80th Season celebrates Redlands Footlighters Theatre’s rich history

This weekend Redlands Footlighters Theatre kicks off their 80^th season with a nod to its beginnings and a look to the future.

As one of the oldest organizations in Redlands, the theater has a rich history. In 1952, the theater company performed The Curious Savage as the inauguration of its first location in downtown Redlands. Then, in 1980 it brought the show back for the inauguration of its second and current location on Barton Road.

This year, The Curious Savage is back for the third time, celebrating the theater’s 80^th season and as part of the theater’s fundraising effort to renovate and revamp the theater.

The theater actually began operating in 1945 led by four women: Mary Armstrong, Marianne Finley, Lucille Crews Marsh and Ruth Welch.

According to Vicki Janis, a member of the RFT board, the name Footlighters comes from the little clamshell lights placed at the edge of the stage. For years, the theater performed in different locations locally until they settled in 1952 on the Grove theater, which is currently an event space on Cajon St.

What is unique about the Footlighters is the way the stage is centered in the middle of the room with the audience watching from two opposite sides. Since its Grove Theater location the stage has been this way. “Someone saw a play back in New York, they liked the set up and we’ve done it ever since,” Janis said.

Having the stage in the center of the room presents challenges, including utilizing exits as doorways during murder mysteries because the center stage doesn’t have enough doors, or when the actors are supposed to look outside, but they look at the audience. On the other hand, “It’s fun because you get to see the audience's reaction if you’re in the audience,” she said.

In 1969, the company purchased the land on Barton Road, and 11 years later, the theater building was finished. The current lobby and workshop in the back was added later.

“We just lost one of our original members three years ago, Joe Camp,” Janis said. He was part of the leadership that began the Grove location together with Robert Sherrod, Howard Avery and Stuart Campbell. Janis remembered he was still active when she got involved in 2001.

In the early decades, teachers, local business owners and the Norton Air Force Base helped the theater grow. Other notable individuals working for the theater in the early days were Merl Williams and Jim Craw and later: Bernard Craven, Billie Daniel, Jodi Lugo, Betty Campbell, Peggy Williams, Phyllis Stroud, Bob Sherrod, Ann and Nick Salpas.

For being an old theater, Janis laughed when asked about ghosts. “There are tons,” she said. “I think Howard Lake is here, and his wife Kay.” She added, “They are not scary, they are just here.” Sometimes she will hear footsteps or someone call her name even though she is alone.

“My parents joined the Footlighters mere days after moving to Redlands [in 1962] and they devoted the rest of their lives to helping make Footlighters a vibrant and successful company,” said Cindy Lake, daughter of Howard and Kay Lake.

“Howard looked like a matinee idol,” Lake said. “But he wasn’t just a pretty face. He could ignite laughter with his comedic charm. Kay was a gifted writer with a passion for promotion.” She added, “Kay co-chaired the frantic fundraising efforts in 1979 to build the Barton Road theater.”

“It’s a community theater, for the community, about the community,” Janis said. The Footlighters work with Redlands Theatre Festival and other community theaters in Riverside, Rialto and Chino on sharing resources: Props, sets and costumes.

The current Footlighters’ board include Pamela Lambert, Vicki Janis, Fran Gambino, Carolyn Duncan, Buffy Henshaw, Tushar Oza, Joe Rossi and Sue Ullrich. Season ticket holders and many volunteers support and help make sure they provide quality theatrical experiences.

In the past quarter century, Footlighters’ best-selling show was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a musical that was featured at the 2025 Redlands Bowl this summer. Since the pandemic, the theater has not had the funds to put on musicals because of the cost of paying for the rights. During the pandemic, they kept afloat by performing outdoors and with art grants.

Right now, the theatre is looking to the future with this renovation fund raising campaign. At the recent benefit show the theater raised $15,000.

Finally, Janis wanted to encourage people to come see one of their performances. “It brings us together,” she said. “People are not meant to be alone by ourselves, we are meant to be in community, and this is a way to be in community.”

The 80^th season includes a Shakespeare play, an Agatha Christie mystery, a comedy, a holiday show and a play written by a local writer, Robert Merrill. In order to stay current, RFT will sometimes move a classic play into modern times.

Auditions are noted on the program and on their website. The first play of the 2025/26 season is The Curious Savage opening Friday, August 8^th and runs until the 24^th.

About the 80^th season 2025/2026 at the Redlands Footlighters Theater

August 8-24, 2025, The Curious Savage: A whimsical and heartfelt comedy by John Patrick, first produced by RFT 72 years ago. When Ethel Savage’s late husband leaves her a small fortune, she decides to make the best of it, establishing a fund to support various dreamers with whimsical aspirations, but her three greedy step children commit her to a mental hospital.  

October 10-26, 2025, These Shining Lives: A powerful true story by Melanie Marnich of the Radium Girls. Four women work at the Radium Dial Company in the early 20^th century, when one falls ill, the truth emerges about the radium used to paint the watches. This is an account of the strength and determination of these women.  

December 5-21, 2025, The Night Before the Night Before Christmas: A holiday play by Cricket Daniel. A family head to Hawaii for Christmas, escaping New Jersey, the freezing cold and Lou’s nutty family. However, a freak snowstorm leaves them stranded in the airport and their dream of sipping pina coladas on the beach is in peril.

February 13 – March 1, 2026, Aria’s: Heartwarming comedy by local Robert Merrill. Aria’s restaurant owner and widow, Marie, struggles to keep the family business afloat. Several characters wrestle with plans for an uncertain future and a trio of low-life villains, will they find happiness after all?

April 10-26, 2026, Merry Wives of Windsor: A Shakespeare play, original adaptation by Pamela Lambert. Sir John Falstaff, a self-proclaimed ladies’ man, decides to solve his financial crisis by seducing the wives of two successful men. This original adaptation emphasizes themes of jealousy and love, and celebrates the ingenuity of women. Set in 1950’s New York.

June 5-21, 2026, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: After an Agatha Christie 1926-novel, adapted for the stage by Mark Shanahan, directed by Phillip Gabriel. The tiny village of King’s Abbot is rocked by scandal when Roger Ackroyd, the wealthiest man in town, is found dead shortly after the apparent suicide of his fiancée. This adaptation is filled with colorful characters, outrageous laughter and nail-biting suspense.  

About the Redlands Footlighters Community Theatre

The Footlighters is a nonprofit community theater.
Address: 1810 Barton Road, Redlands.
Box office phone: (909) 793 2909
Box office email: tickets@redlandsfootlighters.org
General email: info@redlandsfootlighters.org
Social media: @redlandsfootlighterstheatre
Website: www.redlandsfootlighers.org

General tickets: $20 per show during the 2025/26 season. Or buy a season ticket for $100 (pay for five shows get access to six).