Minding Your Business --The Chatham Drama Guild

The Chatham Drama Guild

134 Crowell Rd.

Chatham

508-945-0510

ChatDramaGuild.com

Pamela Banas, president of the Chatham Drama Guild’s board of directors, producer, and actor, is proud to point out that the local theater company is “volunteer theater at its finest! And as a volunteer-only theater, they need a person that has the time to do all that needs to be done, and that’s me!” Banas said she feels like she “almost lives at the theater and I love it! I answer the phone, both here and at home; I plan my life around the Drama Guild!”

Banas is certainly up to the task of keeping the Drama Guild functioning, both professionally and passionately. She has decades of theater experience on the Cape, and is more than willing to take on the responsibility of the Chatham theater. The Drama Guild puts together four shows every year and rents out the space to local entertainment such as Rose Clancy’s Tuesday Fiddle Concerts, First Night performances and rehearsals for the Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival.

“We have a reading committee that decides on the shows each year,” Banas explained. “Some board members are on it. And that’s how we put together the shows we can and want to do each season.”

COVID was a challenge for sure, Banas admitted. But with her background as a nurse practitioner, the Drama Guild was ahead of the game on reopening for performances. “I spoke with the board of health, obtained masks, and rearranged the theater with table seating. We installed air filters and kept the windows open, too.”

“People loved the cabaret seating, so we’ve kept some of that. Between that seating and a full bar, I believe we are the only venue on the Cape like that!” The cash bar opens a half hour before the show and during intermission.

This summer’s line-up will include “Lovers and Other Strangers,” which opens on June 14th; a Gilbert and Sullivan-themed revue in August, “with a speak-easy theme. I’m still kicking around the concept of this show,” admitted Banas. “Then we’ve got ‘Barefoot in the Park’ in September, followed by ‘The Game’s Afoot’ by Ken Ludwig.”

The Drama Guild is an all-volunteer venue with local business sponsors. In a recent production, a Chronicle reviewer shared that the cast consisted of “a pastor, a bank teller, a real estate agent and a staff member of CapeAbilties.” You can’t get more community than that! Support this local theater, by seeing their shows this coming season!

“There’s a place for every human in theater!” said Banas.