The Draper Theatre was built in 1938 as a movie theater. Bert Howell was the owner and, according to family histories of several local theatergoers, the first movie shown there was "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Several owners later, in 1951, the building burned. The newspaper carried pictures of the interior, destroyed except for rows of metal posts on which the seats had been fastened.

By 1952, however, the theater was rebuilt and was owned by Frank and Louise Pollard. They charged admission prices of 60 cents for adults and 25 cents for kids.

Nelson and her husband, Charles, bought the place in 1988 and continued to show movies even as they expanded the stage and began planning for live theater. By 1991, they were alternating movies with plays. When Larry Miller built his megaplex in the south end of the valley, Nelson recalls, four small-town movie theaters folded. Theirs couldn't draw more than handful to a movie.

Still, folks kept coming to the plays. Eleven years ago, Nelson hit upon the idea of a children's musical review. Since then "Broadway Kidz" has drawn hundreds for auditions, and every year it is the theater's most popular and lucrative production.

In fact, the female lead in tonight's production, Woods, has been in 17 productions at the Draper Historic Theatre, including nine of "Broadway Kidz." As you listen to her talking with her friends in the dressing room, you realize she's been offered college scholarships in theater at several universities.

Nelson says several well-known local actors have launched their careers at the Draper Historical Theatre. And Kieffer is proud of the skill of Wood and the other leads. But she's also excited about two people who were performing for the first time in that evening's show.

"They are having a great time," Kieffer says.

She may have a master's degree in arts administration, but Kieffer hopes she hasn't lost sight of the purpose of community theater. She says community theater is supposed to provide excitement and challenges but, above all, fun for everyone involved.

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E-mail: susan@desnews.com