History:

The idea of establishing a place for live theater in Clarkston was born in March 1961. A small group gathered together and organized the Clarkston Village Players. The first play, "Two Blind Mice" was performed just two months later at Clarkston High School. Since then, live theater in Clarkston has been off and running.

At first, performances were held at the high school. Most rehearsals were held at the Township Community Center or at members' homes. However, all that changed in 1962 with the acquisition of the Depot.

One cannot help but step back in time upon entering the old Clarkston Train Station. Although CVP (Clarkston Village Players) has added to the Depot Theater, the sense of history is still strong in the look and feel of the building.

The original station (pictured in the lobby) was built around the turn of the century. It helped make Clarkston a resort community during the first quarter of the twentieth century. It provided a stopping point for summer vacationers, who would then travel by horse-drawn carriages, and later motorized open-air mini-buses, to local hotels. The original station was destroyed by fire in May 1923.

The present station served train passengers until 1959. CVP purchased the Depot from Grand Trunk for $150. The Depot was first used for rehearsals and storage. The first show presented there was "Dirty Work at the Crossroads" in 1964. Because the melodrama was so well received by audiences, this type of play became a yearly occasion for about ten years. Combining the charm of the old train station, the opera house curtain (donated to CVP; from the old Clarkston Opera House in the Maccabees Building), and the unadulterated fun of pure American theater, the melodrama provided a good evening's entertainment. Since then, our theater has showcased a good blend of comedy, drama, farce, and an occasional musical.