I’ve always said a summer theater season would be very successful in Columbus.

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but in 1995, I was in a show called “Stage Door Cabaret: In the Mood” at the Springer Opera House. It was written by Paul Pierce and Rick Berube. You know who Paul is. Rick was a New York-based actor who spent three years here. He became the Springer’s box office manager and got the idea of working with tour bus operators. It was not unusual to see busloads of people show up to see shows at the Springer. These were people who were going to Callaway Gardens and had a free night, or going somewhere else and Columbus was a stop they made.

Rick also directed this show, which was a World War II-USO show with popular songs of the era. We did it on the stage of the Springer. Tables were set up and patrons were encouraged to bring their dinners. It was a novelty at the time to be able to say you were on the Springer stage.

It was scheduled for a three-weekend run but since it sold out practically every performance, it kept getting extended. I think after the sixth weekend, we finally closed the show.

Troy Heard tried summer shows with Chattahoochee Shakespeare Co., but gave up after not being able to find a permanent home for the theater.

The Springer Children’s Theater opens its season in the summer. It’s very successful.

CSU steps up

I’m really happy that Columbus State University’s department of theater is taking its first step into going up another level, adding a summer repertory program. It’s a win-win for the community.

Filling the summer void of very little theatrical offerings, CSU is giving student actors a chance to earn a little money while working as professionals.

Each student will earn a stipend and some will even get credits toward their degree, said theater chairman Larry Dooley.

In his first year as the chair, the Columbus Repertory Theater is one of his first projects.

“They (the students) have been working three weeks of nine-hour days,” Dooley said.

The faculty has bought into the program as well. Brenda Ito chose “Blue’s Clues Live! Blue’s Birthday Party!” after talking to CSU theater graduate Noel Jordan. Jordan now teaches in Manchester, and she had already made the costumes.

So the CSU costumers didn’t have to worry about making the Blue and Magenta costumes, along with all of the others. They did refurbish some of them.

Ito said the show is still on Nick Jr., so children are still familiar with the show.

“It’s a great show,” Dooley said. “It’s a real crowd-pleaser.”

The second show, “Nunsense,” opens next week. This show is for adults, though older children may also like the musical.

This first season is an experiment, Dooley said. But he can see expanding the season by adding another show.

It depends on whether or not you support it.