS

MONTREAT’S YOUNG PEOPLE’S CLUB

After World War II, the Montreat Young People’s Club often put on a summer amateur musical, ranging from broadway shows to multi-act presentations. The August 18, 1948, show was Moss Hart and George Kaufman’s You Can’t Take It With You. Margaret Scott and Loretta Clark were the co-directors.

This year, the tradition was revived with Montreat Madness “Take A Hike” on Saturday evening, July 12th. The event honored two long-time Montreat hikers and residents John Mack Walker, Jr., and Wade Boggs.

At the end of this story, we list some of the shows between 1948 and 1983. If you have old programs or photos from these or other shows, please contact the PHC at (828) 669-6556 or email us so that we better document these events. At right is the opening of the July 28, 1956 show — Let’s Get Away From It All — directed by Virginia Lee Epes, and the program.

During 1949 to the mid-1950s, Margaret Wardlaw Gilbert (Wug) was the director and often the writer of the annual musical.

SOME OF THE SHOWS OVER THE YEARS

1948
You Can’t Take It With You (Moss Hart and George Kaufman)
Directors: Margaret Scott & Loretta Clark

1949
Shut My Mouff Again
Director: Margaret Wardlaw Gilbert

1950
The 1950 Minstrel Show
Director: Margaret Wardlaw Gilbert

1953
Montreat Madness of ’53
Director: Margaret Wardlaw Gilbert

1954
Down the Mississippi

1955
Make Believe We’re Real
Director: Ann Currie

1956
Let’s Get Away From It All
Director: Virginia Lee Epes

1959
Montreat Madness Goes Around The World
Director: Penny Moffett

1981
The Illustrated Press
Director: Margaret Wardlaw Gilbert

1983
The University of Patrons and Sponsors
Director: Margaret Wardlaw Gilbert

2008
Take A Hike
Producer/Director: Judy Shuford & John L. Currie

2011
Windows on the Women
Producer/Director: Judy Shuford & John L. Currie

2014
Rock, Roll & Pray Montreat
Producer/Director: Judy Shuford & John L. Currie