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History SSTG was formed in 1949 as a money-raising activity of the Sherwood PTA , and its first play was performed using members of the PTA as the cast. Its next effort was performed at the Olney Theater, courtesy of Mr. C. Y. Stevens, then owner of Olney Theater. The Group continued to produce its annual spring play at the Olney Theater until the death of Mr. Stevens in 1967. After that, plays were produced at Sherwood, Farquhar, Paint Branch, Kennedy and Argyle schools.
In 1960, desiring to encourage interest in the dramatic arts, the Group established awards for outstanding drama students at Sherwood High School . Six engraved plaques were presented each year, for more than 35 years, to members of the Sherwood Jesters for acting and technical excellence.
In 1972, the Vestry at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Brighton , approached the Group with the offer of its parish hall (formerly the local Grange Hall) as a home and theater for its players. The Group had dreamed of a home and now one was offered. This association with St. Luke's lasted through 1982, when the Vestry felt it could no longer afford to maintain the building. During those years, however, many memorable productions were performed in that tiny space.
In the meantime, the Group began the quest for quality theater for children, and in 1979 the first of many annual children's shows was born. It began as a money-raiser for the Sherwood PTSO and continued for many years. There were several original musical works written by SSTG members over the years.
In 1986 the group performed it's first entry in the first year of the Maryland Community Theatre Festival (MCTF), an original one-act play by member Dan Young titled "In Dedication." SSTG has never missed a Festival since, and has garnered many excellent reviews and awards. In 1996, the SSTG production of the one-act "The Adjudicators" by Stan Levin won the AACT's coveted, national, Best New Play award and was presented in New York City . Our production of "The Real Inspector Hound" won the Maryland State one-act play tournament and competed successfully regionally. Our 2002 entry in the MCTF, "Suffering Fools," written by Paul Handy, won best new play, best actress (Tracy Collier), and 2nd runner up for best production. Other SSTG award winners include Roger Stone and Rich Fogg for "The Real Inspector Hound," Lorraine Sampson for "Winners," Scott Bloom for "A Cry of the Gods," the prop cardboard figures for "Prom Queen.", and Lou Swerda for "Abner the Baseball" and "Bully."
With the spring 1999 production of "Godspell," SSTG is especially proud to be the recipient of the 1999 Ruby Griffith Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical Production. In 2001 SSTG was the recipient of a second Ruby Griffith Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical Second Runner-Up for an exceptional Fall 2000 production of "Sweeney Todd."
In the years since St. Luke's, the Group has performed at Sandy Spring FriendsSchool , Sherwood's Ertsman Theater, Sherwood Little Theater, the Olney Boys' and Girls' Club gym, and The Kenmont Swim Club. In the spring of 2001, after 10 years of being known as "The Little Theatre By The Pool" at the Kenmont Swim Club, SSTG moved briefly to The Kensington Armory.
In the 2002-2003 Season, the group performed at the Sandy Spring Museum inSandy Spring , MD, and the Millian Memorial United Methodist Church in Rockville . In 2003, SSTG presented the American premiere of the British musical, "Girlfriends" by Howard Goodall.
Since 2004, most of the plays have been performed at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn in the Kentlands.
Throughout its history, it has shown itself to be flexible and adaptive as it continues to look for a permanent home.
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