History of The Belfry Theatre
In July of 1965, a collection of Noblesville residents who enjoyed gathering to read plays decided it was time to take their passion to the next step. That summer, Mrs. Anne Braswell, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Campbell, Mrs. and Mrs. Robert Kraft, Mr. and Mrs. John Kyle, Mrs. Shirley Pritchard and their leader, the Rev. John Burbank formed the Hamilton County Theatre Guild. The following February, an audience of more than 500 gathered in the ‘Cafetorium’ of the Noblesville High School to witness their first production – "Ah, Wilderness!" This production was quickly followed by 4 others which formed the guild’s pilot season of 1965-1966.
The group didn’t anticipate such a large and appreciative audience, nor did they realize that a long list of successful productions would follow.
In December of 1968 the ‘Guild’ purchased the former home of the Emmanual United Methodist Church at the intersection of Greenfield Ave. and Union Chapel Road. The following year the building was improved with the addition of a septic system, stage lighting and added space on the west side which included restrooms. With these improvements The Belfry was ready for its first production, "The Odd Couple", directed by John Foland in February of 1969.
In the late 1970s, the east side of the building was expanded to include a lobby and a ‘green room’ for the actors and crew. Additional improvements were made in the mid 1990s to include a board room, dressing rooms, and workshop. The improvements were paid for in large part by a fundraiser with entertainment supplied by ‘The Sounds’, comprised of members Elaine Wagner, Betsy Bullis, Susie Townsend, Jack Hittle, Bill Dix, and others.
The continued success of the guild is directly related to its audiences, patrons, sponsors, and season ticket holders who have supported each production. Whether you are a long-time supporter, a brand-new season ticket holder, or are visiting the theater for the first time, there is plenty of laughter, tears, suspense, boos, and cheers for all as the guild continues to produce a wide variety of plays.'
Belfry Theatre Productions
Production Locations
Noblesville High School (HS), Noblesville Junior High School (JHS), Noblesville Elks Club (Elks), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech), Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds (4H)
(*Apprentice Players Productions are noted with an asterisk)
| Production | Season | Director |
| Ah, Wilderness! (HS) | 1965-1966 | Anne Braswell |
| Before Breakfast (4H) | 1965-1966 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Never Too Late (4H) | 1965-1966 | Anne Braswell |
| Claudia (4H) | 1965-1966 | John Foland |
| Emperor's New Clothes, The * (4H) | 1965-1966 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Curses! The Villian is Foiled (Elks) | 1965-1966 | Unknown |
| Life With Father (HS) | 1966-1967 | Jane Campbell |
| Mister Roberts (4H) | 1966-1967 | John Foland |
| Member of the Wedding, The (4H) | 1966-1967 | Jane Campbell & John Foland |
| Tom Sawyer * (4H) | 1966-1967 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| George Washington Slept Here(HS) | 1967-1968 | John Foland |
| Girls in 509, The (4H) | 1967-1968 | Dick Dellinger |
| Barefoot in the Park (4H) | 1967-1968 | Anne Braswell |
| Cinderella * (4H) | 1967-1968 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| State of the Union | 1968-1969 | Jane Campbell |
| David and Lisa (HS) | 1968-1969 | Mary Ellen Mitchell & John Foland |
| Odd Couple, (The Belfry 2/14/69) | 1968-1969 | John Foland |
| Women, The | 1968-1969 | John Foland |
| Little Women * | 1969-1970 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Glass Menagerie, The | 1969-1970 | John Foland |
| Silver Whistle, The | 1969-1970 | Jane Campbell |
| Impossible Years, The | 1969-1970 | John Foland |
| Ten Nights in a Barroom | 1969-1970 | Betty Foland |
| The Wizard of Oz * (JHS) | 1970-1971 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| My Sister Eileen | 1970-1971 | John Foland |
| Come Blow Your Horn | 1970-1971 | Jane Campbell |
| Caine Mutiny Court Martial, The | 1970-1971 | John Foland |
| The Blackboard Jungle * | 1970-1971 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Ten Nights in a Barroom | 1970-1971 | Betty Foland |
| Send Me No Flowers | 1971-1972 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Suds In Your Eye | 1971-1972 | Eleanor Wilhelm & Jane Campbell |
| Plaza Suite | 1971-1972 | Betty Foland & Jane Campbell |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs *(JHS) | 1971-1972 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Dracula | 1972-1973 | Jane Campbell & Betty Foland |
| Absence of a Cello, The | 1972-1973 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| You Can't Take It With You | 1972-1973 | Jane Campbell |
| Young and Fair, The * | 1972-1973 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Curly McDimple | 1973-1974 | Jane Campbell & Betty Foland |
| Dail "M" for Murder | 1973-1974 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Three Men on a Horse | 1973-1974 | Jane Campbell |
| Butterflies Are Free | 1973-1974 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Alice in Wonderland * (JHS) | 1973-1974 | Elaine Wagner |
| Ah, Wilderness! | 1974-1975 | Jane Campbell |
| Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds, The | 1974-1975 | David Purvis |
| Harvey | 1974-1975 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Jenny Kissed Me * | 1974-1975 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Guys and Dolls (HS) | 1974-1975 | Betty Foland |
| Pursuit of Happiness, The | 1975-1976 | Jane Campbell |
| Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, The | 1975-1976 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Man Who Came To Dinner, The | 1975-1976 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| J. B. | 1975-1976 | David Purvis |
| Pinocchio * (JHS) | 1975-1976 | Elaine Wagner |
| Take Her She's Mine | 1976-1977 | Jim Bray |
| Death of a Salesman | 1976-1977 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Pleasure of His Company, The | 1976-1977 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Witness For the Prosecution(Court) | 1976-1977 | Jane Campbell |
| South Pacific (HS) | 1976-1977 | Betty Foland |
| One flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | 1977-1978 | Jim Bray |
| Good Doctor, The | 1977-1978 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Desperate Hours | 1977-1978 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Cinderella * (JHS) | 1977-1978 | Elaine Wagner |
| Breadwinner, The | 1978-1979 | Jim Bray |
| Here's Love | 1978-1979 | Jane Campbell |
| Sunshine Boys, The | 1978-1979 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Six Rms Riv Vu | 1978-1979 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Born Yesterday | 1978-1979 | Jane Campbell |
| Taming of the Shrew, The | 1979-1980 | Jim Bray |
| Charley's Aunt | 1979-1980 | Jane Campbell |
| Mary, Mary | 1979-1980 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Angel Street | 1979-1980 | Steve Free |
| Aladdin * | 1979-1980 | Elaine Wagner |
| God's Favorite | 1980-1981 | Jim Bray |
| Waiting in the Wings | 1980-1981 | Jane Campbell |
| Fantasticks, The | 1980-1981 | Elaine Wagner |
| Night Watch | 1980-1981 | Steve Free |
| Inherit the wind | 1980-1981 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| On Golden Pond | 1981-1982 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Vanities | 1981-1982 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Wonderful Town | 1981-1982 | Elaine Wagner |
| 13 Rue de L'amour | 1981-1982 | Steve Free |
| Rags to Riches * | 1981-1982 | Barbara McKinney |
| Tartuffe | 1982-1983 | Jim Bray |
| Tribute | 1982-1983 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Kind Lady | 1982-1983 | Jane Campbell |
| Same Time Next Year | 1982-1983 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Under Two Flags | 1982-1983 | Jane Campbell |
| Bus Stop | 1983-1984 | Jim Bray |
| Desk Set | 1983-1984 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Mornings at Seven | 1983-1984 | Jane Campbell |
| Arsenic and Old Lace | 1983-1984 | Steve Free |
| Snow White * | 1983-1984 | Diana Richardson |
| Silver Whistle, The | 1984-1985 | Jane Campbell |
| Bell, Book & Candle | 1984-1985 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Rivals, The | 1984-1985 | Jim Bray |
| Little Foxes, The | 1984-1985 | Diana Richardson |
| Oliver | 1984-1985 | Elaine Wagner |
| Tintypes | 1990-1991 | Elaine Wagner |
| Best Christmas Pageant Ever/Christmas Carol, The | 1990-1991 | Jane Campbell |
| Deathtrap | 1990-1991 | Jim Bray |
| Legends | 1990-1991 | Diana Richardson |
| Greater Tuna | 1990-1991 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Brighton Beach Memoirs * | 1990-1991 | Ron Richards |
| Harvey | 1991-1992 | Diana Richardson |
| Steel Magnolias | 1991-1992 | Eleanor Wilhelm |
| Nunsense | 1991-1992 | Elaine Wagner |
| School for Scandal, The | 1991-1992 | Steve Free |
| Bad Seed | 1991-1992 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Aladdin | 1991-1992 | Chris Dickos |
| Mack and Mabel | 1992-1993 | Elaine Wagner |
| Best Christmas Pageant Ever/The Long Christmas Dinner, The | 1992-1993 | Jane Campbell |
| Whales of August, The | 1992-1993 | Jim Bray |
| Play It Again Sam | 1992-1993 | Ron Richards |
| Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, The | 1992-1993 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Bye Bye Birdie | 1992-1993 | Chris Dickos |
| Nunsense II, The Second Coming | 1993-1994 | Elaine Wagner |
| Driving Miss Daisy | 1993-1994 | Jane Campbell |
| Little Night Music, A | 1993-1994 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Robin Hood Capers, The | 1993-1994 | Jan Haworth |
| Lend Me a Tenor | 1993-1994 | Steve Free |
| Cinderella | 1993-1994 | Christie Holt Dickos |
| Kiss Me Kate | 1994-1995 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Best Christmas Pageant Ever/The Gift of the Magi, The | 1994-1995 | Jane Campbell |
| Doll's House, A | 1994-1995 | Jim Bray |
| Run For Your Wife | 1994-1995 | Ron Richards |
| I Hate Hamlet | 1994-1995 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Carousel* | 1994-1995 | Chris Holt |
| Ten Nights in a Barroom | 1995-1996 | Jane Campbell |
| Odd Couple , The | 1995-1996 | Jan Haworth |
| 1940's Radio Hour, The | 1995-1996 | Elaine Wagner |
| Night Watch | 1995-1996 | Ron Richards |
| On Golden Pond | 1995-1996 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| West Side Story * | 1995-1996 | Chris Holt |
| Grand Hotel | 1996-1997 | Elaine Wagner |
| Little Women | 1996-1997 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Love Letters | 1996-1997 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Wait Until Dark | 1996-1997 | Carolyn Tinsley |
| Rumors | 1996-1997 | Jan Haworth |
| Beauty & The Beast | 1996-1997 | Chris Holt |
| She Loves Me | 1997-1998 | Elaine Wagner |
| Greetings | 1997-1998 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Sylvia | 1997-1998 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Farndale Ave Housing Estate Townswomen's ... MacBeth | 1997-1998 | Ron Richards |
| Harold and Maude | 1997-1998 | Jane Campbell, Jim Bray & Jan Haworth |
| Oklahoma * | 1997-1998 | Chris Holt |
| Camelot | 1998-1999 | Jan Haworth |
| Shooting Stars | 1998-1999 | Carolyn Tinsley |
| Boys Next Door, The | 1998-1999 | Chris Holt |
| Mixed Emotions | 1998-1999 | Elaine Wagner |
| Heiress, The | 1998-1999 | Eric Tinsley |
| Pocket Full of Rhymes * | 1998-1999 | Beth Winchell |
| Ten Little Indians | 1999-2000 | Chris Holt |
| Scrooge, The Musical | 1999-2000 | Jan Haworth |
| Picasso at the Lapin Agile | 1999-2000 | Ron Richards |
| Skin of our Teeth, The | 1999-2000 | Jim Bray |
| Secret Garden, The | 1999-2000 | Elaine Wagner |
| Give Us A Break * | 1999-2000 | Edie Bruce |
| Few Good Men, A | 2000-2001 | Chris Holt |
| Tuna Chrismas, A | 2000-2001 | Ron Richards |
| Man of LaMancha | 2000-2001 | Deb Farmer |
| Snow Ball, The | 2000-2001 | Scott Mason |
| Month of Sundays, A | 2000-2001 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Charolotte's Web * | 2000-2001 | Kyle Thomas |
| Ten November | 2001-2002 | Chris Tolzmann |
| Christmas Carol, A | 2001-2002 | Chris Holt |
| Moon Over Buffalo | 2001-2002 | Scott Mason |
| Haunted Thru Lounge & Recessed Dining Nook at Farndale Castle, | 2001-2002 | Carolyn Tinsley |
| Brigadoon | 2001-2002 | Elaine Wagner |
| Lil' Abner * | 2001-2002 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten | 2002-2003 | Chris Holt |
| Talking With | 2002-2003 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Caught in the Villain's Web | 2002-2003 | Ron Richards |
| Grand Night For Singing, A | 2002-2003 | Deb Farmer |
| Dr. Cook's Garden | 2002-2003 | Elaine Wagner |
| Schoolhouse Rock, Live! Jr. * | 2002-2003 | Liz Corgan |
| Forever Plaid | 2003-2004 | Cathy Tolzmann |
| Gifts of The Magi, The | 2003-2004 | Elaine Wagner |
| Curious Savage, The | 2003-2004 | Ron Richards |
| Chapter Two | 2003-2004 | Christy Clinton |
| Seven Year Itch, The | 2003-2004 | Carla Crandall |
| Lucky Stiff * | 2003-2004 | Liz Chandler |
| I Remember Mama | 2004-2005 | Thorton "Doc" Klos |
| You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown | 2004-2005 | Liz Chandler |
| Don't Drink The Water | 2004-2005 | Ron Richards |
| Proof | 2004-2005 | Elaine Wagner |
| Three Men On A Horse | 2004-2005 | Carla Crandall |
| Honk! Jr * | 2004-2005 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Born Yesterday | 2005-2006 | Carla Crandall |
| Run For Your Wife | 2005-2006 | Christy Clinton |
| Something's Afoot | 2005-2006 | Elaine Wagner |
| One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest | 2005-2006 | Karla Ries |
| Little Night Music, A | 2005-2006 | Michael Moyer |
| Once Upon A Mattress * | 2005-2006 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Bad Year For Tomatoes, A | 2006-2007 | Elaine Wagner |
| Here's Love | 2006-2007 | Carla Crandall |
| Nerd, The | 2006-2007 | Ron Richards |
| Last Night of Ballyhoo, The | 2006-2007 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Scarlet Pimpernel, The | 2006-2007 | Michael Moyer |
| Schoolhouse Rock, Live! * | 2006-2007 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Dining Room, The | 2007-2008 | Karla Ries |
| Christmas Story, A | 2007-2008 | Carla Crandall |
| Phantom of the Country Opera | 2007-2008 | Elaine Wagner |
| Two Orphans, The | 2007-2008 | Christy Clinton |
| Everybody Loves Opal | 2007-2008 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Bye Bye Birdie * | 2007-2008 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Lost in Yonkers | 2008-2009 | David Burch |
| It's A Wonderful Life:A Radio Show | 2008-2009 | Karla Ries |
| Fantasticks, The | 2008-2009 | Carla Crandall |
| Mousetrap, The | 2008-2009 | Christy Clinton |
| Picnic | 2008-2009 | Elaine Wagner |
| Willy Wonka Jr * | 2008-2009 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Producers, The | 2009-2010 | Carla Crandall |
| ChrIstmas Belles | 2009-2010 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Farndale Ave Housing Estate Townswomen's …Murder Mystery | 2009-2010 | Ron Richards |
| You Can't Take It With You | 2009-2010 | David Burch |
| Guys And Dolls | 2009-2010 | Elaine Wagner |
| Calamity Jane * | 2009-2010 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Don't Dress For Dinner | 2010-2011 | Karla Ries |
| Alice In Wonderland | 2010-2011 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Don't Talk To The Actors | 2010-2011 | Christy Clinton |
| Fools | 2010-2011 | Ryan Shelton |
| Humble Boy | 2010-2011 | Ron Richards |
| Cinderella * | 2010-2011 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Great American Backstage Musical, The | 2011-2012 | David Burch |
| Perfume Shop, The | 2011-2012 | Betty Lou Kyle |
| Titanic: The Musical | 2011-2012 | Ryan Shelton |
| Twelve Angry Men | 2011-2012 | Karla Ries |
| Hollywood Arms | 2011-2012 | Elaine Wagner |
| Disco Inferno * | 2011-2012 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| State of the Union | 2012-2013 | Carla Crandall |
| My Three Angels | 2012-2013 | Jeff Bick |
| Farndale - They Came from Mars | 2012-2013 | Ron Richards |
| Little Shop of Horrors | 2012-2013 | Christy Clinton & Connie Murello-Todd |
| The Spitfire Grill | 2012-2013 | Elaine Wagner |
| Sleeping Beauty - Disney * | 2012-2013 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Mouse That Roared, The | 2013-2014 | Ryan Shelton |
| Plaid Tidings | 2013-2014 | Ron Richards |
| Bell, Book & Candle | 2013-2014 | Jeff Bick |
| Miracle on South Division Street | 2013-2014 | Christy Clinton |
| To Kill A Mockingbird | 2013-2014 | Carla Crandall |
| Godspell | 2013-2014 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Desk Set | 2014-2015 | Christy Clinton |
| 1776 | 2014-2015 | Elaine Wagner |
| Bus Stop | 2014-2015 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Noises Off | 2014-2015 | Ron Richards |
| Nunsense | 2014-2015 | Carla Crandall |
| Emperor's New Clothes, The * (4H) | 2014-2015 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Butler Did It, The | 2015-2016 | Jeff Bick |
| Christmas Carol, A | 2015-2016 | Ryan Shelton |
| Red Velvet Cake War, The | 2015-2016 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Cheaper By The Dozen | 2015-2016 | Carla Crandall |
| Little Women | 2015-2016 | Brenna Campbell-Christy Clinton |
| Disney's Aladdin * | 2015-2016 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| The Girls of the Garden Club | 2016-2017 | Carla Crandall |
| Dashing Through the Snow | 2016-2017 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying | 2016-2017 | James H. Williams |
| The Foreigner | 2016-2017 | Dana Lesh |
| Perfect Wedding | 2016-2017 | Elaine Wagner |
| The Little Mermaid * | 2016-2017 | Connie Murello-Todd |
| Done to Death | 2017-2018 | Nancy Lafferty |
| Christmas Cactus | 2017-2018 | Elaine Wagner |
| One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest | 2017-2018 | Jen Otterman |
| Nunsense II, The Second Coming | 2017-2018 | Carla Crandall |
| Brighton Beach Memoirs | 2017-2018 | James H. Williams |
| Disney's Camp Rock: The Musical* | 2017-2018 | James H. Williams |
| Our Town | 2018-2019 | Nancy Lafferty |
| It’s a Wonderful Life | 2018-2019 | Sam Brown |
| The Savannah Sipping Society | 2018-2019 | Barcia Alejos |
| Gilligan’s Island: The Musical | 2018-2019 | James H. Williams |
| Red, White and Tuna | 2018-2019 | Ron Richards |
| Honk, The Musical* | 2018-2019 | James H. Williams |
| Wait Until Dark | 2019-2020 | Jen Otterman |
| A Christmas Carol | 2019-2020 | Nancy Lafferty |
| Side by Side by Sondheim | 2019-2020 | Ron Richards |
| Marvin's Room | 2019-2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| Father of the Bride | 2019-2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| A Chorus Line - High School Edition | 2019-2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| The Game’s Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays | 2020-2021 | Eric Matters |
| The Rest of the 2020-2021 Season was Cancelled due to COVID 19 | 2020-2021 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| Cheaper by the Dozen | 2021-2022 | Carla Crandall |
| The Dining Room | 2021-2022 | Diane Wilson |
| The Lilies of the Field | 2021-2022 | Linnea Leatherman |
| Drinking Habits | 2021-2022 | Nancy Lafferty |
| Disney’s Frozen, Jr. * | 2021-2022 | James H. Williams |
| Rehearsal for Murder | 2022-2023 | Diane Wilson |
| The Sound of Music | 2022-2023 | Evan Elliott |
| Around the World in 80 Days | 2022-2023 | Eric Matters |
| The Great Gatsby | 2022-2023 | Andrea Odle |
| Crimes of the Heart | 2022-2023 | Jen Otterman |
| Willy Wonka Jr * | 2022-2023 | Nancy Lafferty |