Mary Payne founded Island Theatre Workshop in 1968-as summer workshop for children,called The Children's Theatre. The overall program quickly expanded to include Island teenagers in the winter. Two of the first productions were "Antigone" and "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" which starred Gayle Stiller, a present Board member,as Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Nancy Luedeman, Mary's cousin and also a present Board member, helped in all ways - including acting, typing, lighting shows, publicity, etc.. Nancy now describes herself as "the oldest living member of Children's Theatre".
Now going into its 31st year, Children's Theatre has performed at least two, and for three years, three, original musicals every summer. (The only exception was in1975, when Mary found a version of "Peter Pan" and wrote lyrics for the then music director to compose to.) The program, for young people, both Islanders and off-Islanders, includes acting, singing, dance, theatre games, improvisation and beach days.