MAC History
The Beginning
With the money accumulated since the origin of the Manchester Arts Commission in 1968 and the help of citizens who signed a note at First National Bank, the Manchester Municipal Arts Commission purchased the building located at 909 Hillsboro Boulevard in the spring of 1995.
The building, which was built in 1954 by Homer Rogers, was previously a John Deere Tractor business, C&S Feed and Seed Company, and a variety of other businesses. At the time of purchase, it was a warehouse.
The building was leased to Roy and Jeanette Henderson of Parnassus Theatre to be used as a professional theatre with 121 seats and the lobby to be used for dinner before the shows. Parnassus was a non-profit, but it also was the support for the Hendersons. They, along with the Arts Commission and many other volunteers, worked hard to turn the building into a theatre and dance studio.
However, after such productions as Clarence Darrow, Educating Rita, Lion in Winter, Cotton Patch Gospel, Sweet Song of Night, Sorry Wrong Chimney, and Greater Tuna, the Hendersons and the Arts Commission had a parting of the ways. Mass Appeal was the last show as Parnassus Theatre. Parnassus was plagued with low attendance and financial difficulties.
“The curtain will fall for the final time on the Parnassus Theatre Company in Manchester Sept. 27 after negotiations between the Company and the Manchester Arts Commission broke down,” stated the Manchester Times.
On September 28, 1996, a Starlight Gala and silent auction was held as a fundraiser.
Manchester Times, Starlight Gala Shines as a New Arts Era In City Begins Wednesday, Oct. 2, 1996 “The Gala was staged at the Manchester Cultural Center by the three founding members of the new community theatre group, The Millennium Players,--Meg Garrett, Johnny Cottam and Warren Gore—and members of the Manchester Arts Commission.”
“Theatre here will continue in Manchester,” said Warren Gore, who has performed in several Parnassus plays, including the current production, Mass Appeal. (The Newsleader—Sept. 1996) An Afternoon of Poetry featuring Maggie Vaughn, Poet Laureate of Tennessee, and others occurred on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 17 at the Cultural Center.
