A History of Our Theater

September 1977-  Chip Miles asks Clio Community Education director, Richard Negrinelli to include and fund a theatre workshop in the Comm Ed curriculum so that her daughter Linda can be involved in stagecraft. Chip enlists Evie Zilinski, a recent graduate of Evangel College, with a B.A. in Speech and Theatre Education, to help. With the additional help of Brenda Clappe, posters go up all over town.  Six adults and a bunch of teenagers show interest. The adults, Betty Steagald, Chuck Krause, Jeff Springgay, Evie Zilinski, Brenda Clappe, Chip Miles, and teen Susan Corbin become known as the founders.

January 1978- The newly formed Clio Players present their first production, the children's classic, "The Wind in the Willows," funded by Clio Community Ed, directed by Evie Zilinski. This production boasts a cast of 14 and a crew of 16, and is held in the Clio High School Donald Woolson Auditorium. This begins a twenty-five year association with Clio High School.

April 1979-  The Clio Players become The Cast And Crew of Clio, with the presentation of their first drama "The Miracle Worker," directed by Evie Zilinski

November 1979- The group receives first State of Michigan Mini-Grant, during the presentation of "Barefoot in the Park," directed by Betty Steagald. The mini-grant provided funding to pay for the royalties and set construction.

March 1980 -  The group presents its first musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," directed by Nate Jonker, with Jeri Hunjo onboard as music director.

March 1981- CCC presents its biggest musical up to that date "The Wizard of Oz," with a cast of 66, orchestra of 13 and production staff of over 100. A second mini-grant helped tremendously with the royalties and expensive set design/construction. The show is directed by Evie Zilinski.

June 1981- CCC presents "Concerts Under the Stars," a series of free Monday night concerts held on the side of the hill in the Clio City Park. This series was CCC's contribution to the City of Clio's Project 80's campaign. CCC told the city "You clean up the park and CCC will see to it that it is filled with people!" This series will lead to the development of the Clio Area Amphitheater.

March 1982- "Brigadoon" becomes CCC's first single performance sell-out, and on the night of a major blizzard!  The show is directed by Evie Zilinski.

March 1984- CCC is the first community theatre in Michigan to present "Annie."  The show is directed by Evie Zilinski and over 100 little girls vie for the title role.

November 1984 - March 1985- Cast and Crew of Clio becomes incorporated, changing name for the third time to Clio Cast & Crew, Inc..

December 1987-  CCC produces its first Christmas show at Crossroads Village as fundraiser.  Each weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, five separate casts perform a 25 minute play, "Christmas at Crossroads" by Len Price.  The show is directed by Maggie Harmon.

December 1988-  CCC returns to Crossroads Village for second fundraiser, this time directed by Billye Thatcher.

July 1989-  CCC presents the first of 13 yearly summer productions held at the Clio Area Amphitheatre.  A revival of "The Wizard of Oz," complete with hot air balloon, is directed by Evie Zilinski.

November 1990-  CEYT, Clio Electric Youth Theatre is formed. Their first production is "Tis the Season."  The group went on to produce 14 shows over eight seasons.

July 1993- "Grease" is performed in the Amphitheater to entirely sold out audiences.  It becomes the most lucrative production for CCC, as well as the Amphitheater, in concessions.

April 1995 - CCC and CEYT compete, bringing "West Side Story" and "Anne of Green Gables," respectively, to the American Association of Community Theatre Festival held in Bay City. "West Side Story" places third in the competition.

March 1998- CCC celebrates its 20th year with a musical version of its first production, "The Wind in the Willows," directed by Mark Krontz. As of the end of our 21st season, CCC and CEYT together had produced 69 productions.

2003-  Clio Cast & Crew acquires its own building with the purchase of Theatre 57 on West Vienna Road.
2009 - CCC expands it online presence with the launch of a Facebook page.
2017 - CCC celebrates its 40th Anniversary.  You can look back on the memories here.
2019 - A new pole barn is built behind Theatre 57, providing CCC with much needed new storage space.
December 2020- CCC presents its very first all-digital production, "Ebenezer, A Christmas Play," by Michigan playwright Joseph Zettelmaier via YouTube.  The show is directed by William Kircher.

May 2021- Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CCC returns to the stage in front of a live audience for the first time in 15 months. "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear," by Michigan playwright David MacGregor is directed by Jim Waner.  Pandemic restrictions limit Theatre 57 to one third of normal capacity, and the audience and cast are masked.