Our History

History of the Tater Patch Players

The Tater Patch Players were born in 1977 when a group of people from the surrounding area came together to discuss the need for community theater in North Georgia. From Pickens County there were, among others, Berry Roper, Sam Rothermel, Paul Carden, Tom Quinton, Joe Cumming, Lawton Baggs, Janet Vardaman, and Lee Etta Ligon. All were active in the Pickens Community and saw the need for performances in our area. They were very organized, formed a Board, elected directors — then someone said, “Let’s put on a play” and the fun began, and hasn’t stopped yet.

Alan Van Lyle of North Georgia College was hired to direct the first play and they chose L’il Abner. The performance was done in the Tate Elementary School Auditorium, and that was the troupe’s home for many years. Because we performed in the schools so often, our season was always the same as the school year — that is, our 1977 season, ran through the summer of ’78. For many years, the troupe performed just one summer musical, then began to expand into other types of plays and sometimes featured work by local playwrights.

Tater Patch has always been a family endeavor. Community theater offers young people an opportunity to gain poise and confidence. Theater offers everyone the lessons that are to be heard in good drama. And it offers everyone an opportunity to laugh together and enjoy community spirit.