OCT Alumni (From L to R): Maggie Cooke, Ginny Holderness, Dennis Delamar, Tim Hodgin, Claudia Galup, Scott Orr, Jonathan M. Ewart, Rob Taylor, Jenny Taylor, Liza Cook Elsner, and Johnny Lazenby. OCT Celebrates 50 Years of Rich History The Mayor of Concord, Steve Morris, began OCT’s 50th Anniversary celebration with a proclamation: June 13, 2026 is hereby known as Old Courthouse Theatre Day. A fitting tribute to an organization who has served Concord and its surrounding area for half a century with entertainment, education, culture, and community. The evening was a year in planning, and the culminating gala brought together long-time veterans of OCT with enthusiastic new-comers. After a brief business meeting where OCT welcomed Jonathan M. Ewart, Chris Harris-Firth, and Jean Kadela to the Board of Directors, the rest of the evening focused on memories and history. Intermixed with the 50th-season production awards, OCT veteran Chris Stonnell organized an impressive list of talent to remember many of the fantastic musicals the theatre has produced over the years. Highlights of the entertainment included Michael Jonathan from this season’s Company with ‘Being Alive,’ followed by numerous OCT alumni gathered on stage to deliver a mega-medley of historic musical songs. The legendary Dan Truhitte (Rolf from The Sound of Music ) made a truly special and meaningful appearance performing a medley highlighting ‘Edelweiss’ and concluding with ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain.’ A duet from Guys and Dolls with Chris Stonnell and Jim Longwell was somehow performed across the coast, thanks to modern technology, and Lifetime Achievement Winner, Kim Baysinger, reprised a duet from ‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’ with local celebrity Beth Troutman (that performance was live). After careful research and work, Jonathan M. Ewart presented a particularly poignant and meaningful tribute to members of the OCT family who are no longer with us. The ‘In Memoriam’ slide show was hauntingly accompanied by the beautiful ‘No One Is Alone’ from Into the Woods . After the presentation of Best Show for Season 50, The Foreigner , awards were handed out that were specific and special to Old Courthouse Theatre. The Wilson Family (a historic and extremely pivotal family in OCT’s history) bestowed their Volunteerism award to the Weathers family: Holly, Rick, Aiden, and Chloe. The Mary Thompson Award (named for one of the founding members who worked tirelessly backstage) was given to Jennifer Riordan and Kim Baysinger. President John Harris also awarded Chris Barcroft, Jon Kadela, and Brian Rassler with special recognition of service to the theatre. The evening’s ceremony concluded with various members of the history of OCT singing verses of ‘Try to Remember’ from The Fantasticks as slides played showing all the rich, impressive plays and musicals OCT has produced in its 50 year history. The last image lingering over the venue was the founder, Mary Snead Boger, no doubt approving the perpetuation and fulfillment of her dream. With the 50th ‘Golden’ Anniversary behind them, OCT now focuses on the future. Our board continues to hone in on our ten-year plan. Season 51 holds much promise, and the programming committee is already well into plans for Season 52. Our mission: To provide and increase exceptional opportunities to engage, entertain, and educate the public on the value of theatre arts. Our focus: Community.